Pie in the Sky Projections? New York’s Gambling Revenue Slower than Expected, but GrowingIn 2013, New York voters approved a measure that amended the state constitution to permit Las Vegas-style casinos. Previously, gambling was restricted to race tracks and tribal casinos. Ever since this legislation was inked into state law, casinos have projected revenue estimates.
Until recently, these projections have been less than what the actual revenue numbers proved to be true. However, recently these pie in the sky projections have gravitated towards becoming more accurate. In fact, within the first few months of 2019, New York betting revenue has set new records. These numbers will likely change in the near future to include sports betting . As reported, the New York State Gaming Commission approved a form of sports betting for upstate casinos .
June 2021
Casino Slot Revenue Table Game Revenue Poker Revenue Sports Gaming Revenue Total Tioga Downs Casino $6,211,837 $760,662 N/A $147,197 $7,119,695 del Lago Resort and Casino $9,168,619 $1,839,265 N/A $626,478 $11,634,362 Rivers Casino and Resort $10,583,432 $2,916,259 N/A $770,122 $14,269,813 Resorts World Catskills $10,750,154 $6,079,817 $330,036 $314,845 $17,474,852 Totals $36,714,042 $11,596,003 $330,036 $1,858,642 $50,498,722
May 2021
Casino Slot Revenue Table Game Revenue Poker Revenue Sports Gaming Revenue Total Tioga Downs Casino $7,086,884 $787,534 N/A $85,550 $7,959,967 del Lago Resort and Casino $9,368,597 $2,290,461 N/A $555,855 $12,214,912 Rivers Casino and Resort $10,888,593 $3,348,620 N/A $641,102 $14,878,315 Resorts World Catskills $12,123,484 $6,255,484 $97,247 $307,607 $18,783,821 Totals $39,467,558 $12,682,099 $97,247 $1,590,114 $53,837,015
April 2021
Casino Slot Revenue Table Game Revenue Poker Revenue Sports Gaming Revenue Total Tioga Downs Casino $7,109,445 $568,608 N/A $65,074 $7,743,127 del Lago Resort and Casino $9,632,909 $1,530,127 N/A $620,431 $11,783,467 Rivers Casino and Resort $10,691,263 $2,820,059 N/A $644,865 $14,156,186 Resorts World Catskills $10,290,322 $4,018,269 N/A ($7,747) $14,300,844 Totals $37,723,939 $8,937,063 N/A 1,322,623 $47,983,624
March 2021
Casino Slot Revenue Table Game Revenue Poker Revenue Sports Gaming Revenue Total Tioga Downs Casino $6,992,676 $468,914 $0 $122,877 $7,584,467 del Lago Resort and Casino $8,822,723 $1,156,142 $0 $697,149 $10,676,014 Rivers Casino and Resort $10,398,973 $2,668,566 $0 $821,649 $13,889,187 Resorts World Catskills $9,387,364 $4,189,737 $0 $204,010 $13,781,110 Totals $35,601,736 $8,483,359 $0 $1,845,685 $45,930,778
February 2021
Casino Slot Revenue Table Game Revenue Poker Revenue Sports Gaming Revenue Total Tioga Downs Casino $5,110,672 $559,069 N/A $156,397 $5,826,137 del Lago Resort and Casino $6,673,037 $752,858 N/A $376,118 $7,802,012 Rivers Casino and Resort $7,737,032 $2,089,667 N/A $463,663 $10,290,362 Resorts World Catskills $7,044,226 $3,085,636 N/A $157,098 $10,286,959 Totals $26,564,967 $6,487,230 N/A $1,153,276 $34,205,470
January 2021
Casino Slot Revenue Table Game Revenue Poker Revenue Sports Gaming Revenue Total Tioga Downs Casino $5,307,097 $479,947 N/A $390,346 $6,177,390 del Lago Resort and Casino $6,240,134 $501,246 N/A $1,270,812 $8,012,192 Rivers Casino and Resort $7,940,978 $2,053,912 N/A $1,429,140 $11,424,030 Resorts World Catskills $7,782,398 $3,324,895 N/A $479,557 $11,586,849 Totals $27,270,607 $6,360,000 N/A $3,569,855 $37,200,461
