Maryland’s six land-based casinos brought in $160 million from slots and table games in August 2026, down about 6% from the same month last year. Even with the monthly dip, casino gaming still sent $68.5 million to state programs, including more than $50 million for public education.
Maryland’s casinos generated $160,007,163 in gross gaming revenue from slot machines and table games during August 2026, according to the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency. That total is roughly $10.3 million lower than August 2025, when revenue was about $170.3 million.
The monthly decline continues a soft revenue trend seen across much of 2026, even after a strong fiscal year that saw the six properties generate about $1.93 billion in casino gaming revenue.
This is all happening just weeks after lawmakers in"The Old Line State" failed to get a sweepstakes casino bill moved forward, and a legal online casino bill across the finish line.
Where Maryland Casino Money Goes
Casino gaming contributed $68,507,667 to the state in August, down 4.2% year over year. By law, those dollars are split through a fixed formula that prioritizes education, local impact, and support for the horse racing industry.
August’s allocations included:
- About $50.16 million to the Education Trust Fund, which supports early childhood programs, K–12 schools, and school construction.
- Nearly $8.6 million to the local jurisdictions where each casino operates.
- $8 million to Maryland’s horse racing industry.
- $1.7 million to the Small, Minority-, and Women-Owned Business Fund.
Since the first Maryland casino opened in 2010, cumulative casino gaming revenue has topped $22 billion, with more than $7 billion directed to the Education Trust Fund alone, helping pay for everything from teacher salaries to new school buildings.
Maryland Revenue by Casino
The two largest properties—MGM National Harbor and Live! Casino & Hotel—still account for most of the state’s casino revenue, but both saw double-digit or near double-digit drops in August. Smaller properties showed mixed results, with Ocean Downs and Hollywood Casino Perryville posting slight gains.
Here’s how each casino performed in August 2026:
- MGM National Harbor (Prince George’s County) – $66.55 million, down 5.1% year over year (2,236 slots, 214 table games).
- Live! Casino & Hotel (Anne Arundel County) – $56.74 million, down 10.2% (3,500 slots, 181 table games).
- Horseshoe Casino Baltimore (Baltimore City) – $14.30 million, down 5.0% (1,381 slots, 104 table games).
- Ocean Downs Casino (Worcester County) – $10.26 million, up 0.1% (900 slots, 17 table games).
- Hollywood Casino Perryville (Cecil County) – $7.41 million, up 10.3% (735 slots, 18 table games).
- Rocky Gap Casino Resort (Allegany County) – $4.75 million, down 4.1% (630 slots, 12 table games).
MGM and Live! together accounted for the bulk of the $160 million total, but their declines drove most of the statewide drop.
Maryland Casinos Start Fiscal Year Slowly
After a record-setting fiscal 2026 that saw more than $1.6 billion flow to state programs from lottery, casinos, and sports betting combined, the new fiscal year has started with softer monthly casino numbers. July 2026 revenue was about $157.9 million, also down roughly 5% from July 2025, setting up a cautious tone for early FY2027.
Industry watchers will be waiting to see whether the August dip is a short-term blip or part of a longer cooling trend, especially as sports betting continues to grow and compete for the same entertainment dollars.
It's important because Maryland’s casino revenue is a major funding source for schools and local services. They rely on casino dollars for community projects and impact grants, while the horse racing industry and small-business fund get dedicated support from the same revenue pool.
