The declines at Perryville and Ocean Downs don't surprise me for two reasons. First, I think they did very well the first year as a novelty place, like the first few months at a Bel Air restaurant. After the initial thrill people git tired of spending hours throwing quarters into a video machine. Second, you have the opening of Maryland Live which I hear is nicer and newer and represents competition for the other two casinos. What makes people think that a state the size of Maryland can support FIVE casinos is totally beyond me. My guess sis that once National Harbor opens and Baltimore City to follow, you'll need a towel to sweep the cobwebs off the bar stools at Perryville and Ocean Downs. (National Harbor is SIX, right?) Good luck with that.

Could it be the decline is due to very poor management of the area around the casino?? Let's face it - Cecil has done *NOTHING* to build up the area. What have they done to offer other entertainment or food facilities or even a hotel? And the casino just sits there: an ugly abrasion on side of a hill with an immense parking lot. The only blame that I put on the casino is other than the poor planning and facade of the building and getting rid of the buffet in favor of "sit down" restaurant. I put the majority of the blame on Cecil for doing nothing to prop it up and try to draw in businesses that could have seen the casino flourish.

You can be assured that the projected revenue has already been spent and the taxpayer will ultimately pay for the shortfall. Lets see what happens witht he new one coming on line. Perhaps the State will have to take over the casino's when the contractual parties can no longer afford to operate and no one will bid for renewal. Just think of the government jobs and benefits that the politicains can provide!

I agree with both comments, but has anyone given a thought to the fact that we are headed off the "fiscal cliff"? Most people aren't "made of money". Spending, including gambling, may be down...There is only so much money out there.

I agree with Tom Barnes that Cecil County has done nothing to attract patrons to it's casino. There are no hotels or restaurants in the area. It sits cold and alone in a field. Also... it is too crowded in there! If you are handicapped (like I am) trying to manuever those tight spaces is a challenge. Of course it's not so bad now that the place is almost emply. Not to mention those machines just don't pay out. I can drive another 30 minutes and be in Delaware Park, which has alot more room. If I am going to spend my money gambling, at least I want to be in comfort doing it!

What's seldom mentioned is the ludicrous job the state has done in planning for gambling. If Perryville closes or any of the other casinos those slot machines have been paid for by the taxpayers...nobody, nobody would ever buy slot machines for a private enterprise, but this dumb bunch of libtards in this state thought it was a good idea. They cost nearly 25K each w/ an additional 13K spent for annual maintenance. There are 1,500+ just in Perryville alone. Even if the state had a tag sale not much demand out there for lightly used slot machines. Do the math on that one - it's another example of the ignorance and arrogance of our one party state. There are no consequences for ill advised or just plain stupid choices so nobody cares - they just reach deeper in your pocket to cover thier own incompetence.

This doesn't surprise me. I visited Hollywood once on the way back from shopping in Delaware. It's pretty pathetic. The gamblers I know, told me they prefer Dover Downs and would not frequent Hollywood, and I can see why this is, having been there.

The casino owners have made serious design errors in the choice of slot machines. Most are too complicated to be easily understood. Many people prefer levers over buttons as well.

Why is this listed under government? This is a business issue and has little to do with government. We don't get reports about other businesses listed under government.

The decision to allow gambling was made long ago. Now the operations of those businesses are not government issues unless they start cheating people, and then it's a police matter.

When I called on Indian Casinos in Florida they were all located in areas I refer to as Casino deserts. Over time, the surrounding business die out. The areas become ill kept and decline. Casinos are like low level radioactivity. They slow kill the areas around them. Unlike a Wal-Mart which is like cyanide which kills quickly and whose effects can be seen much sooner.

Both reduce the number of jobs in any area, and both hurt the people of the states they reside in. These are both extremely high profit and tend to hurt those who can afford it the least.

Carole, sort of like the handling of the speed camera's and redlight camera's, all for safety not revenue!

Carole that is exactly what my wife and I said about the machines plus they send you free $10 slot play. Are you kidding!!!! We have spent a whole lot more then just qualifying for $10 free play. Everyone's comments are interesting and something that my wife and I have discussed. When the voters voted in Question 7 they were duped. If you read the expanded explanation of what you were going to vote for ( and even that was a joke for an explanation ) there should have been no way anyone should have voted for that Question. Trust me they would have re-introduced a new version to the voters and probably had some type of vote for this new version because they are all about the money. This State is so bad that we are considering leaving it. This is something that we would never had considered 10 years ago, but this State sucks!!!! They are already lowering the monetary percentage amount that the State receives from the casinos, plus all the promotions that the casinos do are paid out of the overall profits before the State gets anything plus all related expenses. So if they give 5 Ford Escapes per month for a year we pay for it and then receive what is left. This was all in the expanded explanation that was with the Sample ballot that was sent out to all of us prior to voting but yet it was passed. We are our worst enemies and deserve what we get!!!!