Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio, and Michigan Post Record Casino Revenues in March

The USA’s casino market hit its stride in March, with four states producing their best revenue results to date, including Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio, and Michigan. Their year-on-year figures were helped along by March’s unseasonably warm temperatures, as well as this year’s calendar featuring an extra Saturday compared to March of 2017.
Pennsylvania Wins $300.5m
In March, Pennsylvania’s 12 land based casinos surpassed the $300 million threshold for the first time in the industry’s more than decade long history, with year-on-year gross gaming revenue (GGR) rising by 3.8% to $300.5 million. This beat the previous record of $296.7 million set in March 2013, and resulted in a $128 million tax injection for the Keystone State.
Last month also saw table games slip slightly by 0.48% to $79.2 million, while slots posted a 5.41% improvement to $221.4 million, marking a long term trend reversal compared to the past twelve months in which table games have been the main driving force behind growth, and slots putting a dampener on things.
Furthermore, all of Pennsylvania’s casinos reported month-over-month (MoM) growth, while all but three returned gains compared to the same month last year. Leading the way in terms of revenue was Parx Casino ($55m), followed by Sands Casino Resort ($47), and Rivers Casino ($34m), while bringing up the rear was Presque Isle Downs ($11.9m), Valley Forge Casino ($11.57m), and Lady Luck Casino Nemacolin ($3.23m).
Nevertheless, Presque Isle Downs and Valley Forge Casino also posted the second and third highest growth rates in the state of 11.02% and 10.54% respectively, while the market was led by Rivers Casino which experienced 11.08% year-on-year growth spike.
Maryland Collects $150m
Maryland’s six casinos reached a record high in March with revenues increasing by 6.3% to $150 million from a year earlier, and demolishing the previous high posted in March 2017 of $141.1 million. While the Horseshoe Baltimore saw its revenue fall by -7.8% year-on-year, all of the state’s other operators reported gains, lead by MGM National Harbor on $60.4 million (17.9%),  representing its biggest haul to date.
Even Live! Casino, which has been severely impacted by MGM’s nearby operation, noted a slight 0.9% increase in business to $24.8 million; with other venues experiencing growth including Ocean Downs Casino (26.2%), Horseshoe Casino Perryville (2.4%), and Rocky Gap Casino Resort (0.5% ).
Detroit Posts $138m Month
The $138.6 million generated by Detroit’s three casinos in March was up by 5.7% year-on-year, and beat the previous record set in March 2012 of $135.3m. Furthermore, two venues set new personal bests, including MGM Grand Detroit, whose GGR of $58.1m (+7.3%) beat its previous record of $57.2m posted in March 2012; and MotorCity Casino, which collected $49.3m, up from the $45.8m it earned in March 2013. Greektown Casino, on the other hand, generated $31.2m in March, lower than the record $34.7m it collected in March 2013.
Ohio Casinos Earn $82m
The Buckeye State’s casino and racino market both posted record revenues in March, with the former reporting a 8.3% year-on-year increase to $81.7m, and the latter a 10.1% improvement to $96.4m.
Dominating Ohio’s four casino in terms of revenue was the Hollywood Casino Columbus on $22.4m (+8.7%), followed by Hollywood Casino Toledo with $19.7m (+7.6%), Jack Cleveland on $20.2m (+23.9%), and Jack Cincinnati on $19.5m (+5.6%). Similarly, all of the state’s racinos returned year-on-year gains, led by the Hard Rock Rocksino with $23.3 million in gross gaming revenue, marking a personal best for the five year old venue. Commenting upon its impressive result, Brock Milstein, chairman of the board at Hard Rock Rocksino Northfield Park, stated:
“Since opening our doors in December 2013, the Hard Rock Rocksino has established itself as the premier gaming and entertainment destination in the market, thanks to our dedicated employees, partners and loyal guests.”