Casino gaming revenues increase at Hollywood Casino

Casino gaming revenues increased by about $4 million during the past year at the Hollywood Casino in Kansas City, Kansas.

Kansas Lottery officials reported today that revenues at the Hollywood Casino increased from $144.5 million in fiscal year 2017 to $148.7 million in fiscal year 2018.

The casino has reported a steady increase every year since it opened in February of 2012, according to casino gaming revenue data from the Kansas Lottery. The casino reported $124.9 million in fiscal year 2013, its first full year of operation.

June gaming revenues at Hollywood Casino were $12.4 million, as compared to $12.5 million for May.

Keith Kocher, director of program assurance and integrity for the Kansas Lottery, reported at today’s Kansas Lottery Commission meeting that revenues at Hollywood Casino were up for this June, in comparison to last June.

He also reported that revenues at all Kansas state-owned casinos were up a total of 9 percent for the fiscal year, with Hollywood increasing 2.9 percent; Boot Hill, Dodge City, Kansas, 2.4 percent; and Kansas Star Casino, Mulvane, Kansas, 2.25 percent.

The gaming revenue from the casinos resulted in a transfer to the state of $88.9 million this fiscal year, Kocher said. Of that amount, $32.7 million was from the Hollywood Casino, $40 million was from the Kansas Star Casino, $9 million was from the Boot Hill Casino and $7.1 million was from the Kansas Crossing Casino near Pittsburg, Kansas. The Kansas Crossing Casino opened in March of 2017.

The Unified Government receives 3 percent of the casino gaming revenues at Hollywood Casino, which totaled $4.46 million during fiscal year 2018, according to the Kansas Lottery report.

Since its opening in 2012, the Hollywood Casino has sent $26.7 million to the UG, according to the report.

Terry Presta, executive director of the Kansas Lottery, said it was a record lottery ticket sales year, with an all-time high of $283.2 million in sales for the Kansas Lottery.

A total of $163.7 million, combined from the casinos and lottery sales revenues, was transferred to the state during this fiscal year, according to lottery officials. About $74.7 million was transferred to the state through traditional lottery ticket sales revenue and $88.9 million from the casino revenue.

The Kansas Lottery currently is working on the process for putting instant lottery ticket machines in locations such as convenience stores, diners and restaurants, according to Presta. The legislation to authorize the instant ticket machines passed in the last legislative session.

He said he did not expect the instant lottery ticket machines to be in place until late in the 2019 fiscal year.