BY RACHEL MELCER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Argosy Casino Lawrenceburg continued to lead the pack of Indiana riverboat casinos last month in both admissions and revenue, according to figures released Friday by the Indiana Gaming Commission.
It marked its sixth straight month as the top riverboat casino in the nation.
And Halloween was the most successful day in Argosy's almost two years of operation: There were nearly 26,000 admissions, with passengers losing $1.3 million of the $14.3 million they wagered. "Halloween was full of treats all the way around," General Manager Arnold Block said.
Grand Victoria Casino and Resort in Rising Sun, Argosy's closest competitor, saw a modest increase in business this October as compared with October 1997. It counted 339,636 admissions and a $14.8 million "win" - the amount collected at table games and slot machines before subtracting tax and expenses - last month, compared with 322,632 admissions and a $14.3 million win during the same period last year.
With 611,318 admissions and a $24.1 million win last month, Argosy nearly doubled its tallies over October 1997.
Overall, Indiana's eight riverboat casinos last month measured slight gains compared with September. But they are not doing as well as during the peak summer season.
Total admissions per day for all riverboats rose 2.5 percent, and the total win per day climbed by 0.3 percent.
So far this year, Indiana's casinos have paid $305.4 million in state and local wagering and admissions taxes.
Five casinos operate on Lake Michigan.
On the Ohio River, Argosy, Grand Victoria and Casino Aztar in Evansville are being joined by Caesars Indiana, to open next week. Hollywood Park-Boomtown debuts mid-2000 in Switzerland County.
