The Maryland Lottery and Gaming commission has revealed that the state finished 2018 on a strong note, with gaming revenues for its six casinos coming in at $148.3m, a 5.2 per cent increase from 2017’s $141m.
Also representing an increase of in excess of $8m on reported figures from the previous month, total contributions to the state came in at $61m, including $45.7m for the Education Trust Fund.
It was also noted that casino gaming revenues also support local communities and jurisdictions where the six casinos are located, as well as Maryland’s horse racing industry.
Full year figures for Maryland’s properties saw an 8.1 per cent rise to $1.74bn from $1.61bn year-on-year, of which slots contributed $1.09bn, up from a fraction below $1bn in 2017, with table games adding $653.8m (2017: $614.6m).
MGM National Harbour, which operates 3,137 slot machines and 198 table games, continued to be the market leader, recording a 5.9 per cent increase for the month of december to $59.9m, as the property also came in with an FY figure of $704m in its first full year of operation.
Hanover’s Live! Casino & Hotel continued to hold its place behind MGM, reporting a 5.7 per cent FY increase to $575m (2017: $544m), pushed along by December takings of $50m, a 6.1 per cent yoy increase.
The Horseshoe Casino Baltimore, a part of the Caesars Entertainment stable, continued its dismal year as revenue dropped 7.2 per cent to $22.2m (2017: $23.8m), helping to compound an FY showing which also decreased, this time 4.4 per cent to $259m from 2017’s $271m.
Hollywood Casino Perryville, owned and operated by Gaming and Leisure Properties, saw its December take jump 9.2 per cent to $6.2m, whilst its overall 12 month haul saw a fractional increase to $75.5m (2017: $74.3m).
Churchill Downs’ Ocean Downs Casino monthly revenue spiked 45.2 per cent to $5.4m, thanks to a 2017’s table games debut which brought it just $54,000, with FY revenue hitting $75.7m, a 23.2 per cent boost from $61.4m.
Maryland’s final entry, Golden Entertainment’s Rocky Gap Casino Resort, brought in $4.4m in December, a 17 per cent rise, with a narrow increase improving its total to $54.7m.
