Maryland’s casino gambling revenue enjoyed a year-on-year boost in September but failed to keep the state’s $100m streak going.
Figures released Wednesday by the Maryland Lottery and Gaming agency show the state’s overall casino revenue hitting $97.1m in September, an 11% rise over the same month last year. Table games were up 27% to $35.4m while slots gained a more modest 3.6% to $61.7m.
Despite the year-on-year gains, September’s total failed to top the $100m mark, a feat the state’s casinos achieved in four of the past five months through August. Guess the cost of back-to-school supplies did a number of some parents’ discretionary income. Thanks for nothing, kids.
As usual, Maryland Live ruled the revenue roost with $53.9m, up 8.8% year-on-year, and only slightly off August’s $55.9m. Horseshoe Casino Baltimore posted the month’s biggest improvement, rising 21.6% to $26.9m. Most of the Shoe’s gains came via its tables, which shot up 38% to $12.5m.
As for the state’s also-rans, Hollywood Casino Perryville was up 4.6% to $5.92m, just enough to keep ahead of Ocean Downs, which rose 2.9% to $5.87m, while Rocky Gap ranked last despite revenue improving 14.9% to $4.4m.
In addition to maintaining its king of the revenue hill bragging rights, the Cordish Companies’ Maryland Live was recently named the state’s Best Casino by the readers of Casino Player Magazine. All told, Maryland Live earned 10 Best of Gaming Awards in the annual survey, including Casino Where You Feel Luckiest.
Maryland Live’s GM Doug Shipley took the accolades in stride, noting that the property had won the Best Casino award every year since Maryland Live’s 2012 opening. Shipley claimed the under construction $200m hotel expansion will ensure Maryland Live’s guests continue to sing the property’s praises for years to come.
That said, Shipley will have fresh competition for next year’s survey in the form of MGM Resorts’ new $1.4b National Harbor property, which is scheduled to open Dec. 8. Maryland Live easily withstood the August 2014 opening of the Horseshoe but National Harbor presents a far more formidable opponent.
