During the August 5 public meeting that was held by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB), some very interesting developments came to light. As expected, due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the meeting was held via a conference phone call. There was a lot that was discussed but the gaming revenue was one of the major highlights.
In July, the state’s casino industry recorded a pretty strong rebound, especially in the retail gambling space. Total retail casino revenue in the Keystone State claimed about 75 percent of their normal monthly revenue. This was quite understandable since the 12 casinos that have reopened were only able to do so under limited capacity to prevent any further spread of COVID-19.
While the official July gaming revenues will not be released until August 17, Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board Executive Director Kevin O’Toole did point out that the preliminary revenue reports are already quite impressive. To put this into perspective, he stated that slots made 80 percent of the amount they made during the period last year while table games made about 70 percent. Now, that is a pretty impressive start.
The fiscal year 2019/20 revenue report was released by the PGCB last month and unsurprisingly, there was a drop. As a result of all the shutdowns, revenue dropped by a mind-numbing 18 percent. However, with the reopening of casino venues in July, it is safe to say that things are about to get much better. July revenue is going to be proof of this.
Other News from The Meeting
Apart from the discussion of the preliminary revenue figures, the PGCB also announced the arrival of a new online gambling site. Operated by Wind Creek Bethlehem, https://play.windcreekcasino.com/casino quietly began its operations in mid-July. While the operator is yet to officially make the announcement regarding its online gambling offering, the gambling site already packs over 70 slots options. There are also video poker and baccarat titles as well as three versions of blackjack and roulette.
Online gambling in general has been on the rise in Pennsylvania ever since the state’s lawmakers greenlighted the activity. However, the pandemic catalyzed the growth of the industry with so many people switching to online gambling after the casinos were closed. Even now, the retail gambling venues that have been reopened allow only a fraction of their total capacity.
Lots of gaming operators were already working on online offerings and they were able to swoop in just in time to cater to the growing demand for online casino games. Many other online and live gaming options are still undergoing preparations and should launch in the state very soon.