Gaming Industry Observer Begins 15th Year With Forecast for Revenue Growth in Mid-Atlantic Region

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ--(Marketwire - January 19, 2010) - Gaming Industry Observer, winner of four national awards for editorial excellence, today begins its 15th year of publication by projecting a 4.6 percent gain in gross gaming revenue for the Mid-Atlantic Region in 2010.

The 22 casinos in the region, as measured by a 150-mile radius from Atlantic City, will generate $7.1 billion in gaming revenue. Of that amount, $3.8 billion will be spent in Atlantic City, representing a decline of 4.3 percent compared to 2009. The 11 other casinos in the region will generate $3.3 billion, an increase of 17.0 percent.

"The ongoing expansion of Pennsylvania gaming, including the opening of Parx Casino last month and the introduction of live table games in the second half of this year, continues to shape the regional competitive landscape," said Shawn McCloud, Director of Financial Analysis for Spectrum Gaming Group, which publishes Gaming Industry Observer.

Among the regional casinos outside of Atlantic City, the newsletter projects that Empire City at Yonkers Raceway will retain its position as the highest-grossing racetrack casino in the country, generating $566.3 million in gross gaming revenue, up 5.7 percent. Parx (formerly Philadelphia Park) will also emerge as a regional powerhouse, generating $503.9 million, up 14.6 percent.

This issue of Gaming Industry Observer also will be distributed next week at the International Gaming Exposition in London, and as such includes a cover story by prominent British gaming attorney Tony Coles that analyzes the European outlook for 2010.

Other features in the new-year edition include:

--  The outlook for legalizing online gaming in the United States
--  An analysis of the costs of property-tax revaluations to Atlantic City
    casino operators
--  An executive-satisfaction ranking of gaming companies as employers
    

"Gaming Industry Observer continues to set the standard for analytical journalism covering this industry, and we are tremendously proud of this new-year edition," Publisher and Executive Editor Michael Pollock said.

Gaming Industry Observer provides "Intelligence for the Gaming Industry" by spotting, tracking and analyzing critical trends that impact the industry. The advertising-free newsletter is published 20 times per year. Visit www.gamingobserver.com for more information and to subscribe.

Spectrum Gaming Group (www.spectrumgaming.com) is an independent research and professional services firm that serves private- and public-sector clients worldwide.