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Kansas non-tribal casinos are finishing the summer strong.
August revenue was up 6.3% over July, rising from $33.8 million to $35.9 million. Casinos in Kansas have now put together positive monthly revenue growth in six of eight months from January.
Online casinos are not part of the state’s revenue report because they’re not legal in Kansas. However, social casinos (games that don’t require cash deposits) are legal.
Key takeaways
- Online casinos could bring the state more than $40 million a month.
- Kansas casinos generated $35.9 million in revenue in August.
- Revenue was up 6.3% compared to Kansas casino revenue for July 2024.
- Three of the state’s four casinos brought in more win in August than July.
Online casinos are a gold mine waiting for legalization in Kansas
Kansas online casinos are not legal but, if they were, the state’s non-tribal casino revenue would double. For example, in July, online casinos could’ve brought the Prairie State nearly $49 million:
| State | July online casino revenue | Population (according to 2023 Census Bureau data) | Per-capita revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | $215.4 million | 13 million | $16.65 |
| Michigan | $195.4 million | 9.3 million | $20.65 |
| New Jersey | $191.4 million | 10 million | $19.86 |
| Connecticut | $41.7 million | 3.6 million | $12.86 |
| West Virginia | $20 million | 1.8 million | $9.94 |
| Delaware | $6 million | 1 million | $3.90 |
| Rhode Island | $2.6 million | 1.1 million | $2.09 |
| Average | $96.1 million | 5.7 million | $16.86 |
| Kansas (projected) | $48.9 million | 2.9 million | $16.86 |
July tends to be a slow month on the revenue calendar, too. When high-revenue months like December and March roll around, Kansas casino operators could win over $60 million monthly.
Though money usually speaks the loudest in conversations about gaming expansion, it doesn’t have as much sway in iGaming discourse. Casino operators fear that iGaming could take away revenue from their land-based operations.
Unions worry that online casinos could cut into land-based casino employment numbers. And, in some cases, land-based casino developers push back on online casinos because they’re worried about a new property’s viability.
Kansas Star Casino drives August’s revenue growth
Of the four land-based casinos in Kansas, three had positive monthly revenue growth in August.
According to the casino revenue report from the Kansas Lottery, Kansas Star Casino led the way with an 8.9% rise. Its $1.2 million monthly win increase accounted for more than half of the overall increase from July to August.
| August 2024 | July 2024 | % Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boot Hill Casino | $4,142,216 | $3,814,641 | 8.59% |
| Kansas Star Casino | $14,108,274 | $12,949,967 | 8.94% |
| Hollywood Casino | $14,460,869 | $13,718,015 | 5.42% |
| Kansas Crossing Casino | $3,234,565 | $3,329,608 | -2.85% |
| Total | $35,945,924 | $33,812,231 | 6.31% |
August’s total revenue was the third highest this year, trailing only Kansas’ March 2024 gaming revenue and KS casino revenue for May 2024.
Revenue was up nearly $4 million compared to August 2023, leaping 11.9% from $32.1 million a year ago.
Additionally, this past month’s 6.3% win increase was nearly the exact opposite of August 2023’s -6.2% monthly decline.
