Maryland’s casinos have generated over $100m in combined revenue in four of the last five months, although August’s total barely cleared the bar.
Figures released by the Maryland Gaming Control Board show the state’s five casinos earning $100.3m in August, 3.9% higher than the same month last year. With the exception of June, the state’s monthly revenue tally has topped the $100m mark every month since April. It’s also the ninth straight month of year-on-year revenue gains.
Maryland Live continues to rule the revenue roost, claiming $55.9m of the overall total, 7.25% higher than August 2015, while Horseshoe Casino Baltimore held on to second place with $27.7m (+0.5%). The rest of the players finished as follows: Ocean Downs ($6.2m, +2.1%), Hollywood Casino Perryville ($5.9m, -9.5%) and Rocky Gap ($4.5m, +3.4%).
Maryland Live’s owners Cordish Companies have announced that Sept. 13 will see the groundbreaking ceremony on the property’s $200m hotel expansion. The 17-story hotel, which is expected to be ready to receive guests by Q1 2018, is intended to help the casino combat new competition from MGM Resorts’ new $1.3b National Harbor venue, the state’s sixth and final casino, which plans to open before 2016 is through.
On Wednesday, National Harbor announced it will feature a 26-by-15-foot iron archway sculpted by none other than Bob Dylan (pictured). The legendary musical figure has exhibited some of his ironwork in London galleries but the archway, which Dylan has dubbed ‘Portal,’ will mark the first permanent exhibition of his metalworking hobby.
MGM commissioned Dylan to produce a piece that all National Harbor guests will encounter as they enter the property. Dylan said gates “appeal to me because of the negative space they allow. They can be closed, but at the same time they allow the seasons and breezes to enter and flow. They can shut you out or shut you in. And in some ways, there is no difference.”
