Maryland’s casinos in May combined for their slowest month of the year, posting the first month-to-month drop in revenue since the state’s second casino opened in January. Slots revenue during May totaled $13.3 million, a 2 percent decrease from April, according to the Maryland Lottery. The Hollywood Casino at Perryville was the sole culprit, posting $9.6 million in revenue, a 4.4 percent decrease from April’s total. April’s $10.1 million in revenue was the highest monthly total since the casino’s first full month in October.
With the fiscal year ending June 30, the two casinos have combined for $90.4 million in revenue, with $30.5 million going to the state Education Trust Fund. That’s half as much education money as the state’s original estimate of roughly $76 million for fiscal 2011. However, those estimates assumed that the state’s largest casino, planned near the Arundel Mills mall, would be operating.
| Not a jackpot | |||||||
| May | Monthly | YTD | April | March | Feb. | Jan. | |
| Casino | revenue | change | revenue | revenue | revenue | revenue | revenue |
| Perryville | $9.6m | -4.4% | $46.2m | $10.1m | $9.8m | $9.0m | $7.7m |
| Ocean Downs | $3.7m | 5.1% | $16.6m | $3.5m | $3.3m | $3.1m | $3.0m |
| Total | $13.3m | -2.0% | $62.8m | $13.6m | $13.1m | $12.2 | $10.8m |
| Source: Maryland Lottery | |||||||
Growing business at Ocean Downs Casino, which opened in January, buffered the May slump by totalling $3.7 million in revenue for May, a 5.1 percent monthly increase.
May featured one fewer weekend than April’s five, said Don Fry, chairman of the Video Lottery Facility Location Commission. It was also likely that Memorial Day holiday and warmer weather kept people outdoors.
“Mother’s Day was also in May and so you’ve probably got people finding other ways to spend their money,” he said.
Weekends, which can average between 15,000 and 16,000 visitors Friday through Sunday, are by far Perryville’s most profitable days, said Marc DeLeo, the casino’s director of marketing.
“Friday and Saturday we do at least double or two and a half times the business we’d do Sunday through Thursday,” he said.
As the summer wears on, Ocean Downs is expected to benefit as tourists pass by on the way to Ocean City, which posted record visitation for Memorial Day weekend. Meanwhile, Perryville’s monthly revenue is expected to stabilize and pick up again later this summer, DeLeo said.
“As the summer heats up, I think people will come back inside,” he said.
Perryville’s casino operator, Penn National Gaming, has brought in $15.3 million in revenue, or $1.7 million per month. William Rickman Jr., who owns Ocean Downs, has made $5.5 million in total slots revenue, or $1.1 million per month.
