Ohio’s casino market set yet another revenue record in October despite ongoing pandemic restrictions, while Maryland’s similarly restricted casinos kept their annual revenue decline below 1%.

Figures released by the Maryland Lottery & Gaming regulatory body show the state’s six casino operators generated combined revenue of just under $142.7m in October, a modest 0.9% decrease from the same month last year and $1m below September 2020’s total.

The declines are nonetheless impressive given the casinos continue to operate at only 50% of their normal capacity due to COVID-19 restrictions. Furthermore, four casinos reported positive year-on-year growth, although that didn’t include the market leader, MGM National Harbor, which dipped 5.5% year-on-year to $56.5m.

One of the more interesting aspects of the US casino market’s post-shutdown rebirth is the number of operators who’ve reported significant rises in profits despite minimal (or even negative) revenue growth. The profit gains have been attributed in part due to the casinos declining to reopen some loss-leading amenities that were once considered essential to generating customer traffic.