The three southeastern Indiana gambling boats managed to tread water in 2001, compared with the year before.

        Numbers released Tuesday from the Indiana Gaming Commission show that the casinos' win — which is the amount customers lost — stayed almost even and in one case dropped.

INFOGRAPHIC

• Riverboat casino profits mostly flat

        The Grand Victoria in Rising Sun saw profits fall to $130.7 million last year from $138.7 million in 2000 with about a half million fewer visitors.

        But fewer people was one of the attractions for gamblers there on Tuesday. They said the boat is not usually as crowded as others on the Ohio.

        “I think (Grand Victoria) has the best buffet,” said Martha Cook of Worthville, Ky. “Most of the workers are more friendly on this boat. They have some of the (game) machines on this boat they don't have on the other ones.”

        Ferna Walters of Dent said the Grand Victoria is cheaper than the Argosy Hotel and Casino.

        “Argosy's too expensive,” she said. “Argosy's just too big. I don't enjoy it.”

        Ms. Walters is one of thousands making the drive to other casinos, which is reflected in the declining number of visitors to the Argosy Hotel and Casino in 2001.

        About 7.4 million admissions were recorded last year — about 122,000 fewer than in 2000.

        Despite the loss in admissions, the Lawrenceburg casino pulled in more than any other gambling boat in the state last year. The boat won $346 million in 2001, which is $2.2 million more than 2000.

        “That tells us we are in a good market,” Argosy General Manager Arnold Block said Tuesday. “In spite of the competition, in spite of 9-11, it is a good market.”

        He chalked up the loss in admissions and the relatively small increase in profits to pressure of ticket prices and complimentary programs for casino goers.

        The Argosy still charges admission — $3 to $5 — while the other two gambling boats do not.

        Mr. Block also said there was a drop-off in visitors immediately following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, but the numbers intensified in the last quarter.

        “At first the reaction was negative,” he said. “But this might be our best fourth quarter ever.”

        The Argosy's location has helped maintain profits, he said, adding that all three of the southeastern casinos are competing for business from the middle of the state.

        Belterra Casino, which is about halfway between Cincinnati and Louisville, opened Oct. 27, 2000, and posted a $14.8 million win in 2000. For the same two-month period in 2001, the Florence casino posted a $15.8 million win. Belterra's win for the year was $95.8 million.

        Belterra's admissions were up from the first two months of operation in 2000 with about 13,700 more visitors November and December.

        But the casino had to shift the focus of the operations, when it posted operating losses in the second and third quarters of last year.

        New general manager Alain Uboldi, who could not be reached for comment Tuesday, took over the Switzerland County casino in November and promised to reach a profit through increased marketing and lower costs.

        He also said hiring more minority and women-owned vendors would become a priority after the Indiana Gaming Commission blasted Belterra officials for minority business enterprise purchases that totaled only 5.56 percent of all purchases.

        Farther downriver, Caesers Indiana across from Louisville generated $29.1 million more than it did in 2000, with $215.5 million in posted winnings.

        But revenues at the Casino Aztar in Evansville dropped by $3.4 million from $96.5 million to 93.1 million last year.

        Mr. Block said one of the biggest issues for all casinos this year is new legislation for dockside gambling, which would allow customers to board at any time rather than at specific boarding times.

        An Indiana Senate committee voted Tuesday to endorse the measure that would permit riverboats to remain moored rather than making scheduled cruises, as state law has required since 1993.

        David Eck contributed to this report.

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