The gaming industry in Pennsylvania continues its rapid growth, with the state reporting record-breaking revenue for the third month in a row.
According to available information, all legal channels in the Keystone State generated gross gaming revenue of $413.2 million last month. It’s an improvement of 2.5% compared to the previous record performance set in April.
Slot machines and table games, available at fifteen commercial casinos across Pennsylvania, brought around $278.6 million. There’s no comparison to the same month of 2020, as all land-based casinos were closed during that period. But compared to the same month of 2019, the slot and table win went up by $7.5 million.
Online Slots Lead the Way
Online slots generated $67.2 million, while internet table games totaled $31.4 million. When it comes to sports betting, a total of $447 million was wagered both on and offline, with the vertical keeping $27.7 million. At the same time, video gaming terminals reported gross gaming revenue of $3.6 million. Online poker and daily fantasy sports generated $2.6 million and $2 million in revenue, respectively.
Hollywood Casino at Penn National had the largest market share with $62.9 million in revenue. Parx Casinos followed with $61.7 million, while Rivers Casino Philadelphia came third with $48 million.
The latest numbers reveal that Pennsylvania’s gaming industry continues to evolve. It appears that after being forced to shift to online casinos, many gamblers are making a permanent change.
Although land-based casino revenue has dropped when compared to May 2019, online gambling shows phenomenal growth. It’s is the first time since the launch of the regulated online market in Pennsylvania that monthly revenue exceeded $100 million.
A Staggering Year-on-Year Improvement for Penn National
Penn National Gaming dominates the state’s online market. The gaming operator is the oldest one in Pennsylvania, which is probably the main reason behind its popularity among customers, as the familiar brand offers them a sense of safety.
The operator’s online casino generated $41.3 million in gross gaming revenue, representing a significant contribution to the state’s collective revenue of $101.2 million in May. Rivers’ online gambling platform was far behind with $27 million.
Penn National’s monthly performance recorded a rise of 360% compared to May 2020.
Last week, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) issued fines against two companies whose casinos operate in the state. Boyd Gaming was handed a $150,000 penalty for not revealing information about the sustainability of a principal. In addition, the casino had to pay a $14,000 fine for allowing a minor to gamble at its Valley Forge Casino Resort.
At the same time, Penn National Gaming was given a $70,000 fine for allowing a self-excluded customer to gamble freely. The said customer was even served alcohol and later caused a car accident while intoxicated, hitting other vehicles parked in front of the casino.
But that wasn’t the only fine Penn National received. Two of the casino’s employees swindled money from the operation, which resulted in submitting an inaccurate report to the state’s regulator. The operator will have to pay an additional $50,000.