February 3rd, 2011 – by Glen Farmer
Atlantic City is not the only gambling market to be affected by the major weather issues that have been plaguing the northern United States. According to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, slot revenue in the state had ended up on a slight decline over the year.
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board issued a report showing that the gross slot revenue in the month of January 2011 showed that the play through slot machines in the Commonwealth’s casinos slipped approximately 3.73 percent over the previous year. The decline, albeit slight, has been one of the few declines to ever strike the state’s burgeoning gambling market.
The Board’s Executive Director, Kevin O’Toole, stated that casino management has shown that the inclement weather played a major part in reducing the overall revenue in the state’s casinos.
Casino revenue is expected to rebound as the weather stabilizes and temperature begins to heat back up.
The ten operating casinos in the state of Pennsylvania grossed $177,317,920 in gross revenue through January of 2011. This compares to the $184,214,974 in January of 2010. Tax collections brought in approximately $3.13 million in tax revenue on a day to day basis – on average.
Rivers Casino and Presque Isle Downs and Casino were the only two gaming centers to show a positive increase in revenue. Rivers Casino revenue increased 12.54 percent, while Presque Isle Downs increased a minute .01 percent. Sugar House Casino was not open during January 2010.