MARYLAND’S SLOTS & CIGS COMBO A WINNER

Casinos and smoking just seem to go hand in hand.

Across the boundary in Maryland, the state’s five casinos report revenue increased by nearly 27% to $92.4m in the month of June. However, if you do not include the contributions from the Horseshoe Casino Baltimore which had not opened yet last June. Without the Horseshoe’s revenue then the revenue of the four other casinos decreased by 5.1%.
The Horseshoe is the only Maryland casino at which consumers may smoke while they the play slot machines, provided that they are alright with braving the elements. All five Maryland casinos have chosen smoking areas but the Horseshoe has an increased eight outdoor ‘smoking terraces,’ each of which may be the size of a large apartment terrace with a number of completely operational slot machines.
The Horseshoe’s VP of marketing Noah Hirsch stated that the Baltimore Sun that the slots & cigs combo permitted casino patrons “more choices to discover how they enjoy their entertainment.” The slot machines are only accessible if it is not raining or snowing outside and some clientele stated that the terraces would not be their first choice if it was predominantly muggy outside, but it seems that it is preferable to the alternative.
The state’s other casinos are taking into consideration and following the Horseshoe’s lead. Rocky Gap Casino Resort was only just permitted to install 30 slots on one of its several outdoor smoking decks, which is set to open in August 1. Robert Norton, president of the state’s leading casino Maryland Live, said his business would think about following suit “if it makes sense.”