Maryland wrapped up 2021 with a huge increase in casino revenue compared to 2020, with a jump of almost 57% thanks largely to casinos returning to capacity after the previous year was ravaged by COVID-19.

The six commercial casinos in Maryland combined for $1.922 billion in revenue for the calendar year, a 56.8% increase over the $1.226 billion in 2020.

Video Lottery Terminals (VLTs) accounted for $1.3 billion in revenue from January to December, and table games took in $622.9 million.

Here are three takeaways from the latest Maryland casino numbers.

Several Records Set in 2021

The state record for revenue in a month fell three times in 2021.

In March, Maryland reported $169.2 million in casino revenue. That record only lasted for two months because in May, the state’s coffers collected $172.4 million in casino revenue.

That record also only stood for two months. In July, the state exceeded $180 in casino revenue for the first time, collecting $180.1 million to set the mark that still stands.

Maryland keeps track of records by fiscal year, from each July through June. In the 2020-21 fiscal year, Maryland Lottery and Gaming reported that it contributed a record $1.391 billion to the state including $723.5 million from the casinos.

December Revenue Up Over November

In December, Maryland had its second-best month ever for casino revenue at $172,901,502. That was a +7.8% increase over the $160.3 million in November.

In a year-over-year comparison, December’s total was 44.9% higher than the $119,356,448 from December 2020, when capacity restrictions were still in place at Maryland casinos, related to the effort at slowing the spread of the coronavirus.

The casinos contributed $71.1 million to the state in December, $21.3 million more than 12 months earlier. The December contribution to the Education Trust Fund was $51.7 million.

Top Two Casinos Dominate Again

MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill led the state in December casino revenue at $74.5 million. The facility has the most table games in the state, 204, and is second in slot machines with 2,128.

The Live! Casino & Hotel in Hanover was second at $62.4 million for the month. That facility has the most slot machines in the state at 3,786 and is second in table games with 187.

The revenue figures at the rest of the state’s casinos – all six of which reported substantial increases over their December 2020 figures – were: Horseshoe Casino Baltimore ($17.05 million), Hollywood Casino Perryville ($7.2 million), Ocean Downs Casino in Berlin ($6.7 million) and Rocky Gap Casino Resort in Flintstone ($5 million).

There are no real money online casino options in Maryland, but online sports betting is scheduled to launch some time in 2022. The state took its first retail sports bets in December.