March madness for Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania casinos in March produced a record-setting number of gambling wins. Figures from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board show that its 12 casinos generated a total of $309,125,131m (£236,877,378m) from a combination of slot machines and table games.
Compared to March 2018 numbers, this was a 2.86% increase. Then, combined figures amounted to $300,516,011m (£230,275,114m).
The Board said of the rise: “March’s numbers were driven by the highest single month for table games revenue of $82,527,450 (£63,241,437) coupled with the third highest monthly slot machine revenue of $226,597,681 (£173,612,337).”
Additionally, table game revenue for March 2019 increased by 4.25% when compared with March 2018. This figure rose to $82,527,450 (£63,241,437) from $79,165,791 (£60,723,207).
The biggest winner on the table games was Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem, which saw a 22.77% rise in revenue. In March 2019, it brought in $23,240,844 (£17,826,976) compared with March 2018’s $18,929,892 (£14,521,577).
Lady Luck Casino Nemacolin had the worst performance, down 41.09%. It was able to generate only $294,403 (£225,715) compared with $499,751 (£383,105) last March.
The 12 casinos are: Harrah’s Philadelphia, Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course, Lady Luck Casino Nemacolin, Mohegan Sun Pocono, Mount Airy Casino Resort, Parx Casino, Presque Isle Downs and Casino, Rivers Casino, Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem, SugarHouse Casino, The Meadows Casino, and Valley Forge Casino Resort.
Boost to gambling figures
The stats come at a time when a report from March highlighted that the state’s sports betting revenue fell by 25% in February.
According to the report, this was despite the fact that February was the first month that saw six open sportsbooks in operation. Yet they were only able to generate $1.95m (£1.49m) compared with $2.6m (£1.99m) in January.
Regardless of February’s slump in profits the report indicated, at the time, that this may be nothing to worry about as the industry was still growing in Pennsylvania.
However, with these more recent figures involving slot machines and table games, it may be that the state’s gambling industry is finally starting to flourish now and reap the rewards many were hoping for.
Not everyone is happy
Of course, while the state is enjoying the rewards from the revenue created at the 12 casinos in Pennsylvania, not everyone is on board with approval.
In mid-March, Vegas Slots Online reported that Penn National Gaming had received approval to create a satellite casino in the town of Morgantown. The Hollywood Casino was the first-ever satellite casino in the state.
These smaller casinos, also known as mini casinos, are able to host as many as 750 slot machines and 30 table games. The Hollywood Casino is projected to bring in more than $94m (£71m) to the local economy. Despite this, local residents are not in favor, according to the report.
For now, though, as the gambling industry steadily gains ground in Pennsylvania, the established casinos already placed in the state aren’t going anywhere, anytime soon.