Casinos in Illinois broke a lengthy streak of same-store revenue declines last month. Two casinos, Bally’s in Chicago and Walker’s Bluff in Carterville, opened in the months following May 2023.
Casino gambling winnings rose 17.8 percent on an unadjusted basis from 2023 and 4.2 percent on a same-store comparison. They were also 22 percent higher (unadjusted) than in pre-COVID May 2019. The 2019 comparison reversed to minus six percent when expansion was taken into account.
Despite a 4.1 percent decline, Rivers Casino in Des Plaines led the state with $44.7 million in win. Grand Victoria in Elgin held onto second place with $12.1 million, a 1.1 percent increase. Bally’s Casino in downtown Chicago was third with $11.7 million.
The remainder of the Chicagoland market performed as follows: Harrah’s Joliet ($10.5 million, plus 1.5 percent); The Temporary at American Place, $9.1 million (plus 42.5 percent); Hollywood Aurora ($8.6 million, plus 9.7 percent); Empress Joliet ($7.6 million, plus 3.9 percent); and Hard Rock Rockford ($6.6 million, plus 18 percent).
The best-performing of the downstate casinos was DraftKings at Casino Queen, which recorded $8.6 million in revenue, up 26.8 percent. Nearby Argosy Belle climbed 8.9 percent to $3 million.
In Peoria, Par-A-Dice slipped 1.5 percent to $5.6 million. Bally’s Quad Cities gained 13.1 percent to $5.4 million. Harrah’s Metropolis, in the southern reaches of the state, grossed $4.9 million, a 12.1 percent drop.
Comparisons weren’t available for Golden Nugget Danville and Walker’s Bluff Casino. They grossed $2.8 million and $2.5 million, respectively.
Statewide gaming revenue totaled $143.8 million. The May calendar was favorable to operators, with nine weekend days as opposed to eight in 2023.
