October presented the best evidence yet that the US casinos are coming back after years of fits and starts since the recession slammed the industry.
Regional gaming revenues grew a healthy 2.91 per cent to $2.223bn in jurisdictions that have reported so far, which is all except Kentucky and Rhode Island. They will not materially affect final numbers.
Overall revenues, which include Nevada, rose 0.72 per cent to $3.147bn, according to Fantini’s National Revenue Report. It was the fourth time in six months that national gaming revenues have grown.
And, while regional same-store revenues fell 0.9 per cent, much of that can be accounted for as cannibalisation from new casinos in Ohio and Maryland. Otherwise, those casinos grew the market.
In Ohio, for example, same-store revenues declined 9.31 per cent, but the state as a whole grew 37.73 per cent thanks to the five new racetrack slot casinos. Almost every jurisdiction enjoyed improved results in October.
Source: Fantini’s Gaming Report
