Slot machine parlors in Kentucky saw a 17.1 percent spike in revenue in January. When Churchill Downs’s new Owensboro casino was backed out of the numbers, the jump was 11.1 percent. The Owensboro facility opened on February 12, 2025.
According to J.P. Morgan’s Kentucky report, Churchill Downs realized $47.5 million in revenue from historical-racing machines (HHRs) in January. This was a 20.1 percent spike for the company, which dominates the Bluegrass State’s gaming industry. Morgan analysts had expected Churchill Downs to record only 13.5 percent revenue growth.
The news came on the morning of February 25, the same day that marked the opening of Churchill Downs’s 225-machine Marshall Yards slot parlor. The company was slated to release its latest earnings report on the 25th, followed by an earnings call on the morning of the 26th.
Kentucky’s largest slot parlor, Derby City in Louisville, grossed $16.7 million, an eight percent increase. Its 1,230 devices averaged $438 per HHR per day.
Derby’s City’s Downtown-branded counterpart realized $1.3 million for a 1.6 percent boost. Its 409 devices recorded a win per slot per day of $102 each.
The second-largest facility, at Oak Grove (with 1,207 terminals), received $13.7 million from gamblers, a six percent hop. Its win per machine per day was $366.
Turfway Park’s 783 slots averaged $263 per HHR per day for a total haul of $6.4 million, a 16.5 percent spike. Newport’s slot parlor grossed $3.2 million, a leap of 24.2 percent. Its 421 terminals averaged $241 per day per machine.
Approaching its first anniversary, Owensboro’s HHR facility made $4.2 million or $242 per device per day, across its 559 terminals. That left Ellis Park, the state’s smallest slot parlor with 278 machines. It grossed $2 million, an 11.1 percent hike, for an average of $236 per terminal per day.
Total statewide revenue was $82 million. The statewide installed base comprises 8,383 machines, which averaged $315 per parimutuel device per day.
