The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) recently announced that gaming revenue for September 2024 reached an impressive $505.9 million, marking a year-over-year growth of 6.17%. This increase was largely driven by significant gains in online gaming and sports betting. Let’s delve into the key details, highlighting which sectors performed the best and how brick-and-mortar casinos compared to online platforms.
Steady Growth in Online Gaming and Sports Betting
One of the biggest contributors to Pennsylvania’s gaming revenue growth came from the internet casino sector, with iGaming revenue reaching $176.7 million in September—a notable 10.79% increase compared to the same month in 2023. Despite this, there was a slight dip from the $183.7 million seen in August 2024, representing a 3.8% decrease.
Sports betting also saw significant growth, with revenue climbing by 46.13% to $53.5 million. This rise is attributed to the beginning of the football season, which always boosts betting activity. The total betting handle for sports wagering reached $811.3 million, an 11.71% increase over the previous year.
Record-Breaking Bonuses and Credits
The gaming sector also saw record-setting bonuses and credits, totaling $43 million. This contributed to adjusted gross revenue (AGR) of $53.5 million from a gross revenue of $95.8 million—a 46.1% increase year-over-year, making it the fifth-highest total on record.
The Impact of iGaming and Sportsbooks
Online casinos, led by Hollywood Casino, Valley Forge, and BetRivers, contributed significantly to the state’s revenue. Hollywood Casino, which operates DraftKings, BetMGM, and its internal app, reported $66.9 million in iGaming revenue, up 3.2% year-over-year. Meanwhile, Valley Forge Casino Resort, with its FanDuel sportsbook, saw a 33.03% year-over-year revenue increase, bringing in $47.1 million. BetRivers came in third, surpassing $30 million for the sixth time in seven months with $31.5 million in revenue.
Betting Handle and Sportsbook Performance
Valley Forge also led in sports betting revenue, generating $27.4 million from a betting handle of $320.4 million. Hollywood Casino at the Meadows followed with $13.1 million from $237.2 million in wagers. The Hollywood Casino Morgantown and Hollywood Casino at Penn National also posted solid sports betting numbers, with revenue of $2.5 million and $2.46 million, respectively.
Brick-and-Mortar Casinos: Mixed Results
While online gaming and sports betting saw impressive growth, Pennsylvania’s brick-and-mortar casinos had a more mixed performance. Parx Casino remained the top performer with $30.2 million in slot machine revenue, despite a 4.25% decrease year-over-year. Wind Creek Bethlehem, in contrast, posted a 2.1% increase, generating $24.2 million in slot revenue. Rivers Casino Pittsburgh saw a slight decline in slot revenue, down 2.36% to $20.7 million.
Table Games Dip Slightly
Table games across the state brought in $73.4 million in revenue, a 2.33% drop from the previous year. Despite this, the overall impact on the state’s total revenue was minor, thanks to the growth in iGaming and sports betting.
Pennsylvania’s Total Tax Revenue
In total, the state collected $211.2 million in taxes from its various gaming platforms in September 2024. Of this, $51.1 million came directly from internet casino gaming. Pennsylvania’s $6.21 billion wagered through iGaming casinos was the second-highest in the state’s history.
Top-Performing Casinos
- Valley Forge Casino Resort: Valley Forge led the pack in overall revenue, with a massive 29.5% year-over-year increase, bringing in $85.6 million.
- Hollywood Casino at Penn National: This casino saw a 7.10% rise in revenue, generating $82.5 million.
- Parx Casino: Despite leading in slot revenue, Parx experienced a 6.52% decrease in total revenue, reporting $52.2 million.
- Rivers Casino Philadelphia: The casino recorded a 7.84% increase in revenue, reaching $51.1 million.
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