Hollywood Casino Perryville

Slots revenue from Maryland's two casinos dropped in August, falling nearly 16 percent to $13 million, the state lottery reported Tuesday. Hollywood Casino Perryville, which opened almost a year ago, generated $8.5 million last month, down from $10.2 million in July. The Eastern Shore's Casino at Ocean Downs — which closed for two days because of Hurricane Irene — operated for only 29 days last month and posted $4.6 million in revenue, down from $5.3 million in July, state officials said.

As Cecil County and Perryville continue to spar about the division of revenue they are due from the Hollywood Casino Perryville, the state lottery reported another $10 million-plus revenue month for the casino in July. Unfortunately for the county and for Perryville, their prospective share started getting cut effective July 1. Though Cecil and Perryville had at one time agreed on a 65-35 split of the 5.5 percent local revenue share from Hollywood Casino Perryville, the county wants the town to pick up millions of infrastructure costs the casino operator incurred in building the casino last year.

Slots revenue from Maryland's two casinos declined in June for the second straight month, dropping 5 percent to $12.61 million, the Maryland Lottery reported Tuesday. Hollywood Casino Perryville, the larger of the two, brought in some $784,000 less than in May. The 1,500-machine casino, which opened in September, took in $8.82 million, down from $9.61 million the previous month. The casino generated an average of $196.05 per machine per day in June. The decline at Perryville was offset in part by revenue increases at the smaller Casino at Ocean Downs, which took in nearly $3.78 million last month, up from $3.69 million in May. Sales at the 750-machine Eastern Shore casino have steadily increased since it opened in January.

State slot machine revenue declined in May for the first time this year, officials reported Monday, as another month of gains at the Casino at Ocean Downs was weighed down by a $446,000 drop at the larger Hollywood Casino Perryville. Officials at the Perryville casino, the first of Maryland's two slots parlors, say they are still figuring out the rhythm of business in the first year. The 1,500-machine casino, which opened in September and had reported gains each month since December, took in $9.61 million in May, down from $10.05 million in April, the Maryland Lottery reported Monday.

Cecil County is taking applications from non-profits and municipalities who would like a chance at getting part of the county's share of revenues from Hollywood Casino Perryville. The applications will be accepted until 4:30 p.m. on June 17. Non-profits and municipalities will be judged on a point system to determine their eligibility. They must be within the immediate proximity of the casino or, if farther away, must demonstrate that their clients are within the immediate proximity.

Penn National Gaming said Tuesday that it is getting close to reaching an agreement to divest its stake in the Maryland Jockey Club, which operates Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course , the home of the Preakness Stakes. Eric Schippers, a spokesman for Penn National, said final details are being worked out with Canadian real estate company MI Developments, the Jockey Club's majority owner. The two owners, which at times have appeared at odds on racing issues, have been in talks since early this year to restructure their joint venture to own and operate the tracks.

Maryland's two casinos took in nearly $13.6 million in slots revenue in April, the Maryland Lottery announced Tuesday. Hollywood Casino Perryville, the larger of the two slots parlors, generated $10 million in April, the second-biggest take since its opening in late September. Perryville's per-machine daily revenue in April was $223.38, the casino's best showing in six months. The revenue reflects money the casinos take in after winners are paid but before expenses and other costs are deducted.

Howard Community College offered its first casino management course last fall, and now it appears primed to keep pace with a local gambling scene that is moving as fast as a slot machine reel. Launched as part of HCC's hospitality and culinary management degree program, the casino management program will soon unveil a casino lab in the school's science and technology building. Vinnie Rege, HCC hospitality and culinary management program director, said that the school has formed a program partnership with the University of Nevada,Las Vegas, which has an International Gaming Institute.

Casino operator Penn National Gaming Inc. is considering selling its stake in the Maryland Jockey Club and urging its partners to drop a legal challenge to the bidding process that awarded a slot machine license for Anne Arundel County to a competitor. The moves by Penn National might signal the company is shifting its focus to Rosecroft Raceway, the Prince George's County harness-racing track it is buying for $11 million. Penn had set its sights on slots at Laurel Park, which is operated by the Jockey Club, and company officials have indicated that they also plan to push for the legalization of slots at Rosecroft.