Big month for Maryland; Much ado about Dotty’s

Developers of MGM National Harbor have to like what they saw when Maryland busted out its October revenue numbers: 9% growth (to $95 million), with all five casinos in the plus column. Horseshoe Baltimore General Manager Chad Barnhill is defecting to co-owner Dan Gilbert‘s Cincinnati casino but he leaves on an up note, with the ‘Shoe increasing revenues 10% ($25 million). Even that couldn’t put a dent in Maryland Live, which saw a 9% increase and $55 million in revenue.

The smaller casinos all performed well, with only the 2% increase (for $6 million) at Hollywood Casino Perryville arguably a disappointment. Slots-only Ocean Downs leapt 13% (to $5 million) and Rocky Gap Casino Resort‘s $4 million represented an 11% increase, bragging fodder for new owner Golden Gaming. “Maryland Live had its second straight month where its ’15 revenues exceeded its ’14 revenues for corresponding months. Given the increased competition, this is a remarkable achievement,” David Cordish wrote to the Baltimore Sun. Indeed.

Maudlin, personal attacks funded by Sheldon Adelson “are not the answer” when it comes to blunting Pennsylvania state Rep. John Payne‘s support for Internet gambling. “As of last Friday, 68% of phone calls into my office [have been] for iGaming, so if the intent of the ads was to deter or change my opinion they have done the opposite,” said Payne.

* Las Vegas‘ City Council is hopelessly odds with itself over whether to grant a gaming license to a Dotty’s on the west side of town that found itself effectively denied a license — but with no definitive resolution — for the second time in four months. The city council voted against denying the license, voted against the license and ultimately voted against taking any definitive action on the matter. Not even a compromise measure to grant the surprisingly controversial Dotty’s seven slot machines could survive a post-lunch change of heart by Councilwoman Lois Tarkanian. The council’s continuing irresolution on this issue — and its inability to determine whether the offending Dotty’s is really a casino in drag — threatens to turn that august body into a laughinstock.