In January, after one month of operation, the .4 billion MGM National Harbor complex near Washington, D.C. generated .8 million, ranking it as the state’s top producer by nearly million. But in February, even though slots and table games revenue dropped 14.3 percent same store versus 2016, they generated .2 million at Maryland Live! Casino, compared to .7 million at MGM National Harbor, making Maryland Live! number one in casino revenue once again. Maryland Live President Robert Norton said, “We’re here to compete. We have built a very loyal customer base that appreciates our family approach to service.”
Owned by the Baltimore-based Cordish Companies, Maryland Live has 3,941 slots compared to MGM National Harbor’s 3,212, and posted slightly higher gross gaming revenue per unit in February.
Gaming USA President Alan Woinski said typically casinos perform well in their first few months when they still are a novelty, “and then after that some people start going back to the other one. It kind of balances itself out.” Regarding Maryland Live’s comeback, he stated, “I like Maryland Live’s access right off the highway. I don’t know why everybody counts out Maryland Live. There’s probably enough business to go around.”
The state’s six casinos collected $128.7 million in revenue during February—an increase of $35.4 million, or 38 percent, compared to February 2016. Horseshoe Casino reported $22 million in revenue, a drop of 11.9 percent from February 2016. Hollywood Casino Perryville posted $6.2 million, down 4.6 percent. Revenue at Rocky Gap Casino Resort rose 13.9 percent to $4.3 million and the slots-only Ocean Downs casino posted revenue of $4 million, up 3.5 percent.
Maryland Live plans to open a $200 million hotel at the casino within a year.