December 2020
Casino Slot Revenue Table Game Revenue Poker Revenue Sports Gaming Revenue Total Tioga Downs Casino $3,829,430 $416,729 N/A $277,301 $4,523,460 del Lago Resort and Casino $4,967,002 $998,541 N/A $922,718 $6,888,260 Rivers Casino and Resort $6,163,662 $2,003,749 N/A $949,804 $9,117,216 Resorts World Catskills $5,902,801 $4,107,663 N/A $108,948 $10,119,411 Totals $20,862,895 $7,526,682 N/A $2,258,771 $30,648,347
November 2020
Casino Slot Revenue Table Game Revenue Poker Revenue Sports Gaming Revenue Total Tioga Downs Casino $4,231,114 $369,946 N/A $347,089 $4,948,149 del Lago Resort and Casino $5,805,847 $833,045 N/A $949,710 $7,588,601 Rivers Casino and Resort $6,755,147 $2,302,542 N/A $1,048,553 $10,106,243 Resorts World Catskills $6,800,152 $3,537,561 N/A $274,324 $10,612,036 Totals $23,592,260 $7,043,094 N/A $2,619,676 $33,255,029
October 2020
Casino Slot Revenue Table Game Revenue Poker Revenue Sports Gaming Revenue Total Tioga Downs Casino $4,533,154 $147,292 N/A $307,458 $4,987,903 del Lago Resort and Casino $7,594,188 $1,001,189 N/A $771,299 $9,366,676 Rivers Casino and Resort $7,788,321 $2,106,399 N/A $1,074,631 $10,969,350 Resorts World Catskills $8,878,023 $4,411,642 N/A $470,076 $13,759,741 Totals $28,793,686 $7,666,522 N/A $2,623,464 $39,083,670
September 2020
Casino Slot Revenue Table Game Revenue Poker Revenue Sports Gaming Revenue Total Tioga Downs Casino $3,182,454 N/A N/A $96,164 $3,278,619 del Lago Resort and Casino $4,693,363 $241,233 N/A $398,497 $5,333,093 Rivers Casino and Resort $6,221,907 $931,170 N/A $623,587 $7,776,664 Resorts World Catskills $6,911,121 $2,535,474 N/A $285,295 $9,731,890 Totals $21,008,845 $3,707,877 N/A $1,403,543 $26,120,266
March 2020
Casino Slot Revenue Table Game Revenue Poker Revenue Sports Gaming Revenue Total Tioga Downs Casino $3,066,139 $546,510 $18,984 ($32,926) $3,598,707 del Lago Resort and Casino $4,596,479 $1,695,362 $108,633 $53,861 $6,454,335 Rivers Casino and Resort $5,031,277 $1,889,755 $156,512 $81,883 $7,159,427 Resorts World Catskills $4,270,612 $2,524,222 $173,796 ($3,304) $6,965,326 Totals $16,964,507 $6,655,849 $457,925 $99,514 $24,177,795
February 2020
Casino Slot Revenue Table Game Revenue Poker Revenue Sports Gaming Revenue Total Tioga Downs Casino $6,315,623 $862,408 $52,142 ($94,030) $7,136,144 del Lago Resort and Casino $9,557,508 $2,679,487 $244,352 $98,247 $12,579,594 Rivers Casino and Resort $10,910,165 $3,992,030 $419,884 ($38,802) $15,283,278 Resorts World Catskills $10,240,208 $9,075,371 $403,852 ($145,008) $19,574,423 Totals $37,023,504 $16,609,296 $1,120,230 ($179,593) $54,573,439
January 2020
Casino Slot Revenue Table Game Revenue Poker Revenue Sports Gaming Revenue Total Tioga Downs Casino $5,893,749 $871,718 $57,924 $158,445 $6,981,836 del Lago Resort and Casino $8,789,127 $3,396,917 $240,725 $610,250 $13,037,019 Rivers Casino and Resort $10,927,214 $3,555,386 $398,776 $778,997 $15,660,372 Resorts World Catskills $8,494,392 $6,930,820 $417,787 $395,659 $16,238,659 Totals $34,104,482 $14,754,841 $1,115,212 $1,943,351 $51,917,886
December 2019
Casino Slot Revenue Table Game Revenue Poker Revenue Sports Gaming Revenue Total Tioga Downs Casino $5,584,638 $824,679 $52,104 $68,071 $6,529,492 del Lago Resort and Casino $8,663,355 $3,056,727 $230,569 $335,283 $12,285,934 Rivers Casino and Resort $9,365,894 $3,572,527 $421,529 $311,828 $13,671,778 Resorts World Catskills $8,425,909 $7,670,539 $385,255 $65,236 $16,546,939 Totals $32,039,796 $15,124,472 $1,089,457 $780,418 $49,034,142
