Pennsylvania Record High Numbers in Spring

Pennsylvania shattered its previous gambling revenue record in March, pulling in a staggering $574.5 million — a 3.6% increase from the same month last year and a 20.4% jump from February — according to data released Sunday by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB). The historic high came even as sports betting and land-based casino revenue declined, showcasing the state’s growing reliance on iGaming.

At the heart of the surge was online gambling, or iGaming, which continues to redefine the state's gambling landscape. In March, iGaming brought in a record $238.2 million, a 24.7% increase year-on-year. The bulk of that came from online slots, which contributed $179.5 million — up 32.5%. Internet table games rose modestly to $56.2 million (up 5.8%), while online poker inched forward by 3.3% to $2.6 million.

Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course and its online partners led the digital pack, generating $90.7 million. Valley Forge Casino Resort followed with $64.8 million, and Rivers Casino Philadelphia rounded out the top three with $38.6 million.

While total handle rose 5.3% year-on-year to $842.9 million — largely thanks to online channels — sports betting revenue dipped sharply, down 40.7% to $27 million. Analysts attribute this disconnect to a lower overall hold rate, which sat at just 3.2% statewide.

FanDuel, in partnership with Valley Forge, continued its market dominance, pulling in $9.4 million in revenue on a $328.6 million handle. DraftKings and Hollywood Casino at the Meadows followed closely, earning $8.8 million from $209.2 million. BetMGM and Hollywood Casino Morgantown took third, posting $1.9 million in revenue on $78.2 million in wagers.

Notably, ESPN Bet and Hollywood Casino at Penn National reported a 4.27% hold — the second-highest among the major sportsbooks, trailing only Parx Casino, which posted an industry-best 7.01% hold on $15.7 million in bets.

In a continuing trend, land-based gambling saw further contraction. Retail slot machines, still the largest single contributor at $222.5 million, slipped 2.4% year-on-year. Table games also declined, down 3.9% to $81.9 million. Video gaming terminals (VGTs) posted a minor dip of 0.6% to $3.7 million, while daily fantasy sports edged up 6.9% to $1.2 million. Despite mixed performance across sectors, the state enjoyed a tax windfall of $244.3 million from all gambling activity. iGaming accounted for $106.3 million of that total, underscoring its critical role in state revenue. Retail slots generated $112.5 million in taxes, land-based tables $13.7 million, and sports betting $9.7 million. Other categories, including VGTs and fantasy sports, contributed modestly.

 

March marked a pivotal moment for Pennsylvania’s gambling industry, with iGaming revenue reaching unprecedented highs even as traditional sectors showed signs of fatigue.

 

The Future and Its Momentum

The March report underscores a key shift in Pennsylvania’s gambling economy — one that mirrors national and global trends. While physical casinos face headwinds from changing consumer preferences and economic pressures, the digital space is thriving, offering flexibility and accessibility for players and high margins for operators.

As the state continues to benefit from the digital gold rush, questions remain about the long-term future of brick-and-mortar casinos, and whether they can adapt or diversify quickly enough to compete in a landscape increasingly dominated by screens.