Pennsylvania Slots Revenue Figures Released for March

HARRISBURG, Pa., April 4, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board today reported that March slot machine revenue rose more than 7% over March of 2010 and produced the highest single month of revenue to the Commonwealth to date.  

The play of slot machines at the ten operating casinos produced $214,926,433 in gross revenue in March 2011 compared to $200,162,919 during March 2010, an increase of 7.38%.  That resulted in a return of $117,493,637 in taxes to Pennsylvania citizens in March of this year, an average of $3.8 million of taxes collected per day from the 55% assessment on slot machine revenue.

The single highest month thus far was July 2010 which saw $211,053,874 in gross revenue produced from slot machine play with a resulting tax collection of $116,079,631.

Approximately two-thirds of tax revenue is dedicated to general property tax reduction for Pennsylvania homeowners.  Last year, that reduction average $190 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 difference in revenue from slot machines for just the nine casinos operating in March 2011 that were also open for the full month of March 2010 was less than $200,000 with $199,996,152 generated this year compared to $200,162,919 for the same period last year.

Gross revenue for each of the casinos operating in March 2011 is as follows, with the percentage change reflected for those casinos that were operating in March of both years:

The average number of operating slot machines in throughout Pennsylvania at the 10 casinos was 26,592 in March 2011 compared to 25,289 at nine casinos in March 2010.  

About the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board was established in 2004 with the passage of Act 71, also known as the Race Horse Development and Gaming Act.  Pennsylvania's first new state agency in nearly 40 years, the Gaming Control Board is tasked to oversee all aspects of the state's casino industry.  Currently, the ten casinos in operation in the Commonwealth employ over 14,000 living persons.  Casino gaming is also providing the revenue for property tax reduction, funds that have reinvigorated Pennsylvania's horse racing industry, and a new stream of tax revenue to local governments that is funding community projects.  A wealth of information about the Gaming Control Board and Pennsylvania's gaming industry can be found at www.pgcb.state.pa.us.  At this web site, visitors can view videos of Board meetings and on the operation of the PGCB, obtain  information on identifying a gambling problem and gaining assistance, look up future meeting schedules and past meeting transcripts, access an interactive map of casino locations, request a speaker for their group, along with much more information.

CONTACT: Doug Harbach or Richard McGarvey, 717-346-8321

SOURCE Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board