Pennsylvania gaming revenue sees 17 percent rise in January

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board released this week figures showing the total gaming and fantasy contests revenue generated in the Commonwealth during January 2020, which amounted to $302,844,383, representing a 16.94% increase over revenue generated in January 2019.

Sources of gaming revenue regulated by the Board include slot machines, table games, internet gaming, retail and internet sports wagering, fantasy contests and video gaming terminals.

Total tax revenue generated collectively through all forms of gaming and fantasy contests was $124,106,057 during January of 2020.

The following chart compiles all revenue generated in January 2020 by casinos along with fantasy contests and video gaming terminals operated by other vendors, and includes a comparison to total revenue generated last January:

Parx Casino saw the highest total revenue in the state, amounting to $57,504,202, while Valley Forge Casino Resort reported the highest percentage increase, 92.28%.

January’s gross revenue from slot machines at the 12 casinos was $190,311,646, a 5.8% increase in revenue when compared to the $179,842,151 generated in January 2019. The average number of slot machines operating on a daily basis was 24,126 during January 2020 compared to 25,280 at the casinos in January 2019.

Table games revenue for January 2020 was $72,553,994, a decrease of 2.5% over January of last year when revenue was $74,409,695.

Total adjusted revenue for January 2020 for video gaming terminals (VGTs) was $1,115,218 compared to $879,153 in December, an increase of 27%. Each of the establishments operated the maximum of 5 machines. By the close of January, two operators had placed VGT’s in a total of 21 truck stop establishments.

Casino games offered online generated gross revenue of $13,957,539 during January. That figure is 31.4% higher than the previous month of December 2019 when revenue was $10,624,699.

January’s total sports wagering handle from both retail and online outlets was $348,381,708, 1.7% above the previous month’s wager total of $342,560,389.  At the same time, the taxable revenue figure for January of this year was $22,841,213 or 100.8% higher than December 2019 taxable revenue of $11,374,482.

Fantasy Contests revenue was $2,064,773 in January 2020, a decrease of 2.4% over January of last year when revenue was $2,116,499.

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board oversees all aspects of gambling legalized under 2004’s Race Horse Development and Gaming Act and the Gaming Expansion Act of 2017. In addition to slot machine and table games gambling at land-based casinos, the expansion includes online casino games available to date on seven sites; sports wagering offered through sportsbooks at 12 retail locations and through eight online outlets; video gaming terminals (VGTs) offered as of this date at 23 qualified truck stops; and, fantasy sports contests through eight providers.

The mature land-based casino industry in Pennsylvania currently consists of 10 stand-alone and racetrack casinos in operation, along with the two smaller resort casinos. Construction of a 13th casino is currently underway along with a number of new “mini-casinos” that are expected to begin operation over the next couple of years.