We have all heard about the losses that casinos have been suffering due to the economic downturn. It has been all over the news that some of the giant operators have had virtually empty slot floors. Everyone knows that as people cut back in spending that usually the first things to go are luxuries like holidays and gambling. But as we are seeing in Macau, it would appear that the casinos are beginning to see light at the end of a very long tunnel.

News is coming in from Sands casino in south Bethlehem that they have had their best week ever! A figure of around 70 million US Dollars is reported to have been taken in the casino machines. The casino goers seem to love those slots as they pumped the machines full of cash. According to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board an astounding high of 69 million US Dollars had been spent. The casino had been taking some innovative approaches to draw in customers and the surge in spending is attributed to Sands giving away 1.8 million US Dollars in free money to play for the membership holders of their casino. It certainly seems to have done the trick as customers are flooding back, mind you it was the biggest ever amount given by a single casino, so it’s not surprising.

Even with the giveaway Sands 4.12 million US Dollars in gross terminal. What this actually means is that they take all the money that is in the machines one all the winners have been paid out. As a direct result from the promotion, bets in the region of 60 million US Dollars were placed. Pennsylvania seems to be doing well in state tax as just in the last week its casino took 526 million US Dollars of which 13 million US Dollars went to the US government.

If you don’t want the US government to get a penny of your winnings then play Online Poker.  It can be great fun and other games you might enjoy are Full Tilt Poker or maybe Absolute Poker.