Rushmore Casino

With table gaming made legal in mid-July, Pennsylvania state-approved casinos saw an increase of 18% in slot machine play year-on-year. At least one casino enjoyed its all-time highest-grossing month on slots, while all but two casinos saw an increase in slot game revenue and the state itself boasted one of its biggest months ever in gaming.

The biggest beneficiary of the new law allowing blackjack, roulette and other table games was the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem. This Las Vegas-backed concern took in an incredible $24.5 million on slots in July, a 25% increase year-on-year and a 6.5% betterment of the casino’s all-time record in the category. Las Vegas Sands Corp. COO Michael Levin noted that the addition of table games also increased food and beverage sales.

Pennsylvania State Lottery executive director Kevin O’Toole was pleased with the results, stating that “It is too early to gauge a trend, but Pennsylvania casinos have indicated they have experienced a significant increase in the number of visitors since table games were rolled out in mid-July.”

The two casinos which did not see increases in slot game revenue were The Meadows Racetrack & Casino and the Mount Airy Casino Resort – and the news was even OK here. The Poconos-based Mount Airy actually saw a smaller decline in revenues that have been constantly dropping since the opening of the competing Sands Bethelem in May 2009.