In-person gambling at casinos in Pennsylvania first began in 2006 when the first land-based casinos opened their doors. In 2019, online casinos and sportsbooks became legal. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) regulates all types of gambling in the state and reports regularly on gaming revenue.
Pennsylvania gaming revenue reached over $6 billion last year, and the strong performance continued in January. Revenue for January saw an almost 11% gain from January 2024. The state’s online casinos were responsible for most of the growth.
Online casino revenue
Pennsylvania has taken a proactive approach to ensuring a safe and secure online gambling environment for residents. Gross gaming revenue for Pennsylvania online gambling climbed about 40% this January from January 2024. Total iGaming slots revenue was more than $158 million for the month.
The competitive online gambling environment in the state has resulted in casinos innovating and offering many attractive products to gain new players and retain existing players. As technology continues to advance, there is even more potential to make online gambling an immersive and highly engaging experience.
Land-based casino revenue
Before online betting became legal, the land-based casinos in Pennsylvania played an important role. Given new president Donald Trump’s background in the land-based casino industry, many in the gambling sector are optimistic about the future of the industry in the U.S.
In 2024, land-based casino revenue went down. However, all core land-based gambling sectors were up this January. One of the reasons could be that January was a bitterly cold month in the state.
The revenue in January from retail slot machines was nearly $188 million. Parx Casino stayed in the top position among the 17 physical casinos with gross gambling revenue (GGR) of over $45 million. Parx is in a good position as it offers in-person and online gambling.
Sportsbooks
The convenience of mobile sports betting apps has made it easy for residents and visitors to place sports bets in Pennsylvania. They can do so responsibly in a legal and regulated environment. The state benefits from the additional tax revenue that betting on sports generates. However, the sportsbooks were the only gaming vertical in Pennsylvania that did see a year-over-year decline.
Pennsylvania bettors placed plenty of bets on the Philadelphia Eagles who ended up winning the Super Bowl. However, the state experienced a net loss of $6.5 million on Super Bowl bets.
In January, sports bettors wagered over $873 million on sports and most of the sports betting revenue came from online bets. Pennsylvanians can bet online on many different sports and place a wide range of bets, including moneyline bets, point spreads, and prop bets.
Why is online gambling growing?
The online gambling market size keeps growing, and about 20% of Pennsylvania adults gamble online.
The surge in popularity of online gaming is due to many factors. It is very convenient for residents to play from any location using their mobile devices. They can receive generous bonuses and promotions when playing online. Their personal and financial information is safe and secure due to encryption technology and other security measures.
To sign up for an online casino account in Pennsylvania, players must be located physically within the borders of the state and be at least 21 years old. Licensed PA online casinos also promote responsible gambling and give players tools to help them manage their gambling activities.
The online casinos in Pennsylvania make a significant contribution to the state’s economy. The tax revenue from these casinos goes to fund various public initiatives. This includes infrastructure development and education.
