Gambling in the USA

Pennsylvania Sportsbooks Lose Out On $220 Million In Bets While Online Casinos Hit New Revenue Record In March

Published

4 years ago

April 16, 2020

Zoltan Tundik

Image by Joachim Kirchner from Pixabay

Reading Time: 4 minutes

With $24.3 million in revenue, online casinos and poker lone bright spot for the industry, according to PlayPennsylvania

LAS VEGAS — The handle for Pennsylvania’s retail and online sportsbooks shrunk in March to its smallest monthly total since August 2019, while online casinos and poker exploded to a new record. Coronavirus shutdowns loom over the gambling industry, costing sportsbooks $220 million in wagers in March, according to PlayPennsylvania estimates, and sending home-bound bettors to online casinos and poker rooms in record numbers.

“Pennsylvania’s gaming industry is navigating waters that are unprecedented anywhere,” said Dustin Gouker, lead analyst for PlayPennsylvania.com. “It’s an industry that employs thousands in Pennsylvania and generates millions of dollars in tax revenue, and it is not designed to be closed. Growth in online casinos is helping, but it can’t entirely make up for the revenue lost from sports betting and land-based casinos being shut down.”

Pennsylvania sportsbooks appeared headed for its first month with a handle of more than $350 million in revenue. But with the sports world largely shuttered after March 11, Pennsylvania’s handle slumped to just $131.3 million for the month, according to official data released Thursday. That is down 60.2% from $329.8 million in February, though up from $44.5 million in March 2019, before online sports betting launched.

March’s revenue hit $8.6 million, up from $4.7 million in February. The win resulted in $2.3 million in tax revenue for the state.

The suspension of the NBA season on March 11 sent shockwaves through the sports world, leading to the eventual indefinite shut down of most major events. That included the cancelation of March Madness, which would have attracted $100 million in bets at Pennsylvania sportsbooks, according to PlayPennsylvania estimates. The closures have limited books to futures betting, mostly on the NFL, and some international sports.

“The timing of the coronavirus shutdowns was particularly damaging to Pennsylvania sportsbooks, costing the industry millions in basketball-related bets,” Gouker said. “The first weekend of March Madness is the second-biggest sports betting event in the U.S., behind only the Super Bowl, and its cancellation leaves no feasible way to make up that revenue. Obviously, there are dramatic health and economic concerns for everyone right now, but the loss of revenue will be felt by Pennsylvania’s gambling industry for quite some time.”

$118.3 million, or 90.1%, of the state’s March handle came from online betting. FanDuel Sportsbook at Valley Forge Casino led the market with $53.7 million in March wagers, down from $138.5 million in February. That yielded $2.8 million in taxable revenue, up from $146,080 in February. FanDuel was followed by:

DraftKings at The Meadows ($28.6 million in handle, down from $72.3 million; $1.5 million taxable revenue, up from $1 million)
Rivers-Philadelphia ($12 million in handle, down from $24.7 million; $601,984 revenue, down from $784,565)
Rivers-Pittsburgh ($8.2 million in handle, down from $18.9 million; $535,860 revenue, down from $680,514)
Parx Casino ($7.9 million handle, down from $19.9 million; $618,159 revenue, down from $818,817)
Fox Bet at Mount Airy ($6.1 million handle, down from $14.4 million; $159,013 revenue, down from $539,372)
Unibet at Mohegan Sun Pocono ($1.2 million handle, down from $4 million; $19,750 revenue, down from $86,558)
Presque Isle Downs ($483,429 handle, down from $1.4 million; $23,905 revenue, down from $37,258)
Harrah’s ($139,790 handle, -$18,075 revenue)

Rivers-Philadelphia led the retail market with a $2.3 million handle, down from $7.2 million in February. That yielded $146,281 in revenue, down from $383,793. Rivers-Philadelphia was followed by:

Parx ($2 million handle, down from $5.9 million; $168,090 revenue, up from $127,231)
Rivers-Pittsburgh ($1.8 million handle, down from $6 million; $130,270 revenue, down from $809,858)
South Philadelphia Race and Sportsbook ($1.1 million handle, down from $2.7 million; $87,757 revenue, down from $181,236)
Presque Isle ($1.1 million handle, down from $1.7 million; $35,838 revenue, up from $12,865)
Harrah’s Philadelphia ($1 million handle, down from $2.9 million; $94,056 revenue revenue, up from -$64,494)
Valley Forge Casino ($859,504 handle, down from $2.5 million; -$40,280 revenue, up from -$75,306)
Mount Airy ($769,909 handle, up from $589,668; $14,344 revenue, up from -$20,065 in revenue)
Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course ($571,511 handle, down from $2.1 million; $53,730 revenue, up from -$150,053)
Mohegan ($463,552 handle, down from $1.7 million; -$15,336 revenue, down from $19,561)
Oaks Race and Sportsbook ($284,736 handle, down from $856,374; -$8,526 revenue, down from $17,529)

“The bottom line is that Pennsylvania’s sportsbooks will not be healthy again until the sports world begins to reopen,” Gouker said. “No one yet knows for sure when that day will come. But sports leagues everywhere are trying to figure out ways to begin games again, so there is at least some reason for some optimism.”

