The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board yesterday announced that slot machine revenue in March rose over 7% from the previous year. It was also the highest single month of revenue in the state to date. The play of slot machines at the ten operating casinos produced $214,926,433 in gross revenue in March 2011 compared to $200,162,919 during March 2010, an increase of 7.38%.

The single highest month for slot revenue before this was July 2010 which saw $211,053,874 in gross revenue produced from slot machine play with a resulting tax collection of $116,079,631. However, the amount was slightly down (by under $200,000) when compared to just the nine casinos that were operating in March 2010. Parx Casino, Harrah’s Chester Casino and Racetrack, Hollywood Casino at Penn National Racecourse and Presque Isle Downs and Casino all saw a decline in slots revenue from March last year. Rivers Casino saw the largest rise in March slots revenue, up 12.49%. Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem came second with a 5.85% increase.

The number of slot machines operating last month in Pennsylvania’s ten casinos was an average of 26,592, up from 25,289 in March 2010. Last year the 55% tax on the machines revenue provided funding for road, safety and community projects in the state municipalities and counties, grants for local volunteer fire companies, major economic and tourism projects and support for Pennsylvania’s horse and harness racing industries. Approximately two-thirds of tax revenue is dedicated to general property tax reduction for Pennsylvania homeowners and last year that reduction averaged $190 per household. (E-04.05.11)

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