November 2019
Casino Slot Revenue Table Game Revenue Poker Revenue Sports Gaming Revenue Total Tioga Downs Casino $5,675,850 $1,053,627 $52,441 $61,618 $6,843,536 del Lago Resort and Casino $9,219,898 $3,394,216 $242,550 $230,092 $13,086,755 Rivers Casino and Resort $10,141,151 $3,501,931 $413,725 $549,230 $14,606,037 Resorts World Catskills $9,452,820 $6,774,883 $393,073 $467,356 $17,088,132 Totals $34,489,719 $14,724,657 $1,101,789 $1,308,296 $51,624,460
October 2019
Casino Slot Revenue Table Game Revenue Poker Revenue Sports Gaming Revenue Total Tioga Downs Casino $5,975,119 $747,275 $52,043 $152,696 $6,927,133 del Lago Resort and Casino $9,601,847 $2,888,826 $245,683 $572,410 $13,308,766 Rivers Casino and Resort $10,073,676 $3,294,580 $421,025 $1,001,741 $14,791,022 Resorts World Catskills $9,336,082 $6,192,456 $367,056 $506,380 $16,401,975 Totals $34,986,724 $13,123,137 $1,085,807 $2,233,227 $51,428,896
September 2019
Casino Slot Revenue Table Game Revenue Poker Revenue Sports Gaming Revenue Total Tioga Downs Casino $5,768,351 $897,125 $45,868 $161,834 $6,873,178 del Lago Resort and Casino $9,375,822 $3,744,741 $237,257 $836,929 $14,194,748 Rivers Casino and Resort $10,076,406 $3,505,842 $415,339 $903,892 $14,901,479 Resorts World Catskills $10,476,208 $6,961,355 $377,339 $381,210 $18,196,112 Totals $35,696,787 $15,109,063 $1,075,803 $2,283,865 $54,165,517
August 2019
Casino Slot Revenue Table Game Revenue Poker Revenue Sports Gaming Revenue Total Tioga Downs Casino $6,246,387 $916,451 $56,315 $132,030 $7,351,183 del Lago Resort and Casino $10,420,449 $2,397,796 $246,253 $182,950 $13,247,448 Rivers Casino and Resort $10,750,438 $3,625,125 $478,098 $445,291 $15,298,953 Resorts World Catskills $11,150,277 $10,775,423 $464,885 $67,881 $22,458,465 Totals $38,567,551 $17,714,795 $1,245,551 $828,152 $58,356,049
July 2019
Casino Slot Revenue Table Game Revenue Poker Revenue Total Tioga Downs Casino $6,113,230 $861,921 $62,992 $7,093,363 del Lago Resort and Casino $9,682,223 $4,360,098 $221,474 $14,263,795 Rivers Casino and Resort $10,083,186 $3,287,653 $424,424 $14,089,513 Resorts World Catskills $11,721,108 $8,615,364 $428,414 $20,764,886 Totals $37,599,747 $17,125,036 $1,147,304 $56,211,557
June 2019
Casino Slot Revenue Table Game Revenue Poker Revenue Total Tioga Downs Casino $5,884,746 $1,056,951 $61,205 $7,002,902 del Lago Resort and Casino $10,083,729 $2,529,084 $204,100 $12,816,912 Rivers Casino and Resort $9,989,869 $3,555,900 $372,570 $13,918,339 Resorts World Catskills $11,840,758 $8,154,979 $355,366 $20,351,103 Totals $37,799,102 $15,296,914 $993,241 $54,089,256
May 2019
Casino Slot Revenue Table Game Revenue Poker Revenue Total Tioga Downs Casino $6,312,808 $1,020,236 $71,691 $7,404,735 del Lago Resort and Casino $10,427,197 $2,733,634 $238,214 $13,399,045 Rivers Casino and Resort $10,231,229 $3,086,929 $416,931 $13,735,088 Resorts World Catskills $11,123,384 $3,003,857 $362,108 $14,489,348 Totals $38,094,618 $9,844,656 $1,088,944 $49,028,216
April 2019
