By Robert Anglen
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Southern Indiana's five Ohio River gambling boats rebounded from February's tough winter weather, with all but one posting better first-quarter revenues than in 2002.

Grand Victoria in Rising Sun, which has been struggling to maintain revenues since the state imposed a new tax structure and allowed dockside gaming, saw first-quarter revenues fall from $35.7 million in 2002 to $34.4 million this year.

Dockside gaming began in August and allows customers to come and go from boats as they please instead of waiting for specified cruise times.

Grand Victoria came back strong after February - when the region experienced its worst winter in six years - making $12.7 million. But its win was down about $300,000 from March in 2002.

Win is the amount customers lose and accounts for gross gaming revenues - the money a casino takes in before it pays salaries, taxes and other expenses.

The Argosy Casino in Lawrenceburg saw a surge in business last month, making about $4 million more than it did in March 2002 and bringing in almost 44,000 more visitors.

The Argosy is the closest casino to Cincinnati, and is the state's most profitable riverboat.

Argosy's percentage increase for the month was better than any of the other riverboats, rising from $32.7 million in March 2002 to $37 million in 2003.

Argosy general manager Larry Kinser attributed the increase to new midweek cash drawings and a new system of slot machines called "ticket in, ticket out," which allow customers to play slots on a ticket rather than lugging around a bucket of coins.

Argosy's quarter win was up $4.1 million over 2002 to $97.1 million

Belterra Casino in Vevay also had a strong March with an $11.8 million win. That is $2.4 million more than March 2002.

Belterra's first quarter revenue was $30.8 million, up about $4.7 million from the first three months last year.

Ohio River's other two riverboats - Caesars Indiana across the river from Louisville and Casino Aztar in Evansville - also posted higher first quarter revenues this year than in 2002.

But revenues for both boats were down slightly last month compared to March, 2002, with Caesars winning $24 million and Aztar winning $12.7 million.

E-mail ranglen@enquirer.com.