Pennsylvania Slot Machine Revenue Rises 8.2% in June

In the fiscal year, casinos generated nearly $1.2 billion in tax revenue from slots play

HARRISBURG, Pa., July 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On the brink of adding table games, Pennsylvania's nine operating casinos generated $98,222,005 in tax revenue from slot machine play during June of this year, an 8.17% increase compared to June, 2009.

At the June 30th close of Pennsylvania's 2009/10 fiscal year, tax revenue from slot machines totaled $1,190,592,416, an increase of 23.42% from the 2008/09 fiscal year in which tax collections were $964,701,535.  

To date, since the opening of the first slot machine casino at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs in Wilkes-Barre in November of 2006, taxes from slot machine play have totaled $3,177,927,142.  When including license fees paid for both slot machines and table games, that figure rises to more than $3.9 billion.

Taxes from the play of slot machines fund property tax reduction, support the Commonwealth's horse racing industry, finance economic development and tourism projects, and provide revenue to local governments and fire companies.

Gaming Control Board Chairman Greg Fajt says the impact of legalized gaming in regards to revenue and jobs after just three and a half years has been significant.

"There is no disputing the fact that many Pennsylvanians who enjoy the adult entertainment offered by casinos are spending their dollars in Pennsylvania rather than at casinos in other states," Fajt says.  "The result is that all Pennsylvanians are benefiting from the tremendous generation of tax dollars and thousands of new living wage jobs created by this industry."

Specifically, Fajt notes that revenue from taxes and licensing fees returned to Pennsylvanians is approaching $4 billion, with a significant portion of that leading to the Commonwealth's first reduction of property taxes for all homeowners.

In addition, he says the gaming industry today employs over 8,200 persons, 94-percent whom live in Pennsylvania, with that number rising another 4,400 after implementation of table games in the coming weeks.  Casinos also employed another 9,000 persons for construction-related work during both the initial building phase of the casinos and for any additional expansion to accommodate table games.

The Gaming Control Board also reported that tax collection during June, 2010 averaged $3.27 million per day, and that the average number of slot machines collectively operating at the nine casinos was 24,090.

The Board also analyzed revenue from the eight casinos that have operated for at least a full year, and revenue at half of these was up in June, compared to the same month in 2009. Overall, revenue at these eight casinos open for a full year was down by 3.42%.

Gross revenue for each of the casinos operating in June 2010 is as follows with percentage change reflected for those casinos that were operating in both years:

All casinos plan to roll out table games by July 18th.  The Gaming Control Board will conduct test periods at three casinos each day on July 6th, 11th, and 16th. With proper approvals, each casino would be permitted to open up tables games to the general public two days after those test periods have been completed.

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