Maryland gambling revenue at USD 849 million

Stephen Martino, director of the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency, said the lower lottery sales are attributable to the growth in Maryland's casino industry. "A reduction in traditional lottery revenue occurred last fiscal year, but that money combined with Education Trust Fund proceeds from casinos produced an overall increase in gaming revenue to the state," Martino said.

The four open casinos in the state generated US$ 833.3 million in the last fiscal year, which ended June 30, with about US$ 328.1 million going to the state's Education Trust Fund. That's an increase of US$ 43.8 million from the previous fiscal year.

Baltimore's casino ready to open

Maryland's casino industry is still developing. A fifth casino in the state, a US$ 442 million Horseshoe Casino in Baltimore, is scheduled to open August 26 with 122,000 square-feet of slot machines and table games like blackjack. Maryland lottery and gaming officials believe another casino will not water down revenues. Martino said he believes the market will grow with Horseshoe's opening.

"Some of Horseshoe's revenue will come from existing Maryland casinos, and they will see a decline in their gaming revenue.  The balance will come from expanding the gaming market, including new gaming dollars coming from out-of-state visitors," Martino said.

The August 26 opening comes at a busy time for Baltimore, as Horseshoe marketing executive Noah Hirsch discussed on "11 TV Hill." "Just in the first two months we are open, you have the Yankees in town, the Red Sox in town, and the Orioles are currently in first place on an amazing run. You have the Ravens who kick off their season, and the Star-Spangled Spectacular as well, so we are very excited to be a part of all that," Hirsch said.

The casino sits on Russell Street, which can easily become congested with baseball and football traffic. Casino officials hope the 3,300-space parking garage is part of the solution.

"Folks will be able to pull right off Russell Street and head into our garage. There's no arm with people stopping them to pull tickets. So, we're really trying to do everything we can to get folks in and out as conveniently as possible," Hirsch said. Officials said parking will be free, except when there are events at M&T Bank Stadium. The city is expected to release a full traffic plan for the casino this week.

MGM Resorts International is working on building a sixth casino at National Harbor in Prince George's County near the nation's capital. Work on grading at the site already has started, and the US$ 925 million resort could open in 2016.

In addition to the money set aside for the state's Education Trust Fund, nearly US$ 39 million in slot machine proceeds in the last fiscal year went to an account to increase Maryland horse racing purses. A separate account to renovate Maryland horse racing tracks received US$ 9.5 million.

Another US$ 31 million went into a fund for local jurisdictions where the casinos are located, and US$ 8.4 million was set aside for an account for small, minority and women-owned businesses. Another US$ 11.6 million in slot machine proceeds went to pay operating costs for the lottery and gaming control agency. The number of jobs at the four open casinos rose to about 4,000 in the last fiscal year, the lottery said.