Maryland Casino A Huge Hit Among Gamblers In First 4 Days

Maryland gamblers have for years been waiting for the opportunity to stay in their own state when they want to place bets in a casino. Last month, they finally received that wish when the Hollywood Casino Perryville opened to rave reviews and large crowds.

Those crowds have helped the casino exceed expectations in the revenue department. In the first four days, the casino made over $two million. That was good news for lawmakers in the state that were on the fence as to whether the casino would be good for Maryland.

The casino had 1,500 slot machines when it opened on September 27th. The average daily win at each of the slot machines was $346, much more than the projected $210 per day. The best part for Maryland residents is that the money they spent attending the first few days of the casino's existence will be helpful for the Maryland education system.

Maryland is one of several Northeastern states that has expanded gambling in the hopes of helping out the state budget and the education system. Pennsylvania has led the way in recent years, and New York and Delaware have also made strides in expanding gambling. Delaware has actually legalized sports betting last year.

All of the good news for these states has turned out to be miserable news for New Jersey. The state that once held a monopoly on casino gambling in the Northeast, has now seen each of these neighboring states cut into the profits of Atlantic City casinos.

Atlantic City Casinos Watch Gambling Revenue Slip Again

Resorts Atlantic City, the oldest casino in New Jersey, is being sold and transformed with the theme of the 1920'2 in mind. What the casino and the rest of the AC casino industry needs, however, is a return to the seventies and eighties, when AC casinos ruled the gaming world.

September gambling revenue figures were released on Tuesday and it was another disappointing month for the casinos. Revenue dropped 11.6 percent from the same period in 2009, and that is not good considering the 2009 numbers were down as well.

The eleven casinos in Atlantic City all saw revenue decreases in September. The casinos have struggled for the better part of the past two years, and there is nothing to indicate that a turnaround will come anytime soon. The latest revenue figures have officials from the AC casinos again shaking their heads.

Table game revenue at the New Jersey casinos dropped 15.6 percent. That could be a direct reflection of the table games that are now being offered at Pennsylvania casinos. In July, Pennsylvania casinos started offering table games, and they have been taking customers out of AC casinos in the months since.

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Sands is winning big at the gaming table

The steady flow of buses from New York and New Jersey was a clue; now comes the proof: Table games are a winner for Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem.

The south Bethlehem casino took in $4.3 million on 89 games that include poker, roulette, blackjack and craps. That figure was the 3rd highest in the state for August, behind the $6.3 million taken in by Parx Casino in Bensalem and the $5.9 million brought in at Harrah's Chester Casino and Racetrack in Chester.

The numbers, reflecting the first full month of table game revenues statewide, were released Tuesday by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.

Table games opened in Pennsylvania in July, but because the state's nine casinos opened on three different dates, and none was open the entire month, August was the first time revenues showed casino performance on a level playing field.

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