It was table games to the rescue in Pennsylvania, in a record-setting performance, which saw casino winnings up 10% last month at the tables, while slots were down 1.5%. State leader was, as usual, Parx 
Casino, grossing $49 million for a 1% increase. Close behind, with $48 million, was Sands Bethlehem, up 10%, driven by a 24% leap in table winnings. That was nothing compared to Mount Airy Casino Resort‘s 41% jump in table win, part of an overall 11% increase. Valley Forge Casino Resort had a symmetrical month, winning 11% more for $11 million.
The Meadows Racetrack & Casino, now under Pinnacle Entertainment‘s stewardship, had an amazing 53% increase in table win, for 7% overall ($24 million). Luck frowned upon Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh, which had an anemic month at the tables, leading to an overall decline of 5.5%, grossing $29 million. Even with higher table win, SugarHouse Casino was flat with last year, hauling in $26 million. Harrah’s Philadelphia Racetrack & Casino was down 4%, reporting $23 million. Hollywood Casino at Penn National Racecourse was extremely flat (or remarkably consistent, for the glass-half-full mindset), grossing $22 million.
Mohegan Sun was down 7.5% to $22 million, while Presque Isle Downs & Casino grossed $11 million, down 3.5% and Lady Luck Casino Nemacolin was luckless, grossing $3 million, an 8% decline. Sands’ 
performance is only going to strengthen its hand as it strives to sell the property to MGM Resorts International for a reported $1.3 billion. After April’s numbers maybe Sheldon Adelson can raise his asking price. As Las Vegas Sands President Rob Goldstein said to analysts, “I think Bethlehem represents a pretty extraordinary investment in terms of what we put into the market versus what it returns to us, although it’s a small number, obviously, relative to our other assets. It’s still a compelling investment. We’re very proud of it … It just keeps making more and more money and doing very, very well.”
* A new poll in Connecticut shows voters preferring an open-bid selection process for a third casino, with 71% in support. Then again, the poll was bought by MGM, so the results have to be taken with a grain of salt, especially without seeing the actual questions. If it was a “push poll,” that could change things dramatically.
* In a rare piece of anti-gambling legislation, the Oregon House of Representatives has voted overwhelmingly to ban poker rooms. If the 
House gets its way, poker games would be permissible “only if they are operated and controlled by a charitable, fraternal or religious organization.” Opponents of the bill point to Washington State casinos as the moving force behind it.
The Senate Committee on General Government & Accountability seems less inclined to extirpate poker, provided that card rooms rescind their cover charge. There was also some talk of banning dealer tips and making the dealers themselves permanent employees. It won’t generate big headlines but this is one of the strongest and most successful clawback efforts against the casino industry in … well, about as long as we can remember.
* If you ever get frustrated with the inability of reinstating train service to Las Vegas, consider the fate of the City of Las Vegas, which ran for 12 years but was up against such operating difficulties as needing a booster engine to surmount Cajon Pass, the graveyard of many a proposal to reinstate Sin City passenger service.
