Maryland Live! Casino & Hotel celebrates 5th anniversary

(PRESS RELEASE) -- The Cordish Companies' Maryland Live! Casino & Hotel is poised to celebrate a major milestone on Tuesday, 6 June 2017, with its 5th Anniversary as one of the largest and top performing casinos in the country. Live! Casino has also served as a major driver of tourism and economic development for the State of Maryland, welcoming more than 10 million visitors per year and generating nearly $3 billion in total gaming revenue, with more than $1.4 billion paid in gaming taxes to the state.

Since the $500+ million gaming and entertainment destination opened its doors at Arundel Mills on 6 June 2012, the facility has enjoyed years of success marked with continual growth, the evolution of new jobs and increased revenue for the State of Maryland.

"As we celebrate our fifth year as one of the country's top casinos and the most-visited destination in Maryland, our home state, we are especially proud of the impact we've had on our community and the quality jobs we've created for the Team Members we call family," said David Cordish, Chairman of The Cordish Companies. "We are committed to further enhancing our guest experience and workplace, beginning with the opening of our new luxury Live! Hotel in 2018."

Going Live!
The Cordish Companies broke ground on Live! Casino on 27 January 2011 and opened in multiple phases.

On 6 June 2012, Live! Casino celebrated its official Grand Opening with 3,176 slot machines and electronic table games, including a High Limit room, multiple dining options, including Bobby's Burger Palace and the R Bar, and a secure covered 5,000-space parking garage. By the end of June, The Cheesecake Factory joined the mix.

Openings through July and August 2012 included an additional 531 slot machines and electronic table games and the Rams Head Bar. On 30 August 2012, the 500-seat Rams Head Center Stage made its debut with the legendary Charlie Daniels Band. On 12 September 2012, the facility added the final 1,043 slot machines and electronic table games, including a dedicated High Limit Slots Room.

Following a historic vote on 6 November 2012, whereby Maryland residents passed a referendum for expanded gaming in the state, including the addition of 24-hour gaming and live action table games, Live! immediately began making the modifications necessary to implement these changes. It was during this time, on 6 December 2012, that the Zagat-rated #1 steakhouse The Prime Rib opened.

Live! Casino unlocked its doors for the final time on 27 December 2012, as 24-hour gaming operations commenced. Then, on 11 April 2013, more than 122 live action table games opened and ushered in the next generation of casino gaming in Maryland. The 52-table Poker Room soon followed on 28 August 2013.

Over the past five years, casino guests have also hit the jackpot — literally. Live! Casino welcomes more than 10 million visitors per year and is currently ranked as the #1 Tourist Destination in the State by the Baltimore Business Journal. Since opening, Live! has paid out more than $22 billion in winnings to casino customers.

Now, construction is in full swing on the new $200 million flagship luxury LIVE! Hotel. The 350,000-square-foot property features a 17-story hotel tower, making it the tallest building in Anne Arundel County, with 310 guest rooms, an event center, meeting spaces, new dining options and a day spa/salon. The Live! Hotel is scheduled to open in early 2018. In addition, the LIVE! Lofts boutique hotel is currently undergoing an extensive $3 Million renovation.

Jobs and more jobs
Live! Casino & Hotel is currently one of the largest employers in the state, with approximately 3,000 Team Members. Since opening, Live! has paid more than $907 million in wages.

Live! Casino & Hotel is still hiring across all departments, including food and beverage, marketing, finance, environmental services, IT and security. Recruitment efforts will soon be underway to fill more than 400 additional positions for the new Live! Hotel. Job descriptions and requirements for available positions are posted regularly on the website.

A boost to the economy and the community
Live! Casino is one of the highest taxpayers in the state, with more than $1.4 billion paid in taxes to benefit education and other vital projects. Since opening, Live! has contributed more than $1.1 billion to the Education Trust Fund and over $29.9 million in grants awarded to local MBE/WBE Businesses in Anne Arundel County.

"It's really amazing to look back over the past five years and realize how far we've come," said Rob Norton, President, Cordish Global Gaming Group. "I'm so proud of our team and everything we have accomplished, especially with the amount of jobs created for the region and the revenue generated for the state."

In addition, more than $85 million in local impact grants has been awarded in Anne Arundel County to support our local police, fire, rescue, community projects and other important programs and organizations.

Beyond that support, Live! Casino has contributed more than $4.2 million in cash donations and in-kind support to various local nonprofits and business organizations, including Susan G. Komen Maryland, the Casey Cares Foundation, the USO of Metro DC, the SPCA of Anne Arundel County, the American Red Cross, Capital Pride Foundation, Opportunity Builders, the Blue Angels Foundation, the Capital Area Food Bank, the Anne Arundel County Food Bank and many more.

Continued Norton, "One of the great things about Cordish and Live! is that we have always been about more than just what is good for the property, we always consider what is good for the community as well. Cordish is a family business and we consider our employees and the community our family, so we're here to stay."