By Miles Flynn | Southern Indiana Business Report
FRENCH LICK — French Lick Casino had a strong April, according to the Indiana Gaming Commission Summary of Wagering and Supplemental Tax, but the facility’s revenue still has some catching up to do to get back to pre-COVID normal.
The casino’s taxable adjusted gross revenue for the month was reported at $6,622,633. The figure is down from the stellar comeback month of March by $528,032 — a dip of 7%. Since the casino was completely closed down in April 2020 due to COVID, a look back a year earlier to a normal April provides a better benchmark. Revenue is down $1,199,917 — or 15% — in that comparison.
With eight months of the fiscal year now in the books, French Lick Casino’s running AGR total for the period stands at $51,052,584. The figure is down $8,976,553 — or 15% – from this time last year. That gap will continue to narrow quickly during the next couple of months due to the 2020 closure.
Turning to the statewide numbers, the combined AGR from the 13 Indiana casinos amounted to $202,881,063 for April. That figure is up $4,050,692 — 2% — from March. Going with the same April 2019 comparison used for French Lick, the state total is up $27,820,876 — 16% — for the period.
The fiscal year AGR total for all properties is now at $1,576,469,597. The total is up $118,174,956 — 8% — from this time one year ago.
Taking a look at taxes, French Lick Casino paid $826,293 in wagering tax and $36,602 in sports wagering tax for a combined total of $862,895 in total taxes for April. Total taxes for the fiscal year thus far amount to $4,455,326.
Statewide, properties paid $62,911,571 in wagering tax, $1,907,521 in sports wagering tax and $4,287,543 in supplemental wagering tax, for a total of $69,106,635 for April. Total taxes for the fiscal year now stand at $69,106,635.