Maryland Casino Revenue Steady in October, Study Shows Marylanders Reject Online Casinos

Maryland casinos saw stable year-on-year revenues in October, with revenues totaling $162.1 million, a 1% increase from the $160.5 million generated in October 2024. 

Overall, VLT revenue in the state rose 2.4% year-on-year from $110.5 million to $113.1 million, while slot revenue fell 2.1% from $50 million to $48.9 million.  

While the commercial casino sector appears to be retaining its popularity, a recent survey of state residents has shown widespread disapproval of the idea of online casino gaming. 

Big Rises for Horseshoe and Ocean Downs

The Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Commission has released its latest monthly report, which shows that of the six casinos operating in the state, three saw revenue increases, one saw revenue remain stable, and two saw year-over-year profit declines.

 Although the overall shift in revenue year-over-year was slight, there were notable swings among the six casinos, most significantly at the Horseshoe and Ocean Downs venues. 

Both recorded double-figure revenue increases from 2024 to 2025. At Horseshoe, revenue rose from $13.8 million in October 2024 to $15.5 million this year, an increase of 12.7%, while Ocean Downs recorded an 11.1% rise to $8.1 million in revenue. 

At the other end of the scale, Hollywood Casino in Perryville experienced a year-on-year revenue decline from $7.2 million to $6.4 million, representing a 10.5% decrease. MGM National Harbor also saw a 1.9% decline in revenue, although it remains the revenue leader, generating $67.9 million in October. 

Study Shows Majority of Marylanders Opposed to Online Casinos

There was less encouraging news recently for proponents of online casino gaming in Maryland. A new statewide survey has shown that a majority of Maryland voters are opposed to the legalization of online casino gambling.

The poll, commissioned by the newly formed National Association Against iGaming (NAAiG) and conducted by Lake Research Partners, found that 71% of Marylanders oppose legalizing online gambling after learning about its social and economic impacts. Initially, 52% were opposed to legalization. Still, that figure rose when respondents were informed that online gambling gives 24/7 access to casinos and can pose risks of addiction, underage gambling, and other social harm. 

Speaking about the findings, NAAiG board member and Executive Vice President and General Counsel at Monarch Casino, Jason Gumer, highlighted the extent of voters’ concerns and said, 

“These results show that once Marylanders understand what iGambling really is, they strongly reject it. Policymakers should take note: voters are deeply concerned about the risks to children, families, and communities.”

According to NAAiG, 57% of respondents said they were concerned about youth access to gambling, and 53% were worried about big gambling companies profiting from addiction. In states where online casino gaming is already legal, such as New Jersey, the industry’s social costs have been as high as $350 million annually, including expenses connected with addiction treatment, welfare, and criminal justice.

The survey is bad news for supporters of online gambling in Maryland, particularly at a time when the city of Baltimore is suing two major gambling operators, DraftKings and FanDuel, for allegedly targeting vulnerable residents in the state.