Pennsylvania’s Record-Breaking $529 Million Janaury Gaming Revenue Signals Boom

Following the Philadelphia Eagles’ stunning Super Bowl victory earlier this month, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) also had something to celebrate after recording an all-time high of $529 million in revenue for January.

Mirroring a national trend, in what amounted to an impressive 11% year-over-year surge, Pennsylvanians have maintained the Keystone State’s status as a dominant player in the US gambling market.

Unquestionably, iGaming was at the forefront of the state’s lofty revenue growth, which in part led to Caesars launching live dealer casino games in Pennsylvania the month before.

Now firmly established within the state’s gambling ecosystem, the digital gambling sector managed to generate an extraordinary $210.7 million, up 40.5% from January 2024.

Pennsylvanian’s new-found love of online casino experiences meant it featured heavily in the report’s highlights for its state-adjusted revenue growth.

But traditional bricks brick-and-mortar casino venues managed to still eclipse online gaming revenues after posting a solid $261.5 million in January, reflecting a 5% growth, up from $187.8 million in 2024.

A reason for this year-on-year growth could possibly be attributed to the intense cold snaps experienced this winter, as freezing temperatures drove citizens to seek entertainment indoors but still out and about.

Nevertheless, venues such as Parx Casino in Bensalem and Wind Creek Bethlehem weren’t complaining after posting revenues of $51.1 million and $42.6 million, respectively.

Not all of Pennsylvania’s gambling sectors prospered to the same extent, with sports betting revenue taking a substantial hit, falling 26% compared to January 2024.

However, despite sports betting posting impressive revenues of $873.1 million, the Philadelphia Eagles’ stellar performances throughout the playoffs also meant Pennsylvanian sportsbooks suffered a month of hefty payouts.

Ultimately, Pennsylvania’s flourishing cross-sectional gambling performances are certainly becoming the envy of state lawmakers nationwide, not to mention an excellent illustration that iGaming’s market cannibalization claims are somewhat unfounded.

Unlike in New York and Maryland, whose bids to legalize iGaming are beset with legislative resistance, Pennsylvania’s January tax revenue has soared to $221.6 million on the back of the state’s online casino games success.

Scheduled to help fund education, property tax relief efforts, and local community initiatives, the PGCB has cemented its status as a gaming powerhouse, whose tax revenue must surely be the envy of those yet to open its doors to iGaming.