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Chicago Tribune
4 days ago
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Northwest Indiana casinos report decrease in casino revenues in July
Northwest Indiana's three casinos reported revenues of $69 million in July, a decrease of about 4.3% from the approximately $72.1 million reported for the same month last year, according to the Indiana Gaming Commission's monthly gaming report. Hard Rock Northern Indiana saw a slight decrease in earnings with about $37.3 million reported for July 2025 compared to $37.6 million reported in July 2024, according to the report. Matt Schuffert, president of Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana, said July was a stronger month compared to June, but 'flat' compared to July 2024. 'The entire Northwest Indiana market was down, for us to stay relatively flat to prior year was a good thing for us. As we're starting to finish out summer and head into fall, our entertainment calendar really starts to get a little more packed,' Schuffert said. The Fourth of July was on a Friday this year, which helped increase revenues, Schuffert said. July marked the 45th month in a row Hard Rock remained the state's leader for gaming revenue, he said. 'Definitely a good, strong month for Hard Rock Northern Indiana in July,' Schuffert said. Horseshoe Hammond and Ameristar Casino in East Chicago also reported decreases in revenue year over year in July. Horseshoe Hammond reported approximately $19 million in revenues in July 2025 and $20 million in revenues in July 2024. Ameristar Casino reported $12.7 million in revenues in July 2025 and $14.5 million in revenues in July 2024, according to the report. Hard Rock reported an increase in revenue from June to July, while Horseshoe Hammond and Ameristar saw a decrease in revenue in the same time period. Hard Rock reported $31.7 million in revenues in June and $37.3 million in July, according to the report. Horseshoe Hammond reported $21.2 million in revenues in June and $19 million in July, while Ameristar reported $12.9 million in revenues in June and $12.7 million in July, according to the report. Ameristar and Horseshoe Hammond officials did not respond to requests for comment. August tends to be 'a mixed bag,' as parents help their students go back to school, Schuffert said. But, this August has five full weekends, including a part of Labor Day weekend, which could help bump up the numbers, he said. 'It's usually a decent month, not a great month,' Schuffert said.
Chicago Tribune
16-07-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Northwest Indiana casinos report decrease in June revenue
Northwest Indiana's three casinos reported revenues of $65.8 million in June, a decrease of about 7% from the approximately $70.8 million reported for the same month last year, according to the Indiana Gaming Commission's monthly gaming report. Hard Rock Northern Indiana saw a decrease in earnings with about $31.7 million reported for June 2025 compared to $36.7 million reported in June 2024, according to the report. Matt Schuffert, president of Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana, said June is typically a challenging month for casinos as people attend graduations, weddings, and vacations. 'It's always our slowest month of the year,' Schuffert said. 'There's just a lot more things going on in people's lives. That was certainly the case this June, for us. Certainly seen one of our softer Junes since opening, but we certainly understand why.' June is a challenging month for regional casinos, as opposed to destination casinos, because people have more options to spend their budgeted entertainment dollars on as summer kicks off, Schuffert said. 'When people have other things occupying their time and taking away from their entertainment wallet, their entertainment dollar, then you're going to see businesses like this, on the entertainment side, have a lighter month,' Schuffert said. 'We budget that way, learn to live with it and we move on.' The casino added four slot machines with a $1 million jackpot in June, Schuffert said. June was the Hard Rock's lowest table game hold since the property opened, Schuffert said, which means that a lot of people won major jackpots in June. 'Certainly, that's something that we celebrate with our customers, all the wins,' Schuffert said. 'For us, kind of a challenging June, as it is for most of the market, just with a lot of other things going on and some large table games winning.' Horseshoe Hammond saw a revenue increase, while Ameristar Casino in East Chicago reported a decrease in revenue year over year in June. Horseshoe Hammond reported $21.2 million in revenues in June 2025, compared to $20 million in revenues in June 2024. Ameristar Casino reported $12.9 million in revenues in June 2025, a dip from $14.1 million in revenues in June 2024, according to the report. Ameristar reported a slight increase in revenue, while Hard Rock and Horseshoe Hammond reported a decrease in revenues from May to June. Ameristar reported $12.6 million in revenues in May and $12.9 million in revenues in June, according to the report. Hard Rock reported $39.9 million in revenues in May and $31.7 million in revenues in June, while Horseshoe Hammond reported $23.8 million in May and $21.2 million in revenues in June, according to the report. Horseshoe Hammond and Ameristar officials did not respond to requests for comment. For Hard Rock, July is trending well, Schuffert said, especially given that the Fourth of July holiday fell on a Friday this year. Then, the late summer and early fall entertainment calendar picks back up, he said. 'We look forward to rolling into that,' Schuffert said.
