First Month Of Table Games Nets Millions For Pennsylvania

Table games generated almost $5 million in taxes for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in August, the first full month they were in operation.

KYW's Tony Romeo reports that Pennsylvania casinos generated  $4.8 million in state tax revenues from table games in the month, from $34½ million in gross table games receipts.

But Gaming Control Board spokesman Richard McGarvey insists that it's too soon to draw conclusions about revenues:

"We have to really wait to see because this is the first month.  The casinos out there are really just starting to understand what their consumers are looking for, what their patrons want. They're starting to adjust the type of games they have, so [we] really can't tell at this point."

The Philadelphia region's two casinos that were open in August -- Parx in Bensalem and Harrah's in Chester -- finished first and second, with $6.3 million and $5.9 million in gross table games revenue respectively.

The Sands in Bethlehem was third with $4.3 million, and the Rivers in Pittsburgh fourth with $4.2 million.

(Photo of Parx table game by KYW' s Brad Segall)