State Slot Machine Revenue Increased 7.8 Percent for 2010-11

According to a Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board release, tax revenue produced from the play of slot machines during the 12-month period ending June 30 totaled $1,283,992,674, an increase of 7.8% from the same period in 2009-10 when tax revenue was $1,190,592,416.

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 totaled nearly $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 $105,108,842 in tax revenue from slot machine play, an 8.1 percent 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 $178,585,463 in June of last year.