The gap between the haves and have-nots in Maryland widened last month, as the state’s gaming revenue boomed 14% upward. The good news is that every casino had a revenue-positive month. 
MGM National Harbor, of course, led the pack, grossing $59 million — yes, almost $2 million a day — for an 18% gain. Slot revenue averaged $344 in win/slot/day and tables had an average win of $5,323 per day. High-taxed slots contributed $30 million, low-taxed tables $29 million. Close behind at $48 million, Maryland Live shot up 15%, with $34 million from slots and $14.5 million from tables. (You can see why MGM’s business plan emphasizes maximizing table revenue.)
In distant third place was Horseshoe Baltimore. The ‘Shoe grossed $23 million, a 3% gain. By contrast, little Ocean Downs 
continues to be supercharged by the addition of table games. Her $7 million was a 30% increase from last year. Hollywood Perryville took in $6.5 million for a 4.5% uptick while, out in the boonies, Rocky Gap grossed $5 million, a 5% gain. As for National Harbor, what can we say? Those Washingtonians sure have money to burn. MGM, in the meantime, is “heartbroken” over an electric accident that sent a six-year-old girl into cardiac arrest, and injured two adults and one other child. The cause of the incident is under investigation.
Revenues in neighboring in West Virginia were flat with last year, which means at least that the state isn’t bleeding money to Maryland. Penn National Gaming‘s Charles Town Races was down a bit, grossing 1% less at the slots and 2% fewer at the table.
* “Fresh-faced,” “sultry,” “sexier.” That’s how a lawsuit describes New York-New York‘s Statue of Liberty replica. The statue’s sculptor, Vegas-based Robert Davidson, is suing the U.S. Postal Service for its erroneous employment of his work on postage stamps instead of the original Statue of Liberty. If he wins his copyright-infringement lawsuit, the USPS will be $3.5 million the poorer. As you will recall, the USPS merrily sold the stamps for three months before realizing its mistake.
* Add Stratosphere to the roster of Las Vegas casinos that have reached terms with Culinary Union. Bartenders, 
housekeepers, cocktail and food waiters, cooks and other kitchen workers have been working without a contract since May 31. Salary increases and alert buttons for workers are included in the pact, which is awaiting a vote by the Strat’s 1,000-odd workforce. Next up: Westgate Las Vegas and the Tropicana, which will give Penn National its first taste of Sin City labor negotiations.
*Don’t look now, private-sector casinos, but here come the tribes. Native American gaming brought in nearly $32.5 billion last year, an increase of 4% for America’s 494 tribal-gaming facilities. And how could they not, as tribal casinos continue to become more competitive with Las Vegas and Atlantic City. Case in point: Pechanga Resort Casino, which just invested $300 million in an expansion that includes 568 new hotel rooms. Also new are a 4.5 acre pool complex, a full-service spa and an event center. The new 
rooms offer HDTV sets as big as 65 inches, HDMI cabling, eight USB ports, Keurig coffee makers and, in select rooms, “a personal patio enveloped by lush foliage.” The cherry on the sundae is a Zen roof populated with indigenous plants and Native American sculptures.
If you’re of a masochistic disposition you can up for early morning boot camp, or opt for yoga. The new pool area features “four pools, three spas, 27 private cabanas, six water-skimming day beds and two waterslides.” It’s got both an 18-seat bar and a swim-up bar, if you don’t want to interrupt your dip. Sounds like a great place. Wish I had an excuse to visit it.
