Pennsylvania slots revenue takes slight dip in 2016

Pennsylvania casino slots revenue underwent a small contraction in 2016, while the Parx Casino in Philadelphia maintained its grip atop the individual casino leader board.

Figures released Thursday by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) show the state’s 12 casinos generated overall slots revenue of $2.36b in 2016. While that’s 0.23% ($5.5m) less than the casinos earned in 2015 and well below the 2012 peak of $2.47b, 2016’s total did maintain the state’s six-year run of slots revenue topping $2.3b.

As stated, Parx led all comers with $389.8m in slots take, up 2.84% from 2015. The next closest competitor, Las Vegas Sands’ Sands Bethlehem, was up 1.8% year-on-year to $305m. Rivers Casino ranked third ($265m, -4.3%), while the Meadows ($221.6m +0.6%) narrowly beat out Mohegan Sun Pocono ($216.2m, flat) for fourth place.

Seven casino operators were in negative slots territory for the year, but the government continued to make out like a bandit, thanks to its industry-high 54% slots tax. The government’s share of the slots take came to $1.26b.