Colorado’s mountain casinos posted a 2.6 percent gain in revenue in 2009, helped by a 14 percent surge in December. However, only casinos in Black Hawk saw an overall increase in revenue for the year.
During the first six months of 2009, casino revenues fell 3.9 percent compared with the same time period in 2008. Over the final six months after bet limits were raised, new games were added and hours extended, revenues shot up 9.2 percent, according to the state Division of Gaming.
The changes, approved by voters, helped casinos post an increase in adjusted gross proceeds — total bets minus payouts — in 2009 after suffering a 12.3 percent drop in 2008.
For 2009, Black Hawk’s 20 casinos generated $530 million in AGP, up 4 percent from $509 million in 2008. Cripple Creek’s 16 casinos posted $140 million in AGP, which was flat from the year before. Central City’s six casinos totaled $64.2 million in AGP in 2009, down 4.3 percent from $67.1 million in 2008. Last month, casinos posted $55.4 million in AGP, up from $48.6 million in December 2008.
Andy Vuong, The Denver Post
