Revenue Up at Maryland Casinos in December

The Maryland Live! casino pulled in $229 million in revenue in 2012, comprising more than 60 percent of all gambling revenue statewide, despite opening in June.

The Maryland Lottery reported that the casino at Arundel Mills finished the year with $35 million in revenue in December, up from $34 million the month prior. Across the state, Maryland's three casinos pulled in $45.2 million in the last month of 2012, up nearly 5 percent from November. 

However, December revenue from Ocean Downs and Hollywood Casino was $3.19 million, 25 percent less than in 2011, when Maryland Live! was not yet open. 

Maryland Live! is the largest of the three casinos, with 4,750 game terminals. Its per-terminal revenue of $244 in December was nearly double that of the Ocean Downs and the Hollywood Casino in Perryville. 

Hollywood Casino reported $5.96 million in revenue in December, up from $5.4 million in November. Ocean Downs also saw revenue rise slightly, from $3.32 million to $3.34 million. 

Ocean Downs reported $49.9 million in revenue in 2012, while Hollywood Casino reported $98.6 million. 

Casino operators in Maryland kept 33 percent of gambling revenue in 2012. The rest is directed to the state's education trust fund, local impact grants or programs to support minority businesses and the horse racing industry. 

In 2012, casinos pocketed $124 million, while directing $184 million to the education trust fund and $26 million to racetrack purses. Another $8.4 million went to fund renewal of racetracks, while the Maryland Lottery collected $7.6 million.

Maryland Live! introduced 24-hour gambling on Dec. 27 and plans to add live table games in early 2013.