Maryland’s six land-based casinos have bounced back strong from pandemic-related shutdowns in the past three months, and set another single-month gaming revenue record in May.
Maryland Lottery and Gaming, which is responsible for oversight of the Old Line State’s casinos, said the properties have brought in record revenue in two of the past three months. May 2021 saw $172.3m in gaming revenue, up more than $20.1m, or 13.2%, from May 2019’s $152.2m.
Officials offered the comparison to the same month from two years ago because all six casinos were shuttered throughout May 2020 due to the pandemic.
As part of Maryland’s effort to halt the spread of Covid-19, casinos were closed on March 16, 2020, and did not begin reopening until June 19, 2020, with capacity limitations. Casino operators worked with local and state public health officials to develop reopening protocols. By May 17, 2021, capacity restrictions had been lifted at all six casinos, but some slot machine and table game seats still cannot be occupied per compliance with social-distancing guidelines.
Despite those restrictions, revenue for May 2021 topped the previous single-month record of $169.1m, established in March 2021.
Casino gaming contributions to the state in May 2021 totaled $73.3m, up $9.7m (15.2%) from the $63.6m they sent in May 2019.
Contributions to the Education Trust Fund (ETF) last month were $53.2m, an increase of $5.5m (11.6%) compared to $47.7m in ETF contributions from May 2019.
Maryland Lottery officials noted casino gaming revenues also support the communities and jurisdictions where the casinos are located, Maryland’s horse racing industry, and small, minority- and women-owned businesses.
Maryland’s six privately owned casinos offer both slot machines and table games: MGM National Harbor in Prince George’s County (pictured); Live! Casino & Hotel in Anne Arundel County; Horseshoe Casino Baltimore in Baltimore City; Ocean Downs Casino in Worcester County; Hollywood Casino Perryville in Cecil County; and Rocky Gap Casino Resort in Allegany County.
