Maryland casinos set new record in May

BALTIMORE — For the second time in three months, Maryland’s six casinos have set a single-month gambling revenue record, generating $172,394,450 during May 2021.

The total represents an increase of $20,118,651 (13.2%) compared to May 2019, when gambling revenue was $152,275,799. All six casinos were closed throughout May 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The May figure surpassed the previous single-month record of $169,179,016, which was set in March.

Casino contributions to the state in May totaled $73,358,682, an increase of $9,703,306 (15.2%) compared to the $63,655,376 contributed to the state in May 2019.

Contributions to the Education Trust Fund in May were $53,285,419, an increase of $5,537,940 (11.6%) compared to the $47,747,479 in ETF contributions during May 2019. Casino gaming revenues also support the communities and jurisdictions where the casinos are located, Maryland’s horse racing industry, and small, minority- and women-owned businesses.

As part of Maryland’s effort to halt the spread of COVID-19, the casinos were closed on March 16, 2020, and began reopening with capacity limitations on June 19, 2020. Casino operators worked with local and state public health officials to develop their reopening protocols. By May 17, capacity restrictions had been lifted at all six casinos, but some slot machine and table game seats could not be occupied because casinos continue to comply with social-distancing guidelines.

Maryland’s six privately owned casinos offer both slot machines and table games: 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.

The gambling revenue totals for May are:

MGM National Harbor (2,279 slot machines, 200 table games) — $68,381,993, an increase of $9,259,517 (15.7%) from May 2019.

Live! Casino & Hotel (3,206 slot machines, 188 table games) — $61,395,302, an increase of $7,896,901 (14.8%) from May 2019.

Horseshoe Casino (1,150 slot machines, 136 table games) — $19,524,416, a decrease of $1,034,724 (-5.0%) from May 2019.

Ocean Downs Casino (852 slot machines, 18 table games) — $8,598,719, an increase of $1,361,238 (18.8%) from May 2019.

Hollywood Casino (610 slot machines, 16 table games) — $8,489,379, an increase of $1,576,716 (22.8%) from May 2019.

Rocky Gap Casino (626 slot machines, 16 table games) — $6,004,640, an increase of $1,059,003 (21.4%) from May 2019.