Pa. casinos report slight drop in slots in October

OCTOBER'S gross revenue from slot machines in Pennsylvania slid slightly at the state's 11 casinos that were open a year ago, Pennsylvania gambling regulators reported yesterday.

Overall slot-machine revenue rose slightly, but only if counting a 12th casino that opened in recent months, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board said.

Casinos brought in $188.97 million in October, compared with $188.39 million in October 2012. The state's newest casino, Lady Luck Casino Nemacolin, brought in $1.7 million, meaning the other 11 casinos brought in about $1 million less.

The biggest revenue losers were The Meadows Racetrack and Casino in suburban Pittsburgh, where revenue was down 10 percent, and at Presque Isle Downs and Casino near Erie, where it dropped 7 percent.

Also, Harrah's Philadelphia Casino and Racetrack in Chester saw revenue drop almost 4 percent, while Mount Airy Casino Resort in the Pocono Mountains and Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course in suburban Harrisburg each saw revenue drop more than 3 percent.

Meanwhile, revenue rose nearly 8 percent at the Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh, 29 percent at Valley Forge Casino Resort in King of Prussia and almost 3 percent at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.

The state's first casino opened in 2006, and Pennsylvania has grown into the nation's second-largest gambling market behind Las Vegas.