Pa. table games revenue up 4 percent in October

PATRICK WALTERS

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Gross revenue from table games rose more than 4 percent last month despite the effect Superstorm Sandy had on casino business in parts of Pennsylvania, state gambling regulators said Friday.

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board said the state's 11 casinos reported $55.3 million in gross revenue from table games in October, up 4.2 percent over the same period the year before.

But, when comparing only casinos open in October 2011 and October 2012, revenues were actually down slightly; Valley Forge Casino Resort became the state's 11th casino in March and brought in $2.2 million in gross table games revenue last month, boosting this year's total.

Earlier this month, gambling regulators reported gross slots revenue declined 4.4 percent last month compared to the same period a year ago. That decline was blamed in part on Sandy, which caused massive power outages and other problems, particularly in the Philadelphia area — home to four casinos.

Gaming board spokesman Richard McGarvey said table games revenue likely would have been higher without Sandy considering that tables, which started coming online in 2010, are newer than slots and have been growing much faster in recent months. They have typically been showing year-ago increases in the double digits.

Several casinos saw declines or flat revenues from table games last month, particularly in areas directly affected by the storm.

Parx Casino, in hard-hit Bucks County in suburban Philadelphia, saw gross table games revenue decline more than 17 percent, going from $10.1 million in October 2011 to $8.3 million last month. In Philadelphia, Sugarhouse Casino saw only a slight rise, from $6.7 million to $6.8 million.

Harrah's Philadelphia, which is just outside the city in Chester, saw table games revenue decline slightly from $6.9 million to $6.7 million.

Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh reported $5 million in gross revenue from table games, down from $5.5 million a year earlier. In northwestern Pennsylvania, Presque Isle Downs and Casino, facing competition from a new casino across the border in Ohio, saw tables revenue decline more than 25 percent last month.

Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem, meanwhile, continued its strong growth in eastern Pennsylvania. It reported $12.8 million in gross table games revenue last month, up 19 percent.