Business briefs
Slots revenue
up at Meadows
Gross revenue from slot machine play at Pennsylvania’s 12 casinos last month rose 4.42 percent from August 2017, Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board reported Wednesday.
Ten venues posted year-over-year increases last month, including Meadows Racetrack & Casino, which experienced a 5.58 percent jump. The North Strabane Township facility pulled in $18,846,743.40 in August revenue, nearly $1 million more than it did one year earlier – $17,851,246.60.
Gross revenue statewide was $201,729,430.81 last month, more than $8.5 million higher than it was the previous August – $193,190,477.69.
Rivers Casino, on Pittsburgh’s North Side, posted a 6.29 percent gain ($23,578,311.79 from $22,182,804.60). Lady Luck Casino Nemacolin, in Fayette County, was one of two casino that posted a decline over the year, but it was a marginal 0.84 percent drop – to $2,478,901.32 from $2,499,893.99.
Slots play last month resulted in $105,100,926 in tax revenue.
An average of 25,511 slot machines operated statewide in August, down from 25,814 the previous year.
Point Park starts School of Education
Point Park University is starting a School of Education.
University President Paul Hennigan made the announcement Wednesday morning. There is a shortage of teachers, nationally and in Western Pennsylvania, and Point Park is responding to the needs in education for undergraduate, master’s and doctoral degrees – in online, campus and hybrid programs.
Before implementing the School of Education, Point Park’s Department of Education had seen its enrollment increase, particularly in graduate programs. The School of Education now offers 10 graduate degree programs.