The buzz around the launch of mobile Maryland sports betting did not have an adverse impact on non-sports wagering revenue at the state’s retail casinos in November.
The six commercial Maryland casinos combined for $163,371,464 last month, a 1.9% increase compared to the $160,363,589 in November 2021.
That year-over-year comparison should help quell fears that the ability for people in the state to use Maryland sports betting apps — which began on Nov. 23 — might put a dent in revenues from slot machines and table games at the state’s physical casinos.
Breakdown of November Maryland Casino Revenue
Four of the six Maryland casinos saw decreases in revenue compared to November 2021, but the two that came out ahead did so by a wide enough margin that the state’s overall numbers were to the good.
MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill led the way with $71.6 million in revenue for November, according to Maryland Lottery and Gaming. That was a 5.5% increase from 12 months earlier. The other facility to see an increase in a year-over-year comparison was Horseshoe Casino Baltimore, which went up 4.2% from November 2021 to record $16.3 million last month.
The other casinos were Live! Casino & Hotel in Hanover ($57.1 million in November, down 1.8% from a year earlier), Hollywood Casino Perryville ($6.8 million, down 3.4%), Ocean Downs Casino in Berlin ($6.6 million, a 0.6% decline) and Rocky Gap Casino Resort in Flintstone ($4.9 million, a 1.3% dip).
Overall, the state’s $163.3 million was down 23.3% from the previous month, but then October was an outlier. The Maryland October casino revenue set a state record at $212.9 million, easily surpassing the state record and breaking the $200 million barrier for the first time.
The gaming revenue earmarked for the Education Trust Fund came to $49.255 million in November, and total contribution to the state coffers were $67.7 million.
Awaiting Numbers From Mobile Sportsbooks in Maryland
With online Maryland sports betting launching late last month, it will be interesting to see how those numbers compare to the retail sportsbooks that have been taking wagers in the state since December 2021.
Those numbers should be reported within the next several days.
Maryland sports betting in October set a record with $39.66 million in handle but November numbers are sure to surpass those record amounts, if previous states are anything to go by.
In many states with a mobile sports betting option, those wagers account for the vast majority of wagers, far outstripping the amount bet at physical casino windows.
In some states, vast majority is an understatement — in Colorado, usually about 99% of the money wagered (or handle) is placed using mobile devices. In states with more mature markets such as Pennsylvania and New Jersey, 90% to 93% of wagers are typically placed using mobile, laptop or desktop devices.
Check out the best Maryland sportsbook promo codes at BetMaryland.com before you wager, especially if you’re new to mobile sports betting in the Old Line State.
