Maryland casinos generate $13.1 million in March

The state’s two casinos generated nearly $13.1 million in revenue in March, the Maryland Lottery Agency announced Tuesday.

Hollywood Casino Perryville generated more than $9.83 million, or an average of $211.50 for each of the 1,500 machines at the Cecil County facility. The Casino at Ocean Downs, which has 750 machines, took in $3.25 million for the month, or an average of $139.83.

The Perryville facility generated $9 million in February, and has taken in nearly $56.17 million since it opened Sept. 27. Its best month was October, when it brought in $11.3 million. March’s revenue is the highest since October.

The Ocean Downs casino has brought in nearly $9.42 million since it opened Jan. 4.

Officials from Ocean Downs could not be reached for comment.

While the Worcester County facility has stayed consistent in its revenue since opening, this is the third straight month that revenue has increased at Hollywood Casino Perryville.

“Once again, the strong marketing calendar is definitely working for us,” said Marc DeLeo, the casino’s director of marketing. In March, DeLeo said strong promotions on the weekends have made the casino particularly busy.

Hollywood Casino Perryville had a themed gaucho steakhouse buffet for the first two weekends in March, coordinating with staff and décor for a “carnivale” theme. On March 26, the casino ended the month by giving away GPS devices, as well as slot play opportunities and sweatshirts during the month.

“Sometimes it’s the simplest thing,” DeLeo said.

The casino will partner with the Lottery Agency to give away lottery tickets this weekend to “Club Hollywood” card carriers. The top prize is $10,000. The casino will also give away laptop computers on April 23, and have a Playboy promotion at the end of the month for the casino’s new Playboy slot machines, featuring a meet-and-greet with Tyran Richard, the men’s magazine’s Miss March of 2007.

For the Easter holiday weekend, Hollywood Casino Perryville will have more giveaway prizes and a brunch for visitors. DeLeo said he expects the promotions will keep the casino busy through the spring as the weather improves and continues to bring in more visitors.

“Every day there’s some kind of promotion going on,” DeLeo said.

Lottery Director Stephen Martino, the state’s top gaming regulator, said that sort of marketing is what’s pushing the casino’s figures.

“They’re marketing very heavily, I’ve been hearing them more on radio,” Martino said. “It’s a very robust marketing program.”

Between both of the casinos, the state has received $63.5 million. The largest portion of the March revenue, $6.3 million, will go to the state’s education fund, $500,000 more than last month. The casinos keep one-third of the revenue.