The Keystone State’s online gambling sector has been through a lot since the COVID-19 pandemic hit. The worst of the pandemic is now behind us and the state’s gambling industry is already beginning to gain some level of normalcy. This has translated to very impressive revenues for the industry.
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) has recently released the May revenue figures for the state’s gambling industry and it looks every bit as good as expected. In total, the gambling industry generated a whopping $413 million in May 2021. This is, naturally, a huge rise from the revenue that the state recorded back in May 2020 when its brick-and-mortar casinos were closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Online Gaming Takes the Lead
May was yet another great month for online gambling in Pennsylvania. Official figures from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board showed that the sector generated gross revenue of $101,251,771 in May 2021. This record revenue was up from $55,838,787 in May 2020. Out of this, about $41 million went to state coffers as tax revenue.
Individual casino performance was as follows:
| Casino Operator | Total Internet Games Revenue | Internet Slots Revenue | Internet Table Games Revenue | Internet Poker Revenue |
| Hollywood Casino at Penn National | $41,340,290 | $25,389,538 | $15,671,987 | $278,765 |
| Rivers Casino Philadelphia | $27,012,007 | $23,081,043 | $3,863,711 | $67,254 |
| Valley Forge Casino Resort | $16,278,475 | $7,514,429 | $8,764,046 | n/a |
| Mount Airy Casino Resort | $6,312,909 | $2,485,444 | $1,570,054 | $2,257,411 |
| Parx Casino | $3,943,662 | $3,532,425 | $411,237 | n/a |
| Mohegan Sun Pocono | $1,948,354 | $1,605,086 | $343,268 | n/a |
| Harrah’s Philadelphia | $1,776,744 | $1,379,120 | $397,624 | n/a |
| Wind Creek Bethlehem | $1,178,084 | $1,076,164 | $101,921 | n/a |
| Presque Isle Downs and Casino | $812,821 | $584,660 | $228,161 | n/a |
| Live! Philadelphia | $648,424 | $601,033 | $47,391 | n/a |
| Statewide Total | $101,251,771 | $67,248,942 | $31,399,399 | $2,603,430 |
Sports betting also recorded notable growth in revenue figures. Revenue from the gambling vertical totaled $27.7 million up from $26.2 million in April 2021. We expect this to improve even further as various sporting activities continue to get back on track.
High Hopes for the Future
If these revenue figures are anything to go by, Pennsylvania is well on its ways towards reaping the full benefits of its rapidly growing gambling sector. All the development that we have seen so far especially with regards to the COVID-19 pandemic. Online gambling operations pulled through better when compared to their retail counterparts.
However, retail gambling operations are also picking up the pace. State authorities already lifted some of the restrictions that hindered the operations of casinos. Capacity limits no longer exist and patrons will now even be allowed to smoke in the casinos that allow it. All these developments are likely to foster some growth.