Despite Coronavirus, Parx Casino Revenues Up In July

BENSALEM, PA — Parx Casino didn't reopen until late June after shutting its doors to help curb the spread of the coronavirus. By July, it was business as usual — and then some — at the Bensalem casino, according to state revenue figures released this week.

According to the numbers, Parx earned more than $59.8 million in July. That's over $7 million more than the casino brought in in July 2019, marking a 14.4 percent increase, year over year, according to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.

July marked the first time Pennsylvania's 12 casinos were open for all or most of the month since March, when they shut down during the early day's of the state's coronavirus response.

Overall, they brought in about $283 million, about a half-percentage point more than they earned during the same month in 2019.

The sources of revenue for casinos like Parx include slot machines, table games, internet gaming, sports wagering, fantasy contests and video gaming terminals.

Parx got a boost this year with roughly $7.4 million in revenues from internet gaming. Pennsylvania allowed casinos to begin offering online gaming about this time last year.

But, despite health and safety rules meant to curb the spread of the coronavirus, slot machine revenue also was up at Parx in 2020 — from about $34.7 million last July to about $36.1 million last month.

Parx, which shut its doors on March 16, reopened on June 29 with a list of new safety precautions in place.

Visitors and employees must have their temperature checked before being allowed into the casino and masks are required. Games have been rearranged to increase social distancing and the poker room is not yet open.

It is closing daily from 3-9 a.m. for deep cleaning on Monday through Friday and remaining open 24 hours during the weekends, with ongoing cleaning during operating hours.