March Slot Machine Revenue Up 29% Over Previous Year

HARRISBURG, Pa., April 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --  Slot machine-generated revenue in Pennsylvania increased by 29% during March of 2010 compared to March of 2009, while also showing a significant upturn from the revenue dip due to poor weather in February.

Figures released today by the Gaming Control Board show that the nine slot machine facilities operating in Pennsylvania during March of this year collectively generated $200,162,919 in gross revenue, compared to $155,119,467 in March of 2009 when seven casinos were in operation.  That is an increase of 29.04%.

Gaming Control Board Chairman Greg Fajt says that the weather once again played a role in the revenue figures, albeit a positive role.  The average daily tax revenue at the nine operating casinos rose a collective 18.95% in March of this year over the previous month of February.

"The upturn of the dreadful February weather to a more seasonable March certainly helped bring more patrons into the casinos, thereby boosting the Commonwealth's collected taxes," Fajt says.

Pennsylvania citizens saw a return of $110,089,605 in taxes in March of this year, an average of $3.55 million of taxes collected per day. This compares to an average of $3.3 million per day in tax dollars collected February of this year and $2.75 million per day generated in March 2009.  

Approximately two-thirds of tax revenue is dedicated toward general property tax reduction for Pennsylvania homeowners.  Last year, that reduction average $189 per household.  The remainder goes toward major economic development and tourism projects in Pennsylvania, the funding of road, safety and community improvement projects in the municipalities and counties that surround the casino locations, grants for local volunteer fire companies, and to Pennsylvania's horse and harness racing industries.

The seven casinos operating in both March of 2009 and March of 2010 also continued to show revenue increases as gaming revenue has generally been on the decline in other states that offer slot machine gambling.  That increase was approximately 1% with gross revenue of $156,261,132 in 2010 compared to $155,119,468.

Casino by casino gross revenue for each of the casinos operating in March 2010 are as follows with percentage change reflected for those casinos that were operating in both years:

The average number of slot machines operating daily at the nine casinos was 25,289 in March 2010 compared to 16,635 in March 2009.  

The Gaming Control Board provides weekly and monthly casino revenue reports on its web site, www.pgcb.state.pa.us.  In addition, videos and information on the operation of the PGCB, problem gambling efforts and avenues for assistance, future meeting schedules and past meeting transcripts, and a link to request a speaker are among the many items available to the public on the web site.

CONTACT: Doug Harbach or Richard McGarvey (717) 346-8321

SOURCE Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board