Six commercial casinos recorded $ 4 million in revenue, according to numbers released by the state lottery that oversees the fixed-line industry in Maryland. It set a new record in the largest monthly revenue report, surpassing the previous record set just a few months ago in March when casinos won 73 $s. 2 million from players.
The year-over-year comparison does not apply as Maryland casinos closed in May 2020 in response to COVID-19 pandemic. Governor Larry Hogan shut down the gaming industry from last March mid-March to June, 000.
Since the pandemic began, few gambling markets have been as successful as Maryland. A recent report by the American Gaming Association revealed that Maryland's casinos generated some of the highest gambling revenue in the country in 2020.
Last fall, while nearly every regional casino market pleaded with players to come back, Maryland was one of only a handful of areas that actually saw revenue growth year-over-year. The proximity to Atlantic City, which was an area hit by some of the most severe restrictions, probably had something to do with it, but it cannot be proven.
These numbers have all come before Ocean State launched its sports betting market, which was legalized under its voting initiative last November. The initiative only asked voters whether sports betting should be legal, and has not created a regulatory framework for the industry. Hogan signed a law a few weeks ago that helped introduce rules for both online and retail sports betting.
The market is expected to launch this fall which should help even increase revenues more.
In May, casinos paid $ 73.4 million in taxes, most of which went to State Education Trust Trust.