New York Post
14-07-2025
- Business
- New York Post
High-speed train linking NYC to Los Angeles proposed ahead of FIFA World Cup
A high-speed rail line hopes to connect Los Angeles to New York City in time for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. A proposal — dubbed 'The Transcontinental Chief' and pitched to Amtrak as well as President Trump and his secretary of transportation, Sean Duffy — would shoot riders between the country's two biggest cities in just 72 hours. Delaware-based Ameristar Rail said it would use existing infrastructure owned by Amtrak and other regional rail lines passing through major cities like Kansas City, Chicago and Philadelphia rather than launch a massive and costly new public project. Advertisement It would be funded by private investors — not taxpayers — and would carry vehicles as well as passengers, modeled after Europe's truck transport trains, Ameristar said. A proposed high-speed rail line could soon connect Los Angeles to New York City in under 72 hours. 'The Transcontinental Chief will be a great opportunity for Amtrak to team up with the private sector to confront the challenges of its money-losing long-distance trains and create opportunities to usher in a profitable Golden Age of rail travel for passengers and truckers, with the ingenuity of free enterprise, as we celebrate our great nation's 250th birthday next year,' Scott Spencer, AmeriStarRail's chief operating officer, wrote in a letter to Amtrak, according to Newsweek. Advertisement AmeriStarRail hopes to have it running by May 10, 2026 — in time for the FIFA World Cup, which is being hosted across North America, with the finals at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The plan has been pitched to President Trump and Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, the paper reported. The Trump administration has been notified of the proposal, which would utilize already-existing rail infrastructure. muratart – Ameristar leaders said taxpayers will not foot the project, which would be funded by private investors. Advertisement 'Subject to operating agreements with the host railroads (BNSF, Norfolk Southern and New Jersey Transit) the Transcontinental Chief can start operations on National Train Day, Sunday, May 10, 2026 to begin serving tourists for America 250 celebrations and the 2026 FIFA World Cup,' a spokesperson said. 'The Transcontinental Chief can be privately operated and funded, without new congressional legislation or additional federal spending.' Amtrak has not yet responded to the proposal, according to Newsweek.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Yahoo
Chicago man charged in deadly Hammond crash
A Chicago man is charged in a drunken deadly Hammond crash in March. Joellic Herron, 30, is charged with Causing Death When Operating a Motor Vehicle with a blood alcohol content of .08% or More, Causing Catastrophic Injury When Operating a Motor Vehicle with a blood alcohol content of .08% or More and Causing Serious Bodily Injury when Operating a Motor Vehicle with a blood alcohol content of .08% or More. He has not been apprehended. When arrested, he is ordered held without bail. When Hammond police arrived just before 1 p.m. March 15 on the 3000 block of Michigan Street, they concluded Herron went into the east lanes and hit another car head-on. Rosa M Lopez, 72, a passenger in the other vehicle, was later pronounced dead. She died from abdominal injuries from the crash. Lopez's husband had four fractured ribs and a fractured leg. A female in Herron's vehicle was also injured. Lopez's husband said they went to the Ameristar casino in East Chicago for a few hours that morning and were headed to Cline Avenue to go home to Illinois. 'It all happened too quickly,' he said. 'All I remember saying is Mamma Mia. I grabbed the steering wheel and then my mind went blank.' His wife said she couldn't feel her legs. She was crying from the pain. A native of Mexico, she lived in south Chicago, then the south suburbs and was a beloved mother and grandmother, according to her obituary. She was the 'cherished backbone' of the family — who made delicious Mexican food, loved the casinos and had an 'unparalleled talent for spreading happiness.' A new court date is not yet set. mcolias@
Chicago Tribune
06-06-2025
- Chicago Tribune
Chicago man charged in deadly Hammond crash
A Chicago man is charged in a drunken deadly Hammond crash in March. Joellic Herron, 30, is charged with Causing Death When Operating a Motor Vehicle with a blood alcohol content of .08% or More, Causing Catastrophic Injury When Operating a Motor Vehicle with a blood alcohol content of .08% or More and Causing Serious Bodily Injury when Operating a Motor Vehicle with a blood alcohol content of .08% or More. He has not been apprehended. When arrested, he is ordered held without bail. When Hammond police arrived just before 1 p.m. March 15 on the 3000 block of Michigan Street, they concluded Herron went into the east lanes and hit another car head-on. Rosa M Lopez, 72, a passenger in the other vehicle, was later pronounced dead. She died from abdominal injuries from the crash. Lopez's husband had four fractured ribs and a fractured leg. A female in Herron's vehicle was also injured. Lopez's husband said they went to the Ameristar casino in East Chicago for a few hours that morning and were headed to Cline Avenue to go home to Illinois. 'It all happened too quickly,' he said. 'All I remember saying is Mamma Mia. I grabbed the steering wheel and then my mind went blank.' His wife said she couldn't feel her legs. She was crying from the pain. A native of Mexico, she lived in south Chicago, then the south suburbs and was a beloved mother and grandmother, according to her obituary. She was the 'cherished backbone' of the family — who made delicious Mexican food, loved the casinos and had an 'unparalleled talent for spreading happiness.' A new court date is not yet set.
