WASHINGTON — Maryland’s six casinos generated just over $141 million in December, the second-best month since casino gaming in the state began in September 2010.
That falls just shy of the all-time monthly high for gaming revenue of $141.2 million in March 2017.
December’s casino revenue in Maryland was up 5.7 percent from the same month a year ago.
MGM National Harbor opened in December 2016, so it is the first month for year-over-year comparisons to include all of Maryland’s six casinos.
MGM National Harbor accounted for 40 percent of all gaming revenue at Maryland casinos, or about $57 million, 35 percent more than it brought in in its opening month a year earlier.
MGM National Harbor opened Dec. 8, 2016, giving this year’s year-over-year comp an extra week by comparison.
The state’s second-biggest casino, Live! at Arundel Mills, in the midst of a major redevelopment that will include a concert venue and hotel, logged $47.2 million in gaming revenue, down 1.7 percent from a year earlier.
The biggest drop in gaming revenue was at Baltimore’s Horseshoe Casino, with $24 million in December gaming revenue, down 19.5 percent from a year earlier.
The state’s three smaller casinos had mixed results. Hollywood Casino Perryville’s $5.8 million gaming revenue was down 5.5 percent from a year ago.
Ocean Downs $3.7 million in December gaming revenue was down 9 percent, though construction-related expansion temporarily reduced revenue.
Rocky Gap Casino Resort had $3.8 million in December gaming revenue, up 6.8 percent from a year ago.
Maryland’s share of gross casino revenue, roughly 40 percent, is earmarked for the Maryland Education Trust Fund, local impact grants, the state’s horse racing industry and the Maryland General Fund.
Monthly and year-to-date distributions are publicly available on the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control’s website.