Online casinos and poker boom

With land-based casinos closed and many of the state’s residents home-bound, Pennsylvania’s online casinos and poker rooms boomed to dramatic new records. Combined, online casino games and poker generated a record $24.3 million in revenue, easily surpassing the previous best of $19.5 million in revenue set just last month. March’s gains yielded $5.9 million in tax revenue for the state.

Poker alone generated $3.1 million in March revenue, all by Mount Airy/PokerStars, the lone online poker operator in the state. Previously, the all-jurisdiction record for poker revenue in a month was $3.1 million, set in October 2016 in New Jersey. The Garden State also set a new record in March with $3.6 million.

Online casinos boosted monthly revenue to $21.1 million on $871.6 million in wagers, which was up from $547.6 million in bets in February.

A high tax rate and technological issues had slowed the development of Pennsylvania’s online casinos and poker industry, and even now those issues continue to impede the market. But March’s gains were much-needed for an industry with nowhere else to turn.

“Pennsylvania’s online product has been slow to develop, but the revenue the industry is generating now is vital to the gaming industry and the state budget,” Gouker said. “Ideally, Pennsylvania’s online casino industry would’ve had the opportunity to mature more quickly. But it is definitely better than if it didn’t exist at all, as is the case in most states.”

Other important online data from March:

Rivers-Philadelphia led the market with $6.8 million in revenue on $293.2 million in wagers. That is up from $4.8 million in revenue on $194.7 million in wagers in February.
FanDuel/Valley Forge Casino was second with $5 million in online revenue on $250.6 million in wagers. That was down from $6.1 million in revenue on $279.3 million in wagers in February.
Casinos and poker generated $782,768 per day in the 31 days of March, up from $672,097 per day in the 29 days in February.

For more information on the revenue generated by Pennsylvania sports betting, visit www.playpennsylvania.com/revenue.

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Gambling in the USA

Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – April 22-28

Published

6 days ago

April 29, 2024

Niji Narayan

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Welcome to our weekly roundup of American gambling news again! Here, we are going through the weekly highlights of the American gambling industry which include the latest news and new partnerships. Read on and get updated.

Latest News

The International Association of Gaming Advisors (IAGA) will hold its 41st International Gaming Summit Monday, May 27 through Thursday, May 30, 2024 at The Ritz-Carlton Washington, D.C. As a premier event that brings together leaders from all global gaming sectors, the Summit will provide operators, suppliers, attorneys, investors, bankers, regulators and other advisor delegates with an unparalleled opportunity to meet and discuss the most important issues facing gaming.

Marker Trax, a leader in cashless payment solutions for the gambling industry, has announced the appointment of John Henderson as its SVP of operations. Henderson is a seasoned, energetic industry veteran who brings to Marker Trax more than four decades of success in delivering technology-based business solutions, leading innovation-forward companies seeking to increase their industry footprints and to solidify their market shares.

Jackpot Digital, a leading manufacturer of electronic multiplayer dealerless poker tables, announced that it has successfully completed the installation of its Jackpot Blitz casino machines at Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino, located in Coarsegold, California.

Affinity Interactive has announced the appointment of Scott Butera as President & Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Mr. Butera, who most recently led AI’s Sports Information Group (SIG) business, brings over 30 years of experience in gaming, hospitality, media, entertainment and sports to the pivotal role. In his new capacity, Mr. Butera will set strategy and oversee operations of the Company’s diversified portfolio of casinos resorts across Nevada, Missouri and Iowa.

North Star Network has acquired Um Dois Esportes, a sports coverage and analysis site created from the merger of Gazeta Do Povo and Tribuna do Paraná in 2020. NSN’s signing of Um Dois Esportes is the media house’s fourth acquisition of 2024, following the recent deals to purchase UK-based SportsMole and MrFixitsTips, as well as Chilean site AlAireLibre, which was announced in March.

Hollywood Casino at Greektown unveiled its new ESPN BET branded sportsbook and restaurant on the upper floor of the 100,000-square-foot Downtown Detroit casino. This sportsbook is the first ESPN BET branded retail location to open across PENN Entertainment’s (PENN) portfolio of properties.

Partnerships

Above the Felt, the leading poker and gaming marketing and talent agency, has announced a partnership with Potawatomi Casino Hotel in Milwaukee, Wisconsin for the grand opening of their state-of-the-art poker room this May. This collaboration marks a significant experiential poker event in the Mid-West US, bringing together top players, personalities and content creators with regional players for an unforgettable poker room grand opening.

SCCG Management, a leading advisory firm in the global gaming industry, has announced a strategic partnership with Comm100, a pioneer in AI-powered omnichannel communication. This collaboration signifies a pivotal moment in the gaming industry as it looks to revolutionise player engagement and customer support through personalised, 24/7 communication.

Betano and CBF (Confederação Brasileira de Futebol), the Brazilian Football Confederation, announced a new partnership that will see Betano become the new main sponsor and exclusive betting partner of Campeonato Brasileiro Série A. Starting from the 2024 season, which began on Sunday, April 14, the competition will be known as Brasileirão Betano.

