Maryland Live! Ranks No. 1 Casino , Beating Out Heavy Hitters In Atlantic City

HANOVER, Md. (WJZ) --One year after opening, Maryland Live! Casino is the number one casino in this region, even beating out the heavy hitters in Atlantic City and that means millions of dollars in taxes every week.

Monique Griego has more on the big payout for the casino and the state.

In May, Maryland Live! pulled in $55 million. Its closest competitor was Borgata in Atlantic City.

One year after opening, Maryland Live! Casino at Arundel Mills is cranking our jackpots and raking in revenue.

"I love this place! It's the only place I win," said one woman.In May, the casino pulled in $37.5 million from slots and $17.6 million from table games for a total of $55.1 million--record-breaking revenue that even beat out the big dogs in Atlantic City.

"I think it's the newness of it as well and having something close," said gambler Vivian Bethea.

The Borgata in Atlantic City, its closest competitor, trailed Live! by $8 million.

"That's pretty shocking that they would be beating out the biggest casinos out there," said gambler Matthew Henrickson.

Henrickson believes table games are a big reason so many people are going all in.

"The real-live casino action. It's like all the fun of Vegas without the expense," he said.

The only table game Maryland Live! doesn't have right now is poker, but that will change later this summer. All this construction here is the beginning of a poker room that will hold more than 50 tables.

"That's going to be the final piece of the puzzle," said Neal Sloane, vice president of table games.

Casino leaders are gambling that poker means more people and in turn, more money for the state.

The casino is already paying a million dollars in taxes a day.

"So we're still growing our database, growing our customers so profits continue going to grow," said Sloane.

"As easy as it is to buy your socks, Last Call Neiman Marcus, you can go play blackjack," said Henrickson.

Casino leaders haven't given an exact date for when the poker room will open.

In addition to New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware are also included in the same region as Maryland Live!