Pennsylvania sports betting downturn continues in September as igaming revenue surges
Keystone State regulator reports 47% YOY increase in igaming slots revenue while sportsbook numbers see double-digit percentage decline
Online gambling revenue from slots games in Pennsylvania grew by more than 47% year on year (YOY) in September to $114.7m, according to latest data from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB).
Revenue from igaming table games also surged during September, jumping 32% YOY to $42.3m. The positive revenue growth led to combined igaming revenue increasing by 41% YOY to $159.4m.
In its September revenue report, the PGCB reported a total revenue figure from all forms of gaming of $476.2m, up 6.2% from that reported in September 2022.
Pennsylvania’s sports betting revenue, in contrast, continued to decline in September, with revenue dropping 27% YOY to just $36.6m, despite a potential bounce from the start of the new NFL season.
Revenue from online poker also declined by double-digits in percentage terms during September, falling 10% YOY $2.3m, a loss echoed by Pennsylvania fantasy contest revenue, which slumped 7% YOY to $1.7m over the same period.
Retail slots and table games revenue was also down in the month, falling by 0.7% for slots and by 8% for table games on a YOY basis.
State authorities collected $197.7m in taxes from state-licensed gambling operators in September.
Drilling down into the individual igaming operator figures, Harrah’s Philadelphia continued its stellar performance from August into September, notching up 128% YOY revenue growth, which amounted to $7.2m in revenue.
The Caesars-owned casino was substantially ahead of the Valley Forge Casino resort, which saw igaming revenue growth of 81% YOY to $35.4m and the Live! Casino Philadelphia which reported a revenue uptick of 37% YOY.
The Hollywood Casino at the Penn National Race Course generated the largest revenue figure on a monetary basis from igaming during September of $64.8m, a figure up 33% YOY.
As it was in August, just four of Pennsylvania’s 19 sportsbook operators reported YOY percentage revenue increases for the month.
Live! Casino Philadelphia reported September revenue of $849,684, up 18% YOY, just ahead of Parx Casino with $2.1m, revenue growth of 13% YOY, and Wind Creek Bethlehem, which reported modest revenue growth of 2% YOY to $158,605.
In respect of daily fantasy sports (DFS) contests, Fantasy Sports Games LLC saw the biggest YOY revenue growth in September of 68%, ahead of Sportshub Technologies with 29%, and DraftKings, which saw its DFS revenue jump 18% YOY to $1.3m.