Some analysts worry the market is approaching saturation, while others describe a market that is still evolving. The industry is closely watching the Philadelphia market to see how the facilities do amid the increased competition. Harrah's is fighting desperately for market share against Sugarhouse Casino in Philadelphia Valley Forge Casino Resort, which opened in March and Parx Casino, which opened a month before Harrah's in the northern suburbs. 'Their slots have gone down, but I don't think they have gone down in any sort of alarming fashion.' 'It's the casino operator's responsibility to strategize their own situation and make whatever adjustments it would take to meet the competition,' O'Toole said. Kevin O'Toole, the gaming board's executive director, doesn't find the effects of competition on Harrah's alarming. Last year, the first full year of table games generated nearly $81 million in gross table revenue, helping boost the total gaming revenue to $349 million - up 7 percent. Table games, which were introduced in July 2010, generated more than $30 million in additional revenue in 2010, for a total gaming revenue of $336.5 million - an increase of 3 percent.

When slots and table games revenue are combined, the picture isn't as bleak. Overall, slots revenue has been declining since its peak of $328.3 million in 2008, the second year of operation.

In 2010, it was $296.5 million, down 6 percent. Last year, gross revenue from slots was $268.1 million, a 10 percent decrease from the year before.

'Are we content with where we're at? No.' 'Our plans call for growth this year,' said Baumann, who is focused on getting more of the estimated 8.5 million gaming adults within a 60-mile radius around the casino. While Harrah's business remains above both its own projections and those of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, the slots losses have the casino operators scrambling. It is upgrading its restaurants and starting to hold concerts on its new patio and on its racetrack, efforts geared toward becoming a 'night out' destination for customers farther away.

To fight back, the casino is trying to rebrand itself and increase the quality of its offerings.Įarlier this month, it announced it was rebranding itself Harrah's Philadelphia to give customers a better idea of where it is.

Harrah's chester casino racetrack