(Lawrenceburg, Ind.) –Southeast Indiana’s riverboats collectively made less money in 2010 than in 2009.

Hollywood Casino file photo

But standing on its own, million more were made at Hollywood Casino in 2010 than the prior year.

The Lawrenceburg riverboat posted $437 million dollars in revenue for the year according to an annual revenue report from the Indiana Gaming Commission.  The figure is a 2.5 percent decrease from 2009.

A simple reason for the bigger revenue total was more gamblers stepping aboard at Hollywood. Attendance rose steadily to 3.9 million visitors, up 1.3 percent. 

It was Hollywood’s first full year on a new multi-million dollar-two story barge which inside more closely resembles a Las Vegas-style casino than a riverboat. The capital improvements allowed Hollywood to earn a 65 percent market share of revenue and 56 percent of visitors among its two competitors in Ohio and Switzerland counties.

Neighboring Hollywood to the south, Grand Victoria Casino and Resort in Rising Sun – sold to a Full House Resorts for $43 million in late 2010 - witnessed a steep drop in revenues of 10.5 percent to $97.8 million for the year.  Attendance fell sharply to 1.3 million visitors, off more than 11 percent.

Belterra Casino, Spa & Resort in Switzerland County had $140 million in revenue, down 9.3 percent. Revenue fell similarly at 9.6 percent to 1.7 million.

Combined, the three southeast Indiana casinos garnered $675.2 million in revenue in 2010 which was 2.2 percent less than 2009. Visitors numbered 6.9 million, down 4.6 percent. It was the fourth consecutive year each of those numbers have dropped.

Across the state, Indiana’s 13 casinos made revenue of $2.8 billion while attracting 26.5 million people.

LINKS:

Ind. Supreme Court Sides With Grand Vic

Grand Vic Sold To Vegas Company

Mayor Happy To See New Casino Owner