Maryland casinos take first Preakness Stakes bets
Casinos saw their first year with betting on the horse racing meet.
US.- Maryland’s casinos took wagers on the Preakness Stakes horse race for the first time on Saturday. It was the first time the state’s five casinos could take wagers on the event, after Maryland legalised sports betting in December.
Horseshoe Casino VP of marketing, Tom Yorke, said: “It just gives something else that our customers wanted. They’ve been asking for sports gambling for a long time, and they’re having a lot of fun with it.”
“We’ve had the OTB for a minute, as well around Triple Crown is when it really starts to hit its high notes. Betting on horses is very simple. Our most popular bets, win. If the horse wins outright. Place, come in first or second. Show is first second or third. Those are very simple bets to make.”
The Sports Wagering Application Review Commission (SWARC) approved sports wagering licences for the five Maryland casinos in a 5-2 vote in November. the casinos are Horseshoe Casino in Baltimore, Live! Casino and Hotel in Hanover, MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Hollywood Casino in Perryville and Ocean Downs Casino in Berlin.
Maryland casinos generate $170.7m in gaming revenue in April
Maryland’s casinos registered $170.7m in gaming revenue for April, making it the state casino’s fourth-best month ever, according to the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Commission. Revenue from slots and table games increased by $8.6m or 5.3 per cent compared to April 2021 and surpassed the March 2022 figure of $170.6m.
The state’s six casinos generated $52.2m for Maryland’s Education Trust Fund (ETF), up $1.4m compared to the same period last year.
See also: Gaming and Leisure Properties completes Live! Casino Maryland acquisition
