Bally’s temporary casino at Medinah Temple in downtown Chicago generated $11.1 million in adjusted gross casino revenue for March, according to figures released by the Illinois Gaming Board, furthering its trend of month-over-month gains.

It was the first time Bally’s topped $10 million in AGR since opening the venue in the River North neighborhood last September and it ranked fourth among Illinois casinos. March’s revenue represented a 12.7% increase from February’s $9.9 million and pushed its year-to-date revenue to $30.3 million.

The state’s 15 casinos combined to generate $152.3 million in overall AGR, a 16.2% increase compared to March 2023, when there were only 12 in operation. Bally’s was one of four venues to open in 2023 along with The Temporary in Waukegan run by Full House Resorts, the Golden Nugget in Danville, and Walker’s Point in Williamson County.

The state collected $22.7 million in taxes, while local communities received $9.2 million worth of tax receipts. Illinois’ casinos generated $408.6 million in AGR for the first quarter of 2024, up 13.9% compared to 2023. The $54.3 million in state taxes is $5.1 million ahead of last year’s pace, while the $24.7 million in local taxes is $4.3 million more than the first three months of 2023.

Bally’s showing staying power in table games revenue

March was the fourth consecutive month Bally’s reported a month-over-month increase in revenue, with the $11.1 million up 46.3% from the $7.6 million generated in November. The venue at Medinah Temple reported 117,870 admissions, second most in the state behind Rivers Casino in Des Plaines, and averaged $94.40 per admission.

Bally’s reported $4.2 million in table games revenue for March, ranking second in the state behind Rivers, but the Des Plaines location has 78,500 square feet of gaming space, more than double that of Bally’s. Bally’s is the only casino in the state to have generated at least 40% of its revenue from table games through the first three months of 2024. The $12.8 million in table games revenue through the first three months is $5 million more than third-place Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin.

Despite the month-over-month increase in revenue, the local tax revenue being generated by Bally’s is still falling short of the $35 million Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson projected for his 2024 budget. Bally’s has generated $3.1 million in local taxes through the first three months of 2024, and Bally’s would need to more than triple its monthly revenue to near $35 million in order to have a chance to generate the $3.5 million per month in local taxes needed for the remainder of the year to reach that projection.

Rivers remains the bell cow for Illinois casino revenue

Rivers Casino accounted for more than 30% of the state’s casino revenue, totaling $47.8 million. That was down nine-tenths of a percentage point from March 2023, with the 3.2% increase in slot revenue to $29.9 million not enough to offset the 7% decline in table games revenue to $17.9 million. Rivers, which had a state-leading 271,467 admissions, averaged $176.03 worth of revenue per admission.

Rivers has accounted for nearly half the state’s $103 million table games revenue thus far at $51.4 million. That is down 4.5% compared to the first quarter of 2023, while the $130.3 million in overall winnings is 4.8% off the first quarter of last year.

Harrah’s Joliet had the highest revenue per admission at $179.63, as 11 of the 15 venues averaged at least $100. Grand Victoria, which ranked second in slots and overall revenue at $10.8 million and $13.5 million, respectively, was the only other venue to top $150 per admission at $158.21 while counting 85,276 admissions.

The Temporary and Hard Rock Rockford — the state’s other temporary venues in action besides Bally’s — averaged $137.33 and $112.76 per admission, respectively. The $9.7 million in revenue at The Temporary in Waukegan was up 33.8% compared to last year while Hard Rock’s $6.6 million haul was a 13% increase versus 12 months prior.

The statewide average per admission was $135.28, nearly $9 less than March 2023. With the three additional venues compared to last year, admissions were up 23.9% and totaled more than 1.1 million.

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