Pennsylvania Sets New iGaming Revenue Record in December
January 21, 2025 Marija D
Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB), total gaming revenue for December reached $533.1 million. While this represented a slight 0.2% decline compared to the $534.2 million reported in December 2023, iGaming earnings were the driving force behind this strong showing.
iGaming revenue alone reached $223.6 million in December, suring the prior record of $200.5 million set just the month before. The surge in online gaming activity included a remarkable 40.5% growth in iGaming slots, significantly contributing to the record figures.
Hollywood Casino Leads the Way
Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course in Grantville emerged as the top revenue generator in December, amassing $99.3 million across all gambling forms. This marks a substantial 31.3% increase compared to December 2023, underscoring the casino’s dominant position in Pennsylvania’s gambling landscape.
Valley Forge Casino Resort, another major operator, reported revenue of $87.6 million for the month, representing a 4.9% decrease year-over-year. Meanwhile, Parx Casino in Philadelphia contributed $54.1 million in total revenue, reflecting a decline of 5.8% compared to the same period last year.
Slot Machines See Broad Decline
Revenue from traditional slot machines across Pennsylvania casinos totaled $202.1 million in December, a 2.7% year-over-year decrease. Parx Casino remained the leader in slot earnings, generating $31.5 million, albeit with a 2.8% drop compared to December 2023.
Wind Creek Bethlehem followed with $23.1 million in slot revenue, down 1.2% year-over-year. Rivers Casino Pittsburgh, another significant operator, reported $22 million from slots, marking a 5.7% decrease compared to the same period last year.
Strong iGaming Gains Persist
iGaming platforms across Pennsylvania demonstrated considerable growth in December, spearheaded by Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course. The property’s iGaming revenue totaled $86.4 million, a notable 41.8% increase over the previous year. Valley Forge Casino Resort also witnessed impressive growth in its online gaming segment, reporting $61.2 million in December earnings, a 48.4% year-over-year rise. Rivers Casino Philadelphia rounded out the top contributors with $35.2 million, up 12.4% from the previous year.
Hollywood Casino in York experienced steady growth in the iGaming sector as well, bringing in $9.08 million during December, a 0.51% year-over-year increase.
Decline in Sports Betting Revenues
Sports betting presented a contrasting story in December, with overall revenue declining by 69.9% to $21.9 million for the month. Valley Forge Casino Resort led this segment with $14.1 million in sports betting revenue derived from a $353.3 million handle. Hollywood Casino at the Meadows generated $7.3 million from a handle of $238.5 million, while Hollywood Casino York posted $0.7 million in revenue from $45.5 million in wagers.
December’s robust performance contributed $223.7 million in tax revenue, derived from the month’s $533.1 million total revenue. The sustained growth in iGaming has bolstered the state’s gaming tax contributions significantly, positioning it as a cornerstone of Pennsylvania’s regulated gambling industry.
Pennsylvania’s December gaming performance highlighted its diverse and evolving gambling industry. With record-breaking iGaming revenue counterbalancing declines in traditional slots and sports betting, the state continued to showcase the resilience and adaptability of its gambling market.
Source:
“Pennsylvania: Record revenue from igaming in December mitigates minuscule year-over year decrease”, cdcgaming.com, January 17, 2025.