Gambling in the USA

Nebraska’s First Permanent Casino to Open in May in Columbus

Published

2 weeks ago

April 25, 2024

Niji Narayan

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Nebraska’s first full-fledged, newly built and state-sanctioned gambling casino is slated to open in Columbus next month, marking a milestone in the state’s rollout of casino gambling.

The Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission last Friday approved a target opening date of May 13 for Harrah’s Columbus.

“This is a big deal,” commission Chairman Dennis Lee said.

The state’s three other casinos are open, but in temporary facilities. According to construction schedules, all should be open by early next year.

“We’re definitely excited to open the first permanent casino in the state,” said Don Ostert, Harrah’s Columbus general manager.

The 17,000-square-foot casino floor will feature 400 slot machines and 11 live table games, including roulette and craps, Ostert said. It will feature a Brew Brothers restaurant and will offer Caesar’s sportsbook and racebook, Ostert said.

For racing fans, the complex will feature the state’s only 1-mile horse track, though racing isn’t scheduled to begin until August 16. By June, officials hope to have some horses out on the track to test the new surface.

Ostert said officials hope to draw customers from Norfolk and Grand Island, but also from Omaha and Lincoln.

Columbus Mayor James Bulkley said that, from the city’s standpoint, “we are very excited to see it get started and become part of the community.”

The developers incorporated some Columbus history into the casino, he said.

“The location where it is used to be called Wishbones, and it was a venue for years for entertainment, and so people recognize that name, and they have kept that name for the sports bar,” he said.

He expects the casino will draw from Omaha. Although driving to Columbus from downtown Omaha might take close to an hour and a half, the drive from west Omaha is more like an hour, he said.

“I can hit Elkhorn in a short hour today, which is now western Omaha,” he said.

In a few months, Omahans won’t have to leave town to visit a brand-new casino.

At Horsemen’s Park in Omaha, Warhorse Gaming officials are aiming to open their new casino in early August. It will open with 900 gaming positions, including table games and a Sweetwater Cafe.

Gambling in the USA

Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – April 15-21

Published

2 weeks ago

April 22, 2024

Niji Narayan

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Latest News

Caesars Entertainment announced that the Caesars Sportsbook Mississippi app is accepting mobile sports bets at Harrah’s Gulf Coast in Biloxi, Mississippi. Sports fans 21 and older who are interested in wagering on sports via mobile devices can download the Caesars Sportsbook Mississippi app to register and deposit statewide but must be physically present on-property at Harrah’s Gulf Coast to wager.

The Office of Lottery and Gaming (OLG) has announced that FanDuel’s sports betting app and website has officially launched. This development will introduce FanDuel’s sports wagering platform to District residents and visitors, completely replacing the current GambetDC sports betting app and website.

eCOGRA has been officially authorised by the Secretaria De Prêmios e Apostas (SPA) to operate as a certifying entity for betting systems, live gaming studios and online games in Brazil. This announcement marks a significant milestone as eCOGRA continues to extend its international offering of iGaming testing, inspection and certification (TIC) services in regulated markets across the globe.

Jennifer Shatley, a recognised expert in the field and a highly sought speaker and advisor, has joined the Responsible Online Gaming Association (ROGA) as Executive Director. Shatley has had 25+ years worth of experience, working closely with the treatment community, academics, researchers, government bodies, state councils and gaming industry representatives to promote responsible gaming.

Odditt, a leading provider of innovative sports betting data, tools and analytics, has appointed Elaine Milardo as its new Chief Technology Officer (CTO). With over 25 years of experience in the data industry and key roles at DraftKings and Vistaprint, Elaine brings a wealth of expertise to Odditt’s growing team.

Partnerships

Trustly, the global leader in Open Banking Payments, and Light & Wonder, the leading cross-platform global games company, are bringing cashless, in-person deposits to casino floors with Light & Wonder’s cashless solution, RAPIDPLAY. Building on Trustly’s success with guaranteed payments in online sports betting and iGaming, Trustly will deliver the same seamless, quick and secure online payment experience to the physical casino floor.

Fintech company Sightline has entered into an exclusive partnership with compliance and anti-fraud technology solutions leader GeoComply to bolster the security and efficiency of digital transactions within the regulated gaming industry. Sightline will integrate GeoComply’s cutting-edge IDComply identity verification solution as well as GeoComply’s compliance-grade geolocation tools across its comprehensive suite of digital payment solutions for land-based casinos and online gaming operators.

BetMGM has announced a partnership with GameCode, a distinguished iGaming company focused on the North American market. The partnership includes the launch of Boom Boom Boom, HammerCash, Gold Gold Gold and Super3 series which are now live at BetMGM in Michigan and New Jersey through direct integration. BetMGM plans to offer GameCode’s full portfolio of games in all jurisdictions where the operator’s iGaming platform is live pending regulatory approvals.

SCCG Management has announced a joint venture investment with Numb3rs, an innovative all-in-one payment solution provider built for gaming operators. The partnership aims to transform the gaming sector by integrating Numb3rs’ proprietary tech stack, ECRYPