Gaming Activities Industry News

Slots-generated money funding many local projects

HARRISBURG, Pa., Nov. 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The amount of gross revenue generated in October 2009 through the play of slot machines at nine casinos rose 31.97% over the previous year, according to figures released today by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.

In October 2009, the nine operating casinos generated $177,111,933 in gross revenue compared to $134,203,554.37 in October 2008 when seven casinos were in operation. The growth in revenue resulted in tax collections of $97,411,563 this past month, $23,599,608 more in taxes returned to Commonwealth citizens than those of last October. Pennsylvania's tax rate is 55% of gross revenue.

In a measurement of just the seven casinos in operation this October that were also in operation last year, revenue was up 6.23%.

Comparative gross terminal revenue for each of the casinos operating in both October 2008 and October 2009 are as follows:

                Casino              October 2009      October 2008  % change
                ------              ------------      ------------  --------
     Philadelphia Park Casino and
               Racetrack            $29,556,599.31   $27,166,545.79     8.80%
     ----------------------------   --------------   --------------     ----
     Harrah's Chester Casino and
               Racetrack            $25,625,358.31   $24,689,003.86     3.79%
     ---------------------------    --------------   --------------     ----
      The Meadows Racetrack and
                Casino              $22,596,904.58   $20,612,566.04     9.63%
      -------------------------     --------------   --------------     ----
       Hollywood Casino at Penn
          National Racecourse       $20,387,553.14   $16,254,891.42    25.42%
       ------------------------     --------------   --------------    -----
     Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs    $18,630,110.85   $16,400,036.63    13.60%
     ---------------------------    --------------   --------------    -----
       The Sands Casino Resort
               Bethlehem            $18,547,587.30               --       --
        (opened May 22, 2009)       --------------
         --------------------
            Rivers Casino           $16,001,752.90               --       --
       (opened August 9, 2009)      --------------
        ----------------------
        Presque Isle Downs and
                Casino              $13,075,439.46   $13,388,582.93    -2.34%
       -----------------------      --------------   --------------    -----
     Mount Airy Resort and Casino   $12,690,626.95   $15,691,927.70   -19.13%
     ----------------------------   --------------   --------------   ------
                Total              $177,111,932.80  $134,203,554.37    31.97%
                -----              ---------------  ---------------    -----

The average daily number of operating slot machines in operation in Pennsylvania was 16,833 in October 2008 and 24,712 in October 2009.

Gaming Control Board Chair Greg Fajt says that while tax revenue is certainly assisting Pennsylvanians statewide in obtaining a property tax reduction averaging nearly $200 and saving the horse racing industry, slot machine-generated revenue is also reaching into the local communities that host or are neighbors to casinos.

"In the first three years of legalized gaming, $221,124,306 has already been distributed to local governments and counties from the play of slot machines at facilities that operate in or near their jurisdiction," Fajt says. "This is new money coming into these communities to fund a myriad of projects that improve safety and transportation, create or retain jobs, and enhance the quality of life."

Fajt explains that this revenue comes from a split of the 4% tax on slot machine gross revenue from the casino in the government's jurisdiction. The local host government receives 2% or $10 million, whichever is greater, with a cap based on a previous annual budget. The host county receives a straight 2% of gross revenue which it makes available for selected projects. In some cases, revenue sharing arrangements have been established between governments.

Here are some of the uses of the local government assessment money:

Economic Development:

    --  $1.2 million to Monongahela Industrial Development Association to
        construct the Alta Vista Business Park Building in Washington County
    --  $150,000 to the Washington Industrial Development Corporation for
        implementation of a supplier-driven target marketing initiative in
        Washington County
    --  $1.3 million to the Washington County Authority for Southpointe II
        infrastructure improvements  in Washington County
    --  $1.2 million to the Washington County Council on Economic Development
        for the expansion of the Starpointe Business Park in Washington County
    --  $200,000 for expansion of the Washington Hospital in Washington County
    --  $1.05 million to the Monroe County Industrial Development Authority for
        the East Stroudsburg University Research and Technology Park in Monroe
        County
    --  $1.05 million to the Monroe County Industrial Development Authority for
        the Pocono Mountains Regional Airport in Monroe County
    --  $1.05 million to the Monroe County Industrial Development Authority for
        the Northampton County Community College's Monroe County campus in
        Monroe County
    --  $631,958 to Packerton Business Park in Carbon County
    --  $420,000 to Carbondale City Redevelopment Authority for enhancements to
        Main and Church Streets in Lackawanna County
    --  $1 million to City of Wilkes-Barre for the Northampton and Main Street
        mixed-use facility
    --  $750,000 to Dallas Borough for Misericordia University's College of
        Health Sciences in Luzerne County
    --  $500,000 to the City of Wilkes-Barre to assist in the expansion of the
        successful Innovation Center small business incubator
    --  $254,402 to Hazle Township for the Barletta Asphalt Plant Project in
        Luzerne County
    --  $1 million to Jenkins Township for the Interstate Distribution Center in
        Luzerne County
    --  $655,000 to Kingston Township for The Lands at Hillside Farms in Luzerne
        County
    --  $1.4 million to Kingston Borough for the Third Avenue / Insignia Medical
        Campus in Luzerne County

    --  $412,315 to Freeland Borough for streetscape improvements in Luzerne
        County

Road Improvements:

    --  $800,000 to the Washington County RDA for the Canton 2010 (Jessop Exit)
        Revitalization, Phase I, an existing highway interchange on Interstate
        70 in Washington County
    --  $125,000 to West Pike Run Township for replacement of the Whitehall Road
        Bridge in Washington County
    --  $298,606 to Coolbaugh Township for a new traffic light in Monroe County
    --  $208,950 to Mount Pocono Borough for improvements to Route 611 in Monroe
        County
    --  $192,000 to Lower Southampton to pay for upgrades to the intersection of
        Street Road and Central Avenue in Bucks County
    --  $478,977 to Middletown to help pay for upgrades to the intersection of
        Route 213 and Business Route 1 in Bucks County
    --  $525,000 to Derry Township for roadway improvements on S.R. 743 in
        Dauphin County
    --  $1,101,035 to East Hanover Township to repair Jonestown Road over Manada
        Creek Bridge in Dauphin County
    --  $230,844 to East Hanover Township for improvements to Early's Mill
        Road/Laudermilch Road Intersection in Dauphin County
    --  $564,844 to East Hanover Township for Firehouse Road/Fox Run Road Paving
        Project in Dauphin County

    --  $140,000 to South Hanover Township for Shetland Drive reconstruction in
        Dauphin County

Health and Safety Projects:

    --  $40,000 to Chartiers Township for improvements to the Chartiers Creek
        Sewage Facilities in Washington County
    --  $50,000 to Dunlevy Borough for improvements to the Dunlevy Sanitary
        Sewer in Washington County
    --  $275,000 to the Cecil Township Municipal Authority for the Elm Drive and
        McConnell Road Sewer Line Extension in Washington County
    --  $100,000 to Deemston Borough to renovate and restore the historic
        Deemston Borough Building in Washington County
    --  $50,000 to the Avella Area Community Association for renovation of the
        historic Lincoln National Bank building Washington County
    --  A second grant totaling $20,000 to the Cecil Township Municipal
        Authority for the Lawrence Sewage Facilities Plan in Washington County
    --  $200,000 to the Monongahela Valley Hospital for radiology digital
        imaging services in Washington County
    --  $30,000 to West Bethlehem Township, Marianna Borough and Marianna-West
        Bethlehem Joint Sewer Authority for the West Bethlehem Stream Bank
        restoration in Washington County
    --  $428,881 to the Washington County RDA for (documented) administrative
        costs in Washington County
    --  $799,195 to Wyoming Borough for public safety projects in Luzerne County
    --  $185,000 to Lower Southampton to pay for equipment that clears
        intersections during emergency response calls in Bucks County
    --  $360,292 to Swoyersville Borough for a new police station and two
        cruisers in Luzerne County
    --  $27,500 to Forty Fort Borough for a police cruiser in Luzerne County
    --  $185,273 to Laflin Borough for police department projects in Luzerne
        County
    --  $1 million to City of Wilkes-Barre for a wireless surveillance camera
        system
    --  $100,000 to Barrett Township for purchasing an ambulance in Monroe
        County
    --  $512,861 to Monroe County Industrial Development Authority for the
        Women's Resources of Monroe County
    --  $1 million to the Wayne County 911/Emergency Operations Center in Wayne
        County
    --  $240,000 to Lower Southampton and Feasterville fire companies for new
        generators in Bucks County
    --  $72,782 to Tri-Hampton Rescue Squad for global positioning
        communications equipment in Bucks County
    --  $20,000 to Bristol Township for a firearms buyback program in Bucks
        County
    --  $140,000 to Bristol Township to make the township building handicap
        accessible in Bucks County
    --  $75,000 to East Hanover Township for a Communications System in Dauphin
        County
    --  $80,000 to East Hanover Township for an IT Filing Data Management System
        in Dauphin County
    --  $122,500 to East Hanover Township for Municipal Equipment in Dauphin
        County
    --  $250,000 to Middle Paxton Township for a new fire facility in Dauphin
        County

