Hollywood Casino revenues increase for August

Gaming revenues for the Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway were up for the month of August, according to a report at Wednesday’s Kansas Lottery Commission meeting.

Gaming revenues at Hollywood Casino for August 2019 were $13.1 million at Hollywood Casino, compared to $12.6 million in August 2018, according to lottery reports. It was an increase of 4.3 percent.

Revenues for August 2019 also were up compared to July 2019, according to lottery figures.

Keith Kocher, the Kansas Lottery’s director of program assurance and integrity, said revenues for the state’s casinos increased during August, mostly because August had five Fridays and five Saturdays. The previous year’s August had four Fridays and Saturdays.

Boot Hill Casino in Dodge City had $3.6 million in gaming revenue for August 2019 as compared to $3.4 million in August 2018; Kansas Star Casino in Mulvane, Kansas, $15.7 million as compared to $15.4 million in August 2018; and Kansas Crossing in Pittsburg, Kansas, $3 million as compared to $2.9 million in August 2018, according to lottery information.

Together, the state casino revenues increased 3 percent, comparing August 2018 to August 2019, he said. Casino revenues for the fiscal year are up 1.5 percent, he added.

Stephen Durrell, lottery executive director, said that the lottery is continuing to roll out lottery ticket machines to be placed at various commercial locations throughout the state.

Two models of lottery machines, Play Central 54 and Play Central HD, are being placed at stores, bars and restaurants. There are plans to place a third model, Play Central EX, at some bars at a later time.

One of the lottery ticket machines, Play Central 54, has been placed at the Walmart at 108th and Parallel Parkway in Kansas City, Kansas, and another Play Central 54 machine has been placed at the Walmart at 128th and Kansas Avenue in Bonner Springs, Kansas, according to lottery information.

At the Sept. 11 meeting, the Kansas Lottery Commission approved a proposed budget for the agency for the next fiscal year.

According to information from the Kansas Lottery, the lottery transferred $74.9 million from lottery ticket sales and $98.7 million from casino gaming revenues to the state during fiscal year 2019.

Lottery ticket sales were up 9.79 percent for fiscal year 2019 as compared to fiscal year 2018, according to lottery information.

During fiscal year 2019, Hollywood Casino reported revenue of $150.8 million, according to lottery information. Of those funds, 3 percent, or $4.5 million, went to the Unified Government. Twenty-two percent, or $33.17 million, went to the state of Kansas.

During fiscal year 2019, Kansas Star Casino produced $40.5 million for the state of Kansas; Boot Hill Casino, $9.1 million; and Kansas Crossing Casino, $7.6 million.