Casinos across the region are breaking new records for revenue as bettors return to slot machines and table games amid pent-up demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic, records show. Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey all posted surprisingly strong growth in recent months, and New York casinos were creeping back to pre-pandemic wagering — a major boost to the states' economy and tourism during the critical summer season. “We continue to welcome back guests, and feedback indicates their appreciation of our health and safety measures,” said Ed Domingo, senior vice president at Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts in Yonkers. The states operate in the nation's most competitive gambling market, and it was near saturation even before the pandemic, making the return after COVID a particularly critical time for casinos in Atlantic City and the New York City area, across Pennsylvania and down the East Coast.