Local casinos' slot machine payouts keep dropping
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Statistically speaking, slot machine gamblers are losing more than ever before at the two casinos in southwestern Pennsylvania.
Payouts from slot machines at both the Rivers Casino on the North Shore and The Meadows Racetrack and Casino in Washington County dropped below 90 percent in February, according to statistics provided by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.
It marked the first time since Rivers Casino opened in August 2009 that payouts have fallen that low. It was the second time it has happened at The Meadows, the first being in January.
At Rivers Casino in February, slot machines on average paid out 89.7 cents for every dollar gambled. Or put another way, gamblers on average lost 10.3 cents for every dollar they wagered.
Since the casino's 2009 opening, payoff percentages have been steadily dropping, from a high of 91.84 percent in October 2009 to 89.77 percent in February.
The payout percentage at the Rivers was the second lowest in the state, ahead of Harrah's Chester in Delaware County at 89.44 percent.
At The Meadows in February, slots gamblers on average lost a fraction more than 10 cents for each dollar wagered. Machines on average paid out at 89.93 percent. In January, it was slightly better at 89.99 percent.
In January and February, both casinos rang up payout percentages that were lower than the statewide averages of 90.2 and 90.08 percent, respectively. Like Rivers, payout percentages at The Meadows have been declining since the casino opened in June 2007. The high was 91.98 percent that first month.
While the statewide average topped 90 percent in February, six of the 10 casinos in Pennsylvania had slot machine payout percentages below that, in a range from 89.9 percent to 89.44 percent.
Under state law, slot machines on average must pay out at least 85 cents on each dollar wagered.
Officials at Rivers and The Meadows casinos attributed the drop in the percentage to the advent of live table games last July.
First Published April 1, 2011 12:00 am
