Pa. Slots Revenue Grew in 2012

Gross revenue from slot machine play in 2012 in Pennsylvania grew by 2.7 percent and 7.6 percent at the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board reported on Thursday.

Gross revenue from slots play across Pennsylvania grew from $2.41 billion in 2011 to $2.47 billion in 2012. At the Sands, slots revenue grew from $271 million to more than $291 million.

The Sands posted the second highest slots play gains in the state after the SugarHouse Casino in Philadelphia, where revenue increased by more than 11 percent.

The Sands also became the second biggest slots play moneymaker in the state, overtaking the Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh. The Parx Casino in Bensalem is the largest slots moneymaker in Pennsylvania with more than $381 million in revenue in 2012.

Gaming Control Board Chairman William H. Ryan, Jr. said through a news release that it was the sixth year in a row that Pennsylvania saw an increase in revenue from slot machine gaming, and that tax revenue generated from the play of slots during 2012 was more than $1.3 billion. The first slot machines began operating in the Commonwealth in November 2006.

“While competition for gaming dollars from bordering states will continue to escalate, the revenue results from legalized casino gaming in Pennsylvania continue to be strong,” Ryan said.

“In addition, a healthy casino industry has resulted in the employment of more than 16,000 persons, stability in the Commonwealth’s horse racing industry, funds for major economic development and community-based projects, and property tax relief for all Pennsylvania homeowners.”

In its monthly report, the board showed a 2-percent decline in slots revenue when comparing December 2012 to December 2011. However, the Sands was one of three casinos in the state that actually posted a gain, raising 5 percent more in slots revenue in December 2012 than in December 2011 – the strongest showing in Pennsylvania.

Overall, the play of slot machines at the 11 operating casinos produced $195,049,653 in gross revenue in December 2012, compared to the $199,062,596 in gross revenue generated in December 2011.

Tax generated by the Commonwealth from slot machine play last month was $104,797,969. Pennsylvania taxes slot machines at 55%.