    --  $150,000 to Rush Township for a new municipal building and emergency
        management center in Dauphin County

Community Improvements and Tourism:

    --  $166,000 to the Avella Volunteer Fire Department for improvements to the
        Avella Regional Arena in Washington County
    --  $100,000 to the Burgettstown Area Community Development Corporation for
        restoration of the Burgettstown Historic Train Station in Washington
        County
    --  $287,500 to Canonsburg Borough for renovation of their regional pool in
        Washington County
    --  $17,175 to the Claysville Area Preservation and Revitalization
        Initiative to make the Claysville Community Center handicap accessible
        in Washington County
    --  $250,000 to the Mid Mon Valley Cultural Trust for renovations to the
        historic Coyle Theater in Washington County
    --  $379,000 to the Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Museum of Rural Life for a
        Visitor Center in Washington County
    --  $192,000 to the PONY Baseball and Softball organization for renovation
        and restoration of the original Lew Hayes PONY Field in Washington
        County
    --  $300,000 to the Washington Community Arts and Cultural Center for
        building expansion in Washington County
    --  $31,965 to the Washington County Transportation Authority for expansion
        of Washington County Transportation services in Washington County
    --  $29,450 to Erie Downtown Partnership to offset expenses of Downtown
        d'LIGHTS in Erie County
    --  $420,000 to Monroe County Industrial Development Authority for Sherman
        Theatre in Monroe County
    --  $167,000 to Tunkhannock & Tobyhanna Township to restore a stone building
        at the Austin T. Blakeslee Natural Area Regional Park in Monroe County
    --  $38,998 to Mount Pocono Borough for Veterans Park in Monroe County
    --  $181,965 to Mount Pocono Borough for Deerfield Oak Street Park in Monroe
        County
    --  $160,487 to Monroe County Industrial Development Authority for Monroe
        County Family Health Center in Monroe County
    --  $292,050 to Delaware Water Gap Borough for a municipal well in Monroe
        County
    --  $619,500 to Monroe County Industrial Development Authority for a general
        occupancy facility in Monroe County
    --  $250,000 to Hawley Borough for downtown enhancement projects in Wayne
        County
    --  $293,475 to Jim Thorpe Borough for replacing a retaining wall in Carbon
        County
    --  $300,000 to Hulmeville for a new borough hall in Bucks County
    --  $150,000 to Bensalem to help clean up graffiti in Bucks County
    --  $425,636 to Dingman Township for the township's first public park in
        Pike County
    --  $250,000 to Lackawanna County for Boundless Playground to provide
        recreational access to persons with disabilities in Lackawanna County
    --  $525,717 to White Haven Borough for Engine House project in Luzerne
        County
    --  $137,000 to Upper Mount Bethel Township for recreational fields at
        Community Park in Northampton County
    --  $41,531 to Newport Township for Coal Street Park in Luzerne County
    --  $304,000 to Covington Township for Moffat Park in Lackawanna County
    --  $337,000 to Walnutport Borough for the Walnutport Borough Park, Phase II
        in Northampton County
    --  $334,100 to Palmyra Township for a Pocono Mountains Vacation Bureau
        Visitors Center and walking trail in Pike County
    --  $200,000 to Clarks Green Borough for playground equipment and
        reconstructing the soccer field in Lackawanna County
    --  $1 million to the Pike County Industrial and Commercial Development
        Authority for Pike County Public Library Headquarters and Dorothy E.
        Warner Community Center in Pike County
    --  $1,479,216 to East Hanover Township for various infrastructure and
        planning projects in Dauphin County
    --  $400,500 to West Hanover Township  for a new fire engine pumper unit in
        Dauphin County
    --  $329,000 to West Hanover Township for land acquisition for a new fire
        station in Dauphin County
    --  $188,000 to the Grantville Area Food Pantry for building addition and
        new van in Dauphin County
    --  $407,976 to South Hanover  Township  for land acquisition for municipal
        building in Dauphin County
    --  $57,900 to Northern Dauphin County YMCA to complete construction on
        Senior Wellness Center in Dauphin County

    --  $160,000 to Hummelstown Borough for Shope's Field and park improvement
        project in Dauphin County

The Gaming Control Board provides weekly updates of casino revenue on its web site, www.pgcb.state.pa.us. In addition, videos and information on the operation of the PGCB, problem gambling efforts and assistance, future meeting schedules and past meeting transcripts, and a link to request a speaker are among the many items available to the public on the web site.

CONTACT: Doug Harbach or Richard McGarvey (717) 346-8321

SOURCE Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board