The Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency recently reported that Maryland casinos earned $163.7 million in June, a decrease from the $167.8 million earned in May. This marks the first time since the state’s casinos opened in 2010 that revenue has decreased from the previous month.
The decrease is attributed to the closure of two of the state’s six casinos, Horseshoe Baltimore and Hollywood Casino Perryville, due to the coronavirus pandemic. The other four casinos, Live! Casino & Hotel, MGM National Harbor, Ocean Downs Casino, and Rocky Gap Casino Resort, all reported decreases in revenue from May to June.
Live! Casino & Hotel reported the highest revenue of $58.4 million in June, a decrease of $7.3 million from May. MGM National Harbor followed with $50.2 million in revenue, a decrease of $5.5 million from May. Ocean Downs Casino earned $18.4 million in June, a decrease of $1.2 million from May. Rocky Gap Casino Resort earned $12.6 million in June, a decrease of $2.3 million from May.
The decrease in revenue is not surprising given the current circumstances, but it is still a cause for concern for the state’s casino industry. The state’s casinos are a major source of revenue for the state and provide thousands of jobs to Marylanders.
The state is hoping that the reopening of Horseshoe Baltimore and Hollywood Casino Perryville will help to boost revenue in the coming months. The state is also looking at ways to help the industry recover, such as allowing casinos to offer online gaming and sports betting.
It remains to be seen how the casino industry will fare in the coming months, but it is clear that the current situation has had a major impact on the industry. It is important for the state to continue to look for ways to help the industry recover and ensure that it remains a major source of revenue for Maryland.