Pennsylvania passes Atlantic City to claim title as the nation’s No. 2 gaming market
Pennsylvania has surpassed Atlantic City as the nation’s No. 2 gaming revenue market.
The state’s Gaming Control Board said Wednesday that Pennsylvania casinos took in $3.16 billion from slot machines and table games in 2012, surpassing the $3.05 billion reported for the same year by Atlantic City, which suffered its sixth straight annual revenue decrease.
Pennsylvania still has a ways to go to catch Las Vegas, the nation’s largest gaming market, which produced $6 billion in gaming revenues in 2011. The 2012 year-end totals for Las Vegas will be released in February. For the first 11 months of the year, Strip gaming revenues were up 1.2 percent over 2011.
In Pennsylvania, there are 11 casinos operating. A 12th casino, in the western part of the state, is expected to open this year. Six groups, including Wynn Resorts Ltd., are seeking the state’s 13th license in Philadelphia.
