Slot machine revenue in Pennsylvania rose 8.1% in June to US$193.06 million, up from US$178.58 million in June 2010. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board also announced yesterday that tax revenue produced from the play of slot machines during the 12-month period ending June 30, 2011 totalled US$1,283,992,674, an increase of 7.8% from the same period in 2009-10 when tax revenue was $1,190,592,416. To date, since the opening of the first slot machine casino at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs in Wilkes-Barre in November of 2006, taxes just from slot machine play have totalled nearly $4.5 billion.
“Pennsylvania casinos are continuing to see significant patronage which, in turn, means our citizens have benefitted by continuing to receive property tax reduction, living-wage jobs, and funds that are supporting a myriad of projects in many communities,” says Gaming Control Board Chairman Greg Fajt. “In addition to lowering property taxes for homeowners, this revenue is funding water and sewer projects, purchases by fire and emergency companies, road improvements, and major economic development projects.”
Fajt added that the gaming industry also is employing more than 14,000 persons
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while spending hundreds of millions of dollars to purchase goods and services from Pennsylvania businesses. The average number of operating slot machines throughout Pennsylvania at the 10 casinos was 26,390 in June 2011 compared to 24,090 at nine casinos in June 2010 – Sugar House Casino was not open for the full month in June 2010.
Five of the nine operating casinos have seen a small fall in June revenues this year but four casinos have achieved a revenue increase, with Rivers Casino seeing a 15.83% rise and Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem pushing its figures up by 9.6%. The largest fall in revenue was at Harrah’s Chester Casino and Racetrack, down 9.15%. (E-07.06.11)
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