Casinos in St. Louis area have generally flat March results

BY TIM BRYANT • tbryant@post-dispatch.com > 314-340-8206 | Posted: Wednesday, April 11, 2012 12:15 am

ST. LOUIS • Area casinos turned in generally flat results in March, the slack time between winter and the start of the spring tourism season.

The area’s six gambling halls took in $103.2 million last month, up 3 percent from the $99.8 million take in March 2011. Last month’s results marked the second full year of operation of Pinnacle Entertainment’s River City casino, which shows steady double-digit monthly revenue gains.

Figures out Tuesday from regulators in Missouri and Illinois showed that three St. Louis-area casinos posted revenue gains in March while three experienced generally small declines.

Ameristar, in St. Charles, and Harrah’s, in Maryland Heights, frequently trade places as the area’s largest casinos by revenue. It was Harrah’s turn in March, when it edged Ameristar $25.2 million to $24.8 million in monthly revenue. Argosy Alton continued to struggle the most, with revenue down 9.3 percent over March 2011 figures.

April’s results could provide a clearer look at what has become a mature St. Louis casino market. In April 2011, revenue growth continued after the expansion-driven bump River City provided. The unusually mild weather this month and the start of baseball season, which is bringing more tourists — and gamblers — could show further evidence that St. Louis is a slowly growing but steady billion-dollar casino market.



Scuffling along

Casino March change Revenue (in mill.)

Harrah's 8.1 percent $25.2

River City 12.7 percent $19.3

Lumière Place -2.7 percent $15.4

Ameristar -0.1 percent $24.8

Casino Queen 2.8 percent $12.1

Argosy Alton -9.3 percent $6.4

Market total 3.3 percent $103.2

Sources: Missouri Gaming Commission, Illinois Gaming Board

https://www.mgc.dps.mo.gov/#charitable_games


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