The amount of gross revenue generated in December 2011 through the play of slot machines at Commonwealth casinos was almost 14 percent higher than revenue produced the previous year, according to figures released Wednesday by the Gaming Control Board.
According to a report posted on the Board's website, the play of slot machines at the ten operating casinos produced $199,062,596 in gross revenue in December 2011. Compared to the $174,772,637 in gross revenue generated in December 2010, that is a 13.9 percent increase, even with fewer slot machines operating. The average combined number of slot machines operating daily was 26,418 in December 2011 compared to 26,907 in December 2010.
Based on the gross revenue numbers, tax generated by the Commonwealth last month was $108,342,971, a per-day average of $3.49 million in tax revenue. Pennsylvania taxes slot machine revenue at nearly 55 percent.
Gaming Control Board Executive Director Kevin O'Toole says 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 of January through December was $2,405,867,897, or 5.8 percent higher than in calendar year 2010 when gross revenue totaled $2,273,934,190. This resulted in a generation of tax revenue in 2011 of $1,311,498,128.
PGCB Chairman William H. Ryan, Jr. says 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 says.
Ryan says that in 2012, those benefits will include a fifth straight year of school property tax reduction for Pennsylvania homeowners.
"Additionally, municipal and county governments which host or may be near casinos will have access to tens of millions of dollars for local projects," Ryan adds, "while a steady job market that currently is in excess of 15,000 positions could grow even larger."
The complete report is available online.
