Additional gaming day in 2012 due to "Leap Year" a factor in decrease

HARRISBURG, Pa., March 4, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board reported today on its web site that total revenue generated through the play of slot machines at Pennsylvania casinos during February was down 9.2% compared to the amount generated a year ago.

According to the report, this February's gross revenue at the eleven operating casinos from slot machine play was $195,945,210 compared to $215,687,739 of gross revenue in February 2012. Tax revenue generated in February of this year just from slot machine play was $105,113,514.

The Board noted that gross revenue from slot machine gaming in February 2013 was produced over a 28 day period, while February 2012 was a 29-day "Leap Year" month resulting in one of the top three revenue producing months to date.

In a comparison of just the ten casinos operating in February 2013 that were also open for the full month of February 2012, revenue was 11.5% lower this year.

Gross revenue for each of the casinos operating in February 2013 is as follows, with the percentage change reflected for those casinos.

The average number of operating slot machines throughout Pennsylvania at the 11 casinos was 26,382 in February 2013 compared to 26,309 at the casinos in February 2012. 

About the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board:

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board was established in 2004 with the passage of Act 71, also known as the Race Horse Development and Gaming Act. Pennsylvania's first new state agency in nearly 30 years, the Gaming Control Board is tasked to oversee all aspects of the state's casino industry. The 11 casinos in operation all offer both slot machine and table game gambling, employ over 16,000 people, and collectively generate an average of $4 million per day in tax revenue. A portion of that money is used for property tax reduction to all Pennsylvania homeowners; provide funds to the Commonwealth's horse racing industry, fire companies, a statewide water and sewer project grant program, and the state's General Fund; and, established a new stream of tax revenue to local governments that host casinos for community projects.

A wealth of information about the Gaming Control Board's regulatory efforts and Pennsylvania's gaming industry can be found at www.gamingcontrolboard.pa.gov. At this website, visitors can watch Board meetings live or view videos of past meetings, look up future meeting schedules and past meeting transcripts, obtain information on identifying a gambling problem and gaining assistance, access an interactive map of casino locations, request a speaker for their group, along with much more information.  You can also follow the agency on Twitter by choosing @PAGamingControl.

CONTACT: Doug Harbach or Richard McGarvey
(717) 346-8321

SOURCE Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board