Pennsylvania Slots Revenue for February Rebounds

Slot machines have returned $4 billion to Commonwealth Citizens

HARRISBURG, Pa., March 3, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- February slot machine revenue jumped markedly from a weather-scarred January.  The average tax generation per day rose 23% from $3.13 million per day in January, when harsh winter weather affected the ability of patrons to visit Pennsylvania casinos, to $3.86 million per day in February.

February's slot machine revenue was 17.6% higher this year over the winter weather impacted month of February in 2010.  

The play of slot machines at the ten operating casinos produced $197,925,541 in gross revenue in February 2011 compared to $168,279,514 in February 2010.  Tax collections by the Commonwealth on that amount last month was $108,191,840.  

Additionally, during the last week of February 2011 tax revenue generated from the play of slot machines exceeded $4 billion since the first casino opened in November 2006.

In a comparison of the revenue for just the nine casinos operating in February  2011 that were also open for the full month of February 2010, there was an increase of 9.67%.

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

The average number of operating slot machines at these facilities was 26,789 in February 2011 and 25,527 in February 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.  To date, with ten casinos in operation, legalized gaming in the Commonwealth has created, or helped race track facilities retain, over 14,000 living wage jobs, provided property tax reduction in each of the past three years for all homeowners, produced revenue that has reinvigorated Pennsylvania's horse racing industry, and provided a new stream of tax revenue to local governments that has funded scores of 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.

SOURCE Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board