Casino Slot Revenue Table Game Revenue Poker Revenue Total Tioga Downs Casino $5,925,366 $946,982 $61,458 $6,933,806 del Lago Resort and Casino $10,298,686 $2,754,114 $250,477 $13,303,277 Rivers Casino and Resort $10,006,797 $3,544,336 $409,991 $13,961,124 Resorts World Catskills $9,072,794 $7,523,617 $363,194 $16,959,605 Totals $35,303,643 $14,769,049 $1,085,120 $51,157,812
March 2019
Casino Slot Revenue Table Game Revenue Poker Revenue Total Tioga Downs Casino $6,712,334 $1,133,434 $104,072 $7,949,840 del Lago Resort and Casino $11,115,867 $3,357,748 $293,964 $14,767,579 Rivers Casino and Resort $11,211,754 $4,245,021 $517,695 $15,974,470 Resorts World Catskills $10,821,394 $6,855,502 $434,037 $18,110,932 Totals $39,861,349 $15,591,705 $1,349,768 $56,802,821
February 2019
Casino Slot Revenue Table Game Revenue Poker Revenue Total Tioga Downs Casino $5,468,959 $1,044,911 $76,316 $6,590,186 del Lago Resort and Casino $9,068,305 $2,576,760 $244,148 $11,889,212 Rivers Casino and Resort $8,686,561 $3,705,352 $414,655 $12,806,568 Resorts World Catskills $8,610,768 $5,278,400 $369,376 $14,258,544 Totals $31,834,593 $12,605,423 $1104,495 $45,544,510
January 2019
Casino Slot Revenue Table Game Revenue Poker Revenue Total Revenue Tioga Downs Casino $4,813,696 $792,228 $70,242 $5,676,166 del Lago Resort and Casino $7,922,626 $2,547,445 $247,446 $10,717,516 Rivers Casino and Resort $7,722,856 $3,195,252 $436,756 $11,354,863 Resorts World Catskills $7,618,414 $5,102,679 $350,519 $13,071,612 Totals $28,077,592 $11,637,614 $1,104,963 $40,820,157
Lofty Expectations?When casinos began applying for licenses with the New York Gaming Commission, they had to post estimated revenues. For the first three years, many of the facilities were proving to have vastly underestimated these numbers. A vast majority of these projections were over 50-percent off the mark.
Many thought the eagerness of these gambling facilities purposefully inflated estimates to gain access to casino player’s pocket books. However, the operations themselves quickly pointed to the stat sheet. Even though numbers were below original projections, revenue was still climbing.
While early revenue projections were low, the money being funneled into the New York State Treasury was growing steadily. One problem was insisting that the individual casino revenue estimates somehow reflected poorly on the 2013 amendment to permit the growth of such operations. The latest numbers certainly reflect a vastly different picture.
New Year Brings New Hope for New York Betting RevenueAs the calendar flipped to 2019, most state betting revenue numbers still reflected the same picture. While projections seemed to consistently be less than projected, the revenue was still growing.
Tioga Downs Casino is one classic example. After peaking at a high mark for gross credits played in April 2018, numbers bounced up and down for the next 11 months. However, this past March total gross revenue from gaming credits jumped over $17 million in a 30-day period.
This was the largest increase between any two months in the last three years. Some are drawing a connection with a growing push to legalize sports betting as proof of public sentiment for all forms of gambling in the Empire State.
To further support this theory, all we have to do is look at one other New York casino. The Rivers Casino and Resort experienced the same boom in business in March. They set their own benchmark for revenue from total game credits , topping February by $25 million.