Casino gaming revenues were mostly flat for January, according to a report to the Kansas Lottery Commission today.
January 2019 gaming revenues at the Hollywood Casino in Kansas City, Kansas, were $11.26 million, as compared to $11.19 million for January 2018.
The January figures are often lower than December figures, according to lottery officials. In December 2018, Hollywood Casino reported $13.78 million in gaming revenues.
Sometimes, weather plays a role in whether people go to the casinos. At least two January weekends had snowfalls.
Keith Kocher, director of program assurance and integrity for the Kansas Lottery Commission, said that gaming revenues for Boot Hill Casino, Dodge City, Kansas, were $3.19 million in January 2019; Kansas Star Casino, Mulvane, Kansas, $14.4 million; and Kansas Crossing Casino, Pittsburg, Kansas, $2.7 million. The four casinos together were up three-quarters of one percent compared to January of 2018, he said.
The January 2018 figures were Boot Hill, $3.26 million; Kansas Star, $14.2 million; and Kansas Crossing, $2.6 million, according to records.
For the fiscal year, the casinos together are up 1.9 percent over the prior year, Kocher said. Kansas Crossing, the newest casino, has been up for the 10th straight month, he said.
Admission was down slightly in January at some of the state-owned casinos, according to reports given to the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission. Admissions were down 1.8 percent at Kansas Star Casino and down 3.8 percent at Kansas Crossing Casino.
Hollywood Casino, in a written report, stated that January admissions were down 4.4 percent compared to January 2018. Total gaming revenue increased six-tenths of one percent, while table games revenue was down eight-tenths of one percent.
According to Hollywood Casino’s written report, four special events were held in January, with two focusing on football. Three February special promotions have already been held, while two are left for later this month, including a slot tournament Feb. 22 and a jackpot winners giveaway Feb. 23. More promotions are planned in March.
The Unified Government receives 3 percent of the gaming revenues at the Hollywood Casino, while the state of Kansas receives 22 percent.
Acting Lottery Executive Director Stephen Durrell at the lottery commission meeting discussed several bills currently in the Legislature concerning veterans allocations from lottery tickets; racetracks and percentages for racetrack games; casino contracts; and sports wagering. He said the lottery would follow the direction of the Legislature on these issues, and added that any sports wagering would have to be state-owned and operated to be legal under the Kansas Constitution.