Pennsylvania slot machine revenue increased 7.8 %

To date, since the opening of the first slot machine casino at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs in Wilkes-Barre in November of 2006, taxes just from slot machine play have totalled nearly US$ 4.5 billion.

“Pennsylvania casinos are continuing to see significant patronage which, in turn, means our citizens have benefitted by continuing to receive property tax reduction, living-wage jobs, and funds that are supporting a myriad of projects in many communities,” says Gaming Control Board Chairman Greg Fajt. “In addition to lowering property taxes for homeowners, this revenue is funding water and sewer projects, purchases by fire and emergency companies, road improvements, and major economic development projects.”

Fajt added that the gaming industry also is employing more than 14,000 persons while spending hundreds of millions of dollars to purchase goods and services from Pennsylvania businesses.

The Board also reported that in June of this year, the 10 operating casinos generated US$ 105,108,842 in tax revenue from slot machine play, an 8.1% increase compared to June 2010.

There was also a slight uptick in the measurement of revenue from slot machines for just the nine casinos operating in June 2011 that were also open for the full month of June 2010. That increase was 0.49% with $179,455,046 generated this year compared to US$ 178,585,463 in June of last year.

The average number of operating slot machines throughout Pennsylvania at the 10 casinos was 26,390 in June 2011 compared to 24,090 at nine casinos in June 2010.