Pennsylvania Slot Machine Revenue Increased 7.8% in 2010-2011

Casinos generated nearly $1.3 billion in tax revenue from slots play

HARRISBURG, Pa.,, July 5, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board reported on its web site today that tax revenue produced from the play of slot machines during the 12-month period ending June 30, 2011 totaled $1,283,992,674, an increase of 7.8% from the same period in 2009-10 when tax revenue was $1,190,592,416.  

To date, since the opening of the first slot machine casino at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs in Wilkes-Barre in November of 2006, taxes just from slot machine play have totaled nearly $4.5 billion.

"Pennsylvania casinos are continuing to see significant patronage which, in turn, means our citizens have benefitted by continuing to receive property tax reduction, living-wage jobs, and funds that are supporting a myriad of projects in many communities," says Gaming Control Board Chairman Greg Fajt.  "In addition to lowering property taxes for homeowners, this revenue is funding water and sewer projects, purchases by fire and emergency companies, road improvements, and major economic development projects."

Fajt added that the gaming industry also is employing more than 14,000 persons while spending hundreds of millions of dollars to purchase goods and services from Pennsylvania businesses.

The Board also reported that in June of this year, the 10 operating casinos generated $105,108,842 in tax revenue from slot machine play, an 8.1% increase compared to June 2010.

There was also a slight uptick in the measurement of revenue from slot machines for just the nine casinos operating in June 2011 that were also open for the full month of June 2010.  That increase was 0.49% with $179,455,046 generated this year compared to $178,585,463 in June of last year.

Gross revenue for each of the casinos operating in June 2011 is as follows, with the percentage change reflected for those casinos that were operating in June of both years:

The average number of operating slot machines throughout Pennsylvania at the 10 casinos was 26,390 in June 2011 compared to 24,090 at nine casinos in June 2010.  

About the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board:

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board was established in 2004 with the passage of Act 71, also known as the Race Horse Development and Gaming Act. Pennsylvania's first new state agency in nearly 40 years, the Gaming Control Board is tasked to oversee all aspects of the state's casino industry. Currently, the ten casinos in operation in the Commonwealth employ over 14,000 people and legalized gaming has generated $5.3 billion in tax and license fee revenue since the first casino opened in November 2006. A portion of that money is enabling property tax reduction for all Pennsylvania homeowners, providing needed funding to the Commonwealth's horse racing industry, funding grants for fire companies and water/sewer projects, and establishing a new stream of tax revenue to local governments for community projects. A wealth of information about the Gaming Control Board and Pennsylvania's gaming industry can be found at www.pgcb.state.pa.us. At this web site, visitors can view videos of Board meetings and on the operation of the PGCB, obtain information on identifying a gambling problem and gaining assistance, look up future meeting schedules and past meeting transcripts, access an interactive map of casino locations, request a speaker for their group, along with much more information.

CONTACT: Doug Harbach or Richard McGarvey (717) 346-8321

SOURCE Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board