Maryland’s six casinos reported a robust April 2026, generating $172.2 million in revenue, marking a nearly 6% increase from the previous year. This performance merits a closer look.
Key Takeaways
* Maryland’s six casinos collectively generated $172.2 million in April 2026, a 5.9% increase year-over-year.
* MGM National Harbor and Live! Casino & Hotel accounted for the majority of this revenue, both reporting strong growth.
* Despite April’s gains, the fiscal year’s first ten months show a 1.4% decline in total casino revenue compared to the prior year.
Maryland Casinos Post Strong April Revenue
Maryland’s six licensed casinos collectively generated $172.2 million from slot machines and table games in April 2026. This figure represents a 5.9% increase compared to April 2025, positioning it as the strongest performing month of the current fiscal year to date.
While April’s results demonstrate positive momentum for the month, the broader financial picture for Fiscal Year 2026 shows a slight contraction. Total casino revenue for the first ten months of the fiscal year reached $1.6 billion, a 1.4% decrease when compared to the same period in the previous fiscal year. State contributions derived from gaming also experienced a minor reduction over this extended timeframe.
State Contributions and Beneficiaries
In April 2026, state contributions from casino operations totaled $72.5 million. Of this sum, $52.3 million was directed to the Education Trust Fund. Both the overall state contributions and the allocation to the Education Trust Fund recorded year-over-year growth for the month. Beyond education, casino revenue also supports local communities, the horse racing industry, and small, minority, and women-owned businesses across Maryland.
Top Performers Drive Monthly Gains
MGM National Harbor led the state’s casinos, contributing nearly $74 million to the April revenue total. This represents a 7.8% increase from its performance in April of the prior year. With approximately 2,300 slot machines and over 200 table games on its floor, the volume of play at this venue is a consistent factor in its results.
Live! Casino & Hotel secured the second position, reporting just over $63 million in revenue. This figure marks a 7.4% increase from April 2025. Together, MGM National Harbor and Live! Casino & Hotel were responsible for the majority of the revenue generated by Maryland’s casinos last month.
Other venues showed mixed results. Horseshoe Casino reported just over $15 million, a 3% decrease compared to April 2025. Hollywood Casino and Ocean Downs Casino each generated approximately $7.5 million. Hollywood Casino experienced a 4.7% decline from the previous April, while Ocean Downs Casino saw a 5.5% increase. Rocky Gap Casino rounded out the group with nearly $4.5 million, reflecting a 7.1% increase from April 2025.
Evolution of Maryland’s Gaming Landscape
Maryland’s gambling sector has evolved significantly since voters first approved a constitutional amendment for slot machines at five locations in November 2008. Four years later, in November 2012, voters endorsed an expansion that introduced table games across all casinos, permitted 24-hour operations, and authorized a sixth casino in Prince George’s County.
The state’s six casinos opened sequentially between September 2010 and December 2016, following licensing by the Video Lottery Facility Location Commission, established in 2009. More recently, sports betting was approved by voters in 2020, with mobile sports betting launching in 2022, broadening the wagering options available to residents.
Despite these developments, real-money online casinos remain prohibited in Maryland, even after multiple legislative attempts to legalize them in recent sessions. Furthermore, sweepstakes casinos have drawn legislative scrutiny, with a recent House Bill proposing to ban these and other forms of gambling classified as “illegal.” The ongoing legislative discussions highlight the dynamic nature of the state’s regulatory environment for gaming.
I remember the first time I saw Kai Tak, Hong Kong’s gambling city, I thought I was in a fairy tale. All the lights blinking, the music and the monumental buildings, what 9-year-old wouldn’t think they’ve come to a magical place? It was my father who brought me, dragging me along and when inside I was hit by the smell of frying duck. As soon as I hit 21 I returned to Kai Tak, A bit nervous to see if my mind had embellished the memory, but it hadn’t. Kai Tak was still a magical place. I decided I wanted to spend as much time as I could at this place, so I did.
