Gambler losses steady as state casino revenues drop

SPRINGFIELD — While casinos across the state find themselves battling dwindling revenue and attendance, the amount the average gambler drops during a visit to suburban casinos hasn't changed much in recent years.

The statewide average in 2011 was just over $99 in losses per visit, but Aurora's Hollywood Casino took in about $116 per gambler and Elgin's Grand Victoria took in about $138 — the highest in the state. Those numbers refer to gambling losses, not money spent on other items like food or drinks.

When it opened last summer, the Rivers Casino in Des Plaines quickly became one of the state's most lucrative casinos, with the second highest attendance and third most revenue of all Illinois casinos in 2011, despite opening halfway in the year. So far, the casino takes in about $91 for every person who has attended since its opening in July.

The Hollywood Casino in Joliet took in about $104 per gambler on average, while Joliet's Harrah's Casino took in $118 per trip.

Those numbers haven't changed much in either direction since 2009.

“I think what we're seeing is the same people who gambled are still gambling regardless of the economy,” said Tom Swoik, executive director of the Illinois Casino Gaming Association, which represents the Grand Victoria and most other Illinois casinos.

Gamblers who go to casinos, according to Khan Mohabbat, a professor of economics at Northern Illinois University, can be separated into two different groups: those who gamble for fun and those who gamble regardless of their situation.

“It's sort of a discretionary spending,” Mohabbat said. “For some of us, we look at it as a form of recreation, just like we are going to movies, the same is true for gambling.”

Others take their gambling more seriously, and the average numbers take both into account.

The recession and indoor smoking ban have taken their toll since 2007, where casino receipts totaled nearly $2 billion for the year, with gamblers losing an average of $120 per trip statewide.

Statewide numbers have leveled the past few years, with gamblers losing on average just over $99 a trip since 2009.

A spokeswoman from Rivers Casino declined to offer any analysis for the venue's numbers, but attendance at the new facility has been strong. Aside from gambling, Rivers also offers restaurants and nightclubs.

The idea that the average gambler loses almost $100 per casino trip troubles gambling opponents, especially as the economy struggles.

“When gas and food prices are high, and people are still going out there gambling — it is disturbing,” said Anita Bedell, director of Illinois Church Action on Alcohol and Addiction Problems.

Despite the economy, lawmakers are looking to possibly build more casinos, particularly in the Chicago area. And they continue to argue that new facilities would draw people from Indiana and Wisconsin who would increase casino attendance and revenue.

“We want to keep those people here, and bring in more from other states to gamble that same amount too,” said Rep. Lou Lang, a Skokie Democrat.