The state’s first slots casino dialed up $2 million in revenue in its first four days of operation late last month, according to the Maryland State Lottery.
Hollywood Casino Perryville took in $2,075,839 between its grand opening on September 27 and September 30, the state agency said Tuesday. The casino had been scheduled to begin play on its 1,500 slots on September 30, but opened earlier after receiving approval from state authorities.
The revenue will be broken out as follows:
Maryland Education Trust Fund $1,006.782
Hollywood Casino Perryville $685,027
Horse racing purse account $145,309
Local impact grants $114,171
Racetrack facility renewal account $51,896
Maryland Lottery $41,517
Small, minority, and women-owned business $31,138
The local impact grants amount will be divided between Cecil County and Perryville, with the county collecting 65 percent, or $74,211 of the amount and the town taking 35 percent, or $39,960. The town’s fiscal year 2011 budget came in at $5.1 million, while the county’s budget was $238.1 million.
The facility averaged nearly $346 in gambling revenue per day for each machine, according to the state lottery. The agency said it expects to issue monthly revenue reports for the Perryville facility and any future slots operations statewide.
“The money generated from slots will benefit many important state programs, most significantly public education,” Maryland Lottery Director Stephen Martino said in a statement. “This casino opened ahead of schedule and without incident. We are pleased that it has created 350 new jobs, employing most of its workers from Cecil and Harford counties.”
So, there you have it. Our youth have not been corrupted, our morals have not been compromised and life goes on for the better (or bettor). What took so long?
Jeesh! Don’t you know anything? It takes a while to figure out who to bribe, which politicians get extra campaign contributions, etc.
Seriously though, why is it that the “no brainer” stuff takes so much longer to come to fruition? Oh yeah, that’s right! It’s taking place in Maryland!