Politics & Government
Casinos Generate Nearly $385 Million for Maryland in FY 2013
Casinos in Maryland contributed to the state's education and racing funds, plus business and local communities.
By Brandie Jefferson
Maryland Lottery officials announced Thursday that the state's four casinos generated a total of more than $600 million in revenue during the last fiscal year, with more than half of that going toward state and local programs.
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Maryland's casinos are located in Perryville (Hollywood Casino), Hanover (Maryland Live!), Berlin (Casino at Ocean Downs) and Cumberland (Rocky Gap Casino Resort).
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In sum, these establishments produced $608,348,515 in revenue during the fiscal year ending June 30, according to the Maryland Lottery, which distributes a portion of the funds to the state.
Casinos gave $384,540,606 to the state, with most of that—$284,340,606—earmarked for the Education Trust Fund. Casinos must give 49.25 percent of slot machine proceeds and 20 percent of table game proceeds to the Education Trust Fund, the lottery agency reported.
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The Education Trust Fund supports public school construction, public elementary and secondary education, capital improvement projects and early childhood education in Maryland. The FY 2013 casino contribution to the fund marked an increase of $189.8 million from the previous year, according to a statement from the Maryland Lottery.
Earlier this summer, a report issued by PricewaterhouseCoopers concluded that gambling revenue from casinos statewide would increase by nearly $250 million if Maryland issued a license for a casino in Prince George's County.
Slots revenue also went to the following causes in FY 2013, according to the Maryland Lottery:
- Maryland Horse Racing Purse Dedication ($39.1 million)
- Local impact grants ($30.7 million)
- Racetrack Facility Renewal account ($10.8 million)
- Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency operations ($11.2 million)
- Small, minority and women-owned businesses ($8.4 million)
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