After posting the best July revenue in five years, Coast casinos saw revenue go flat in August as many summer vacations ended when the kids went back to school.
The 12 Coast casinos reported a gain in gross casino revenue of $200,000 for August, or two-tenths of one percent. Revenue increased to $98.4 million from $98.2 million in August 2016.
Year-to-date Coast casino revenue remains slightly behind last year but well ahead of 2015 numbers. From January through August, total revenue stands at $808 million this year compared to $810 million at this time in 2016 and $781 million in 2015.
Casino operators reduced the number of employees and slot machines in response to the drop in revenues, according to reports from the Mississippi Gaming Commission. Total casino employees decreased by 283 from last August, and there are 574 fewer slot machines.
Just as casino revenue has gone flat, so have hotel occupancy and rates. Bright spots for August were the jump in the number of people at Coast casinos for conferences and concerts.
Casino revenue fell by about $3 million in August at Mississippi’s river casinos and for the state.
