Maryland Casinos Record Third-Best Month Ever in April

Maryland’s casino industry continued its recovery from 2020’s shutdown with an impressive April. The state’s casinos combined to bring in $162,106,366 of revenue for the month.

That fell short of the state record $169.2 million that the six commercial Maryland casinos raked in together for March. But five of the six facilities reported a revenue increase from April 2019.

Comparisons to 24 months earlier are the measuring stick because the casinos were all closed in April 2020 as the casino industry shut down in the state (and throughout the United States) because of coronavirus-related protocols.

Maryland’s casinos were shut down from March 16 to June 19, 2020, because of measures implemented to try to slow the spread of COVID-19. And for months afterward they had reduced capacity.

According to Maryland Lottery and Gaming, MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill and Horseshoe Casino Baltimore were still only at 50% capacity in April because of local orders. The other four casinos in the Old Line State – Live! Casino & Hotel in Hanover, Ocean Downs Casino in Berlin, Rocky Gap Casino Resort in Flintstone and Hollywood Casino Perryville – are running at full capacity, albeit with some slots and table game seats unavailable to comply with social distancing guidelines.

Breakdown of Maryland Casinos in April

Hollywood Casino Perryville had the biggest percentage increase in revenue, rising 36.5% from $6.2 million in April 2019 to $8.5 million last month.

Ocean Downs Casino (up 29.9% to $7.7 million in April 2021) and Live! Casino (up 21.7% to $58.2 million) also had increases of at least 20%. MGM National Harbor, as usual, lead all Maryland casinos in revenue in April at $62.35 million in April, 2.5% better than 24 months earlier.

The only casino to experience a decrease compared to April 2019 came extremely close to matching that figure: Horseshoe Casino’s $19,675,835 in revenue for April 2021 was just $1,350 short of its total from 24 months earlier.

Maryland’s casinos derived $113.7 million in revenue from Video Lottery Terminals and $48.4 million in table games revenue in April. All told, the casinos contributed $69,924,658 to the state in April.

Maryland Sports Betting Makes Progress

The possibility of legal sports betting in Maryland is drawing closer to reality.

In April, the Maryland General Assembly passed a sports wagering bill, covering both retail and mobile sports betting options, on the last day of its session.

The bill now awaits Gov. Larry Hogan’s signature.

Online sports betting would undoubtedly be a huge boost for casinos in the state that is home to the MLB’s Orioles and the NFL’s Ravens and Washington Football Team. Live! Casino has opened a sportsbook called Sports and Social in anticipation of sports betting coming to Maryland.