A comparison of projections with actual statewide revenue for casinos

In several of the last states to open casinos, revenue has been coming in below levels projected during the planning stages. Here is a look at how estimates compare with actual revenue in Ohio, Maryland and Pennsylvania:

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OHIO

In October 2009, the Ohio Department of Taxation estimated that the state could generate $470 million to $643 million in annual tax revenue once four casinos were running. At the time, Ohio was considering a constitutional amendment to allow the casinos. In 2014, the total tax collected from casino revenue was $267.5 million.

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MARYLAND

The Department of Legislative Services gave an estimate in December 2008 that five newly approved slot machine parlors could generate $1.36 billion in total revenue in fiscal year 2013, a conservative number compared to consultants' figures. Voters in 2012 approved legalization of table games at Maryland casinos. In fiscal year 2014, Maryland's four operating casinos generated $833 million in revenue.

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PENNSYLVANIA

State task force estimates for a dozen casinos in Pennsylvania projected total revenue of $2.54 billion from slot machines. Slot revenue from those casinos totaled $2.32 billion in 2014. Including revenue from table games, which Pennsylvania legalized in 2010, total revenue reached $3.07 billion.