South Indiana casinos end 2006 strongly

Casinos in Southeast Indiana enjoyed a robust December, but annual winnings fell short of the rest of the Hoosier State. Winnings were up double-digits in December at Argosy, Belterra and Grand Victoria.

Winnings – the amount casinos gain from gamblers’ losses – were up double-digits in December at Argosy, Belterra and Grand Victoria but lagged the statewide 6.8 percent jump in 2006, according to the Indiana Gaming Commission.

Argosy ended the year with USD 476.9 million in adjusted gross revenue, up 6.7 percent; Belterra raked in USD 167.3 million, up 4.4 percent; and Grand Victoria collected USD 152.8 million, up 2.6 percent.

Both Argosy and Belterra enjoyed their biggest monthly winnings increase with respective winnings of USD 41.5 million, up 19.9 percent, and USD 14.9 million, up 24.5 percent. Grand Victoria’s monthly increase was 14.1 percent to USD 12.7 million. The casinos’ most lucrative months in 2006 varied: Argosy collected USD 42.7 million in March; Belterra got USD 16.1 million in August; and Grand Victoria saw USD 14.4 million in July.