Parx's Slots Earn $32M in December; $199M Statewide

and the rest of Pennsylvania’s casinos had a very good December for slots, according to figures released by the state Gaming Control Board on Jan. 4.

The amount of gross revenue generated through the play of slot machines at state casinos in December ($199 million) was almost 14 percent higher than revenue produced the previous December ($174 million).

At Bensalem’s Parx Casino, slots earned $32 million in December 2011 compared to $28.7 million in December 2010, an increase of 11.5 percent.

Statewide slot machine play generated $108 million in taxes. Slot machines are taxed at nearly 55 percent.

Because Pennsylvania taxes slot machines at nearly 55 percent, state casinos generated $108,342,971 in tax revenue last month. Parx’s slots generated $17.4 million.

Gaming Control Board Executive Director Kevin O’Toole said good weather, an improving economy, and continued fine-tuning of marketing by the casinos likely fueled December’s revenue growth.

"Most gaming jurisdictions, including Pennsylvania, enjoyed good weather in December which made travel easier for patrons," O’Toole observes.  "When you combine good weather with the marketing of a wider assortment of table game options not in place last December along with other amenities being offered at the casinos, factors were in place for a very good month."

The Board also reported that gross revenue for the 2011 calendar year was $2.4 billion.  This resulted in a generation of tax revenue in 2011 of $1.3 billion.

PGCB Chairman William H. Ryan, Jr. said it was the fifth year in a row that Pennsylvania saw an increase in revenue from slot machine gaming and, with the popularity of table games and the expected addition of the first resort hotel casino in Valley Forge, tax revenue should continue to grow in 2012.

"These figures portray a healthy casino industry which is producing positive results that all Pennsylvanians are feeling in some manner," Ryan said. "Additionally, municipal and county governments which host or may be near casinos will have access to tens of millions of dollars for local projects, while a steady job market that currently is in excess of 15,000 positions could grow even larger."

Gross revenue and percentage change for each of the casinos operating is as follows:

Casino

December 2011

December 2010

% change

Parx Casino

$32,008,255.46

$28,706,384.66

11.50%

Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem

$23,438,641.88

$20,724,560.05

13.10%

Rivers Casino

$22,805,310.61

$19,706,186.91

15.73%

Harrah's Chester Casino and Racetrack

$21,472,741.10

$20,737,086.14

3.55%

Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course

$20,599,046.60

$18,487,318.66

11.42%

Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs

$20,049,139.18

$17,284,240.29

16.00%

The Meadows Racetrack and Casino

$19,470,663.40

$18,311,863.31

6.33%

SugarHouse Casino

$15,712,773.58

$9,631,250.72

63.14%

Presque Isle Downs and Casino

$12,776,933.25

$11,214,272.60

13.93%

Mount Airy Casino Resort

$10,729,091.04

$9,969,473.72

7.62%

Statewide Total

$199,062,596.10

$174,772,637.06

13.90%