Kentucky HHR Revenue Increases 8 Percent Same-Store in July
TL;DR — Kentucky HHR revenue rose 8% same-store in July aided by an extra weekend day, with Derby City leading at $18.7 million and $486 per machine. Most facilities posted gains from 1.5% to 13.3%, but per-unit averages varied from $486 to $128. (48 words)
SCCG Take — The uptick is welcome yet the wide per-machine gaps signal operators must improve efficiency at lower performers to sustain sector growth beyond one-off calendar boosts.
Kentucky historical horse racing machines generated higher receipts in July. An extra weekend day lifted performance, with revenue rising 8 percent on a same-store basis and 9.7 percent when including the new Marshall Yards site.
Two major casinos paced the state in both total gross and per-machine averages. According to CDC Gaming, the results showed gains across most locations even as per-unit figures varied sharply.
Leading Facilities and Revenue Details
Derby City topped the list with 1,243 machines producing $18.7 million at $486 per device, a 1.5 percent improvement from July 2025. It was closely followed by Oak Grove and its 1,223 machines, which grossed $16 million for a 5.9 percent uptick and $421 per slot.
Marshall Yards, opened in February, recorded $1.5 million from 223 terminals averaging $216 per day. Derby City Downtown posted $1.7 million from 426 machines at $128 daily, registering a 16-point improvement in gross revenue.
Turfway Park rose 8.3 percent to $6.7 million with 782 machines averaging $278 each. Owensboro generated $5 million from 588 terminals, up 5.6 percent, at $273 apiece. Newport took in $3.3 million, a 3.9 percent increase, averaging $239 across 450 devices. Ellis Park reached $2.5 million, jumping 13.3 percent, with 296 slots averaging $270.
Where the Revenue Gaps Lie
The July figures confirm overall growth but also expose clear performance disparities, with per-machine averages ranging from $486 at the top facilities down to $128 at Derby City Downtown and $216 at the newer Marshall Yards. These gaps underscore operational limits at certain sites even when calendar factors boost totals. Kentucky operators and regulators will watch whether the sector can narrow these differences as more venues mature and competition intensifies.
Reporting: CDC Gaming
Generated by SCCG’s automated editorial system from published source reporting. SCCG Management holds editorial responsibility.
Calendar helped the top line, but $486-to-$128 per-machine spread shows half the state is leaving serious money on the floor.
We work with HHR operators and manufacturers in six states, and Kentucky's spread is a glaring signal: product mix, floor layout, and tech stack matter as much as location. The rising tide lifted most boats in July, but the lowest performers are running half-empty. That gap is fixable — or it becomes a competitive wedge.
- Derby City led at $18.7M and $486/machine; Derby City Downtown lagged at $128/device
- Most facilities rose 1.5% to 13.3%, aided by extra weekend day
- New Marshall Yards added $1.5M but averaged only $216 per terminal
SCCG angle: SCCG connects HHR operators with the content, tech, and analytics partners who've closed exactly these per-unit gaps in other markets — we've placed the floor-optimization and player-data vendors who turned lagging properties around. If you're running below $300 per machine in Kentucky, we know who can help you catch up.
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