By Ken Alltucker
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Twenty-four-hour gambling has proven lucrative for Southeastern Indiana's riverboat casinos over the first three months of the year.

Wagering figures released Tuesday by the Indiana Gaming Commission show that the three Greater Cincinnati-area casinos pulled in a combined $182.9 million in gaming win (or gamblers' losses) from January through March, a 12.7 percent jump over the same period one year ago.

In March, the area riverboats combined raked in $63.6 million, a 3.4 percent gain over March of 2003.

Argosy Casino & Hotel in Lawrenceburg had the strongest March among the three riverboats as measured by win gain. Argosy collected $38.6 million in win, a 4.3 percent gain over a year ago.

The win at Belterra Casino Resort in Florence increased 4.1 percent, to $12.3 million. Grand Victoria Casino & Resort's March win of $12.7 million was flat from March 2003.

Argosy general manager Larry Kinser cited round-the-clock gambling and Argosy's wide selection of penny, nickel and dime slot machines as two reasons for the casino's improved results this year.

Indiana has gradually eased gambling restrictions over the past two years with the introduction of dockside gambling in the summer of 2002 and approval last summer for casinos to stay open all day and night.

The Cincinnati gambling market's double-digit win gain in the first quarter comes as Belterra embarks on a $35 million, 300-room expansion that will make the property the second-largest hotel in Indiana. The new hotel tower opens May 1. Belterra's expansion also includes a resort-style pool and a new 33,000-square-foot conference center. The hotel is hiring an additional 60 workers to round out its staff of 1,200.

E-mail kalltucker@enquirer.com