Gaming generates $62.5 million in revenue for education and other state programs.
According to Maryland Lottery and Gaming data released Wednesday, the state’s six casinos generated a total of $153,754,114 in gaming revenue in January.
The total represented a $24.9 million increase, or 19.4 percent, over January 2021, when the casinos were operating under capacity constraints owing to Covid-19, according to the regulator.
In January 2022, casino gaming contributions to the state were $62.4 million, an increase of $8.5 million (15.8%) above the $53.9 million paid in January 2021.
Officials highlighted that contributions to the Education Trust Fund (ETF) in January 2022 were $45.4 million, up $6.2 million (16.0 percent) from January 2021’s $39.2 million.
Casino gaming revenue also benefits the towns and counties where the casinos are located, Maryland’s horse racing sector, and small, minority, and women-owned businesses, according to Maryland Lottery and Gaming.
MGM National Harbor in Prince George’s County; Live! Casino & Hotel in Anne Arundel County; Horseshoe Casino Baltimore in Baltimore City; Ocean Downs Casino in Worcester County; Hollywood Casino Perryville in Cecil County; and Rocky Gap Casino Resort in Allegany County are the six privately owned casinos in Maryland.
MGM National Harbor, which has 2,122 slot machines and 204 table games, led the way in January 2022, bringing in more than $67 million, up $16.5 million (32.8 percent) from January 2021.
Last month, Live! Casino & Hotel (3,754 slot machines, 187 table games) recorded $54.6 million in revenue, up $6.8 million, or 14.4%, from the same month a year before.
In January 2022, Horseshoe Casino’s 1,417 slot machines and 145 table games pulled in $16.1 million, up $2.3 million (17.1 percent) from January 2021.
In January 2022, Hollywood Casino generated $6.6 million in revenue, a decline of $188,947 (-2.8 percent) from the previous year.
Ocean Downs Casino, which contains 815 slot machines and 18 table games, likewise suffered a dip in revenue: from $4.9 million in January 2021 to $4.9 million in January 2022, a drop of $698,163 (-12.3 percent).
Despite having only 626 slot machines and 16 table games, Rocky Gap Casino’s revenue climbed 1.8 percent year over year (by $76,353) to $4.3 million.
The Maryland Lottery and Gaming Commission is in charge of overseeing the state’s casinos. The agency claims that in this capacity, it gives direction and guidance to its casino partners on financial, security, regulatory, and licensing procedures. Monthly financial reports are presented on mdgaming.com to keep Marylanders informed and ensure transparency in casino operations.
