Illinois gaming revenue fell 8.4% in August compared to the same period in 2019.
The state’s casinos generated $107.9 million for the month of August, according to a report issued by the Illinois Gaming Board, down 8.4% compared to August 2019, but up 23.5% year over year. In August 2020, Illinois casinos were operating at 50% capacity due to state mandates related to COVID-19 concerns.
The August revenue is a sequential decline of 10.2% from July 2021’s $120.2 million. But in an analyst’s statement, Deutsche Bank’s Carlo Santarelli noted that there were only eight weekend days in August, compared to 10 in July.
Collectively, the casinos that comprise the North Illinois market — Empress Joliet, Harrah’s Joliet, Hollywood Aurora, Grand Victoria, and Rivers Illinois — generated $84.3 million, a dip of 3.7% compared to August 2019.
Rivers Illinois in Des Plaines brought in the most revenue in that market, $41.4 million, an increase of 10% versus the same month in 2019.
Grand Victoria in Elgin generated $13.6 million in revenue, down 6% compared to the same month in 2019. Harrah’s Joliet had $13.0 million in revenue, down 11.7%.
Hollywood Aurora generated revenue of $9.1 million, a decrease of 11.7% compared to 2019. Revenue at Empress Joliet was $7.2 million, down 29% versus August 2019.
Revenue for the St. Louis market, which consists of Argosy Casino Alton and Draft Kings at Casino Queen, was $9.8 million, down 20% compared to 2019. Draft Kings at Casino Queen brought in $6.8 million and Alton Belle generated $3.0 million.
Illinois’s three other casinos, Par-A-Dice Casino in Peoria, Jumer’s Casino Rock Island, and Harrah’s Metropolis, generated a combined $13.8 million. Par-A-Dice’s revenue of $5.1 million was down 16% from August 2019. Harrah’s Metropolis revenue was down 21%, to $5 million, and Jumer Casino Rock Island’s $3.7 million was approximately $2 million less than the $5.7 million earned in August 2019.
