Northwest Indiana casino revenues drop nearly 10% in February

Casinos in Northwest Indiana reported a collective revenue of $67.4 million in February 2025, marking a 9.7% decline from the $74.6 million recorded in February 2024, according to the latest monthly gaming report released by the Indiana Gaming Commission.

Hard Rock Northern Indiana, the region’s highest-earning casino, posted $34.4 million in revenue, down from $37.9 million in February 2024. Property President Matt Schuffert attributed the decline to colder-than-usual weather and the absence of an extra day, as February 2024 was a leap year.

"Not a total surprise that the market was down just based on the weather and just based on the leap year, year over year comparable,” Schuffert told the Chicago Tribune. He noted that winter months are unpredictable for business, and adverse weather conditions this February affected casino foot traffic more than the previous year.

However, the company remains optimistic. “It’s early … but we expect March to come in as one of our top months of the year,” Schuffert said.

Ameristar Casino in East Chicago and Horseshoe Hammond also reported year-over-year revenue declines. Ameristar’s revenue dropped from $15.1 million in February 2024 to $12.8 million in February 2025. Meanwhile, Horseshoe Hammond saw a decline from $21.6 million last February to $20.2 million this year.

Comparing revenue from January to February, Horseshoe Hammond was the only casino to record an increase, rising from $17.9 million to $20.2 million. Hard Rock’s revenue dipped from $36.9 million in January to $34.4 million in February, while Ameristar’s earnings fell from $13.4 million to $12.8 million over the same period.

Despite February’s downturn, Schuffert expressed optimism for March, historically a strong month for the gaming industry as weather conditions improve and seasonal entertainment ramps up. St. Patrick’s Day celebrations and the start of the NCAA March Madness tournament are expected to drive increased attendance at casinos, restaurants, and bars.