Baltimore-Washington region ranks high for casino gambling

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Baltimore-Washington region ranks high on new report for casino gambling

Fewer people headed to Maryland's casinos during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the Baltimore-Washington area saw enough customers to catapult it to one of the largest-grossing areas in the country.When people talk about casino gambling, usually Las Vegas or Atlantic City comes to mind.According to a new report from the American Gaming Association, the Baltimore-Washington region is now third on that gaming list as that industry continues to grow.Read the report: State of the States 2021: The American Gaming Association survey of the commercial casino industryA job fair held Monday at the Live Casino in Anne Arundel County is evidence that casino gambling in Maryland is picking up once again.Job applicant Cerena Nelson told 11 News she was hired on the spot, saying: "It was so hard to get into this casino before COVID because it was so popular, and naturally, the job opportunities were scarce, but now that we’re picking back up and I’m a resident of Maryland, I said let me apply and see what I can get into."The hiring frenzy goes hand in hand with the new American Gaming Association report, which shows the greater Baltimore-Washington gaming market, which includes a casino in West Virginia, overtook the greater Chicago area to become the third-largest market in the country last year behind only the Las Vegas strip and Atlantic City.Nancy Myshko, vice president of human resources at Live Casino, said with COVID-19 restrictions being lifted, large crowds are returning again, creating more jobs."The expansion movement is moving forward and Live is a big part of that," Myshko said. "Our volume is significantly increasing, so we have a demand for sure. We have the availability of some positions. It’s a very competitive environment."According to the AGA report, Maryland's total commercial casino gaming revenue in 2020 was $1.23 billion, which was down a little more than 30% from 2019.During the pandemic, Maryland's casinos were closed for three months, which was shorter than many other markets around the country.Despite the down numbers year over year, MGM National Harbor in Prince George's County and Live Casino and Hotel were the two highest-grossing commercial casinos outside of Nevada last year.

HANOVER, Md. —

Fewer people headed to Maryland's casinos during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the Baltimore-Washington area saw enough customers to catapult it to one of the largest-grossing areas in the country.

When people talk about casino gambling, usually Las Vegas or Atlantic City comes to mind.

According to a new report from the American Gaming Association, the Baltimore-Washington region is now third on that gaming list as that industry continues to grow.

A job fair held Monday at the Live Casino in Anne Arundel County is evidence that casino gambling in Maryland is picking up once again.

Job applicant Cerena Nelson told 11 News she was hired on the spot, saying: "It was so hard to get into this casino before COVID because it was so popular, and naturally, the job opportunities were scarce, but now that we’re picking back up and I’m a resident of Maryland, I said let me apply and see what I can get into."

The hiring frenzy goes hand in hand with the new American Gaming Association report, which shows the greater Baltimore-Washington gaming market, which includes a casino in West Virginia, overtook the greater Chicago area to become the third-largest market in the country last year behind only the Las Vegas strip and Atlantic City.

Nancy Myshko, vice president of human resources at Live Casino, said with COVID-19 restrictions being lifted, large crowds are returning again, creating more jobs.

"The expansion movement is moving forward and Live is a big part of that," Myshko said. "Our volume is significantly increasing, so we have a demand for sure. We have the availability of some positions. It’s a very competitive environment."

According to the AGA report, Maryland's total commercial casino gaming revenue in 2020 was $1.23 billion, which was down a little more than 30% from 2019.

During the pandemic, Maryland's casinos were closed for three months, which was shorter than many other markets around the country.

Despite the down numbers year over year, MGM National Harbor in Prince George's County and Live Casino and Hotel were the two highest-grossing commercial casinos outside of Nevada last year.