Maryland casinos have record month

$256.8 million for Education Trust Fund generated so far this year

Maryland's largest casino on Wednesday celebrated the even of its first birthday by breaking its own monthly revenue record, helping to generate a state record $69.2 million in gambling money.

The revenue total, released by the Maryland State Lottery and Gaming Control Agency, beat the previous monthly revenue high - set just last month - by more than $10 million.  The total increased the state's tax revenue from slot machines this fiscal year to $511.1 million, exceeding projections set by the Board of Revenue Estimates with a month to spare.

Maryland Live! - which opened its first phase on June 6 last year with about 3,200 slot machines - generated $55.1 million last month.  The casino pulled in $37.5 million from its 4,319 slot machines, but its revenue growth came from a spike at table games, where gamblers playing blackjack, poker and the like lost more than $17.5 million last month, up from $8.4 million in April.

The casino's share of the record total was $26.4 million. About $22 million went to the state Education Trust Fund, and the rest was set aside for grants intended for small-, women- and minority-owned businesses, horse racing and other accounts.

"It's really amazing to look back over the past year and realize how far we've come in such a short time," said Robert J. Norton, Maryland Live! Casino's President & General Manager. "We are very proud of everything we have accomplished to date, especially with the amount of jobs we have created for the region and the revenue generated for the state education fund.

"It's very gratifying to receive positive feedback from customers who view us as the premier entertainment destination in the region, and see that our revenue figures reflect the passion and hard work of everything here."