A record loss for gamblers at Pa. casinos

A record loss for gamblers at Pa. casinos

Harold Brubaker, Inquirer Staff Writer

Posted: Thursday, April 17, 2014

Gamblers lost $67.93 million playing poker and other table games at Pennsylvania casinos last month, the highest total since table games began in July 2010, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board reported Wednesday.

The total was $551,490 more than the figure for March 2013, the previous high.

Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem, which has been up for sale for nearly a year, continued to hold the top spot in table games, with $15.3 million in revenue, slightly less than the figure a year ago.

The biggest gain in dollars was registered by SugarHouse, which logged a $825,555 increase in table games revenue. A $155 million expansion of the Fishtown casino is expected to open next year.

The state collected $9.8 million in tax revenue from table games, the board said.

Two casino companies seeking the gaming board's blessing to build a casino in Philadelphia said Wednesday that they were joining forces to pursue a license in New York's Hudson Valley-Catskills region.

Penn National Gaming Inc. and the Cordish Cos. said they would propose a $750 million casino and resort in South Blooming Grove, Orange County. The casino would operate under Cordish's Live! brand.

The partners in what would be a 50-50 joint venture are also weighing the possibility of pursuing a casino in the Albany region, where they would use Penn National's Hollywood Casino brand.
Penn National, of Wyomissing, Pa., this year won the single license for a Massachusetts slot parlor, beating out Cordish, of Baltimore, and the owners of Parx Casino.

Cordish and Parx owner, Greenwood Gaming & Entertainment Inc., are partners in a bid to win Philadelphia's second license.

A decision by Pennsylvania's gambling regulators is expected this spring.

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