Supplier News
US – Table games help drive another record year in Pennsylvania
By Phil - 19 January 2017
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board said today that the gross total gaming revenue combining slot machines and table games exceeded $3.2bn in calendar year 2016.
While slot machine revenue was slightly down in 2016 from 2015, the Board reported that table games revenue reached a record high this past year. That amount helped propel overall gaming revenue to the highest calendar year figure since legalized casino gaming began in Pennsylvania, $3,213,422,178 or 1.25 per cent higher than in 2015. It also marked the sixth straight calendar year in which the total casino revenue figure topped $3bn.
After 10 full years of legalized casino gaming in Pennsylvania, total gross gaming revenue generated since the first casino opened in late 2006 now totals nearly $26bn.
Tax revenue in 2016 from the combined play of slot machines and table games was $1,387,831,349*. Revenue returned to Pennsylvania in the form of taxes and license fees since the first casino opening is approximately $13.3bn. There are around 26,000 slot machines and 1,200 table games statewide.
The Gaming Board’s Richard McGarvey said: “Tables really were the driver. Tables continue to expand. Slot revenues the last couple of years have been flat to slightly down. Tables are clearly still expanding. More people are playing them.”
Sands Bethlehem was once gain the top performing casino generating $230.15m from table games in 2016, marking a year-on-year increase of 7.34 per cent. Parx Casino recorded total gaming revenues of $551.6m in 2016, a 5.38 per cent increase from 2015 with table revenues of $161.82m, up 12 per cent.
SugarHouse led the state in terms of growth. It generated a total GGR of $297.7m, representing a 10.7 per cent year-over-year increase with table GGR of $116.49m, increasing 95 per cent from last year.
Valley Forge Casino Resort increased by 1.76 per cent year-over-year generating $114.7m in 2016.
On the downside Mount Airy Casino in the Poconos Mountains saw table GGR fall by 8.58 per cent year-on-year to $42.58m while its $3.61m in takings for December were a decline of 5.59 per cent whilst LadyLuck, currently being bought by Eldorado Resorts, saw its tables fall by 12.24 per cent to $4.65m.
The record results come as state lawmakers confirmed they are going to examine the possibility of introducing online casino gaming to the mix.
State Senator Jay Costa said he will be using the online gambling bill that the House passed last year as ‘the base’ for his legislation ‘to allow the Commonwealth’s gaming industry to continue to evolve and remain competitive in a responsible manner.’
The plan would see each of Pennsylvania’s 12 casinos allowed an online gaming licence for a $10m licensing fee with a tax rate of 25 percent.
A license to run daily fantasy sports would cost $2.5m. The Pennsylvania online gaming industry is pitched at being worth $300m annually.
