Penn National Becomes Latest Seeking To Reduce Slots At PA Casinos

Penn National wants to remove 317 slot machines from Meadows Racetrack & Casino and 191 from its main Hollywood Casino in Dauphin County. Harrah’s Philadelphia won state approval to reduce slot machine numbers by 563 in June. Slots historically brought in $2.4 billion annually in Pennsylvania. Slabs are taxed at 54%.

Penn National wants to reduce slot machines at its Pennsylvania casino. The company is looking for approval of a gaming floor with 2,006 machines, 317 below the currently allowed 2.323. The application was submitted on behalf of Washington Trotting Association. It states that the slot machine shortage is due to the fact that there was an over-supply of slot Machines at Meadows. Before the closure of the WTA, the machines were not being used by the customers. They were temporarily put in storage or turned off for months.

Penn National is the latest casino operator to seek to reduce the number of slot machines at Pennsylvania casinos. The state gaming board is considering the request. The revenue report for July was $222.9 million from 25,710 machines. A year earlier, the total was from 15,659 devices. In July 2019, statewide revenue was $199.6 million. Harrah’s, Hollywood, and Meadows saw less slots revenue last month than two years earlier. Rivers Pittsburgh and Rivers Philadelphia also tailed off.