Pennsylvania iGaming market sees steady ramp-up of revenue accelerated in H2

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) released on Tuesday the 15th edition of its Annual Report. 

The PGCB’s 2019-2020 Annual Report provides detail on the work of the agency in regulating the Commonwealth’s gaming industry, and also includes:

• Statewide revenue figures for slot machine, table games, sports wagering, internet gaming, fantasy sports contests and video gaming terminal gross revenue;
• Up-to-date status on gaming expansion initiatives including casino construction;
• A year in review report with pertinent statistical figures from the PGCB’s key bureaus;
• Revenue and expenditures during the fiscal year by the PGCB, along with a breakdown of employment at the agency;
• A section on problem gambling with statistics on the PGCB’s Self-Exclusion Program; and,
• A special report on the impact of the Covid-19 coronavirus on Pennsylvania’s gaming industry.

Casinos continue to be the backbone of the gaming industry in Pennsylvania with six Category 1 facilities (casinos with horse racing), four Category 2 facilities (casinos without horse racing) and two Category 3 facilities (located at qualified resorts).

During the upcoming fiscal year, a fifth Category 2 facility is expected to begin operations in the City of Philadelphia.

While pandemic restrictions delayed construction for a period of time, movement toward the opening of the first Category 4 Satellite Casinos progressed in Fiscal Year 2019/2020.

While one project was denied a license by the PGCB and another delayed construction due to siting issues, three of the facilities are under construction with one slated to open in late 2020.

In accordance with the report, the loss of casino revenue for a period of time due to the COVID-19 closings enabled additional growth in the new iGaming market which saw its steady ramp up of revenue be accelerated during the second half of the fiscal year. 

Sports Wagering got off to a strong start in Fiscal Year 2018/2019 and continued to pick up steam in Fiscal Year 2019/2020. By the end of the fiscal year there were 13 retail sites at casinos or off-track betting facilities and 9 online sites.

The temporary closure of the retail operations along with the stoppage of almost all major sports drastically effected sports wagering revenue. But, by the end of the fiscal year with casino-reopenings and major sports returning, sports wagering revenue had begun to return to previous levels.