Pennsylvania reported a monthly record $829.0m (£664.4m/€759.3m) sports betting handle in October, while the state also noted year-on-year revenue growth across several segments.
Total gambling revenue in Pennsylvania hit $483.0m in October. This was 7.3% higher than $450.2m in October 2022 and 1.4% up from $576.3m in September this year.
Retail slots were responsible for almost 40.0% of all gambling revenue during the month at $192.5m, down 3.3% from last year. Land-based table games revenue edged up 2.0% year-on-year to $81.5m.
Record spending pushes sports betting revenue up
The headline figure for Pennsylvania in October was sports betting handle, which climbed 4.0% from the previous monthly high of $797.1m to reach a new record.
This helped push sports betting revenue up 18.8% year-on-year to $48.2m. Of this total, $43.1m came from online wagering and the remaining $5.1m retail betting.
Hollywood Casino at the Meadows and Barstool edged back into top sport in the market with revenue of $18.9m from $258.3m in bets.
Valley Forge and FanDuel, which led the sector in September, fell behind with revenue of $18.2m despite a higher handle of $328.4m. Rivers Casino Pittsburgh and BetRivers placed third with $2.3m from $33.5m in total wagers.
October online gambling revenue falls just short of record
Turning to online gambling, total revenue in this market – across slots, tables and poker – reached $154.8. This was 24.3% ahead of $124.5m in October last year but behind the $159.5m record set in September.
The main reason for year-on-year growth was a 27.2% increase in online slots revenue to $109.8m. Internet table games revenue was also up 19.4% to $42.6m but ipoker revenue declined 5.8% to $2.3m.
Hollywood Casino at Penn National remains some way out in front in the Pennsylvania igaming market. The operator posted $62.2m in total online gambling revenue during October, including $41.9m in slots revenue, $20.0m table games revenue and a further $319.163 in ipoker revenue.
Next came Valley Forge Casino Resort with $35.4m in igaming revenue, then Rivers Casino Philadelphia on $29.3m.
As for other gambling, video gaming terminal revenue slipped 4.0% to $3.4m. Fantasy sports contests revenue was also 4.3% lower at $2.7m for October.
Pennsylvania issues fine for underage gambling
Meanwhile, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) has fined state leader Hollywood Casino at Penn National’s operator, Mountainview Thoroughbred Racing Association, for allowing underage gambling.
The PGCB said it had identified three instances when individuals under the age of 21 accessed the gaming floor and gambled. It fined the operator $40,000 as a result.
In addition, the PGCB fined licensed slot machine manufacturer Lightning Gaming $5,000. This was in relation to a failure to notify the PGCB of material changes to financial status.
Elsewhere, four more adults have been added to the state’s Involuntary Exclusion List for leaving minors unattended while gambling.
A male player left a one-year-old in a locked vehicle while gambling at Valley Forge Casino Resort. The vehicle was left unattended for nine minutes in the casino car park, with an outside temperature of 84 degrees.
Pennsylvania State Police broke a car window to extract the child, while the patron later attempted to flee in the vehicle, which contained illegal drugs. Police were able to detain and remove him.
Another male player left two minors, aged six and eight, in a vehicle in the parking lot of Live! Casino Pittsburgh. The player gambled at slot machines for eight minutes inside the casino.
A female patron was added to the list for leaving minors aged 10 and 13 in a vehicle in the parking garage of Live! Casino Philadelphia. The minors were alone for 24 minutes while the patron played on slot machines.
Finally, another female player was reprimanded for leaving a 13-year-old unattended in the Sky Bridge hallway of Mohegan Pennsylvania Casino. The minor was left for 10 minutes while the adult played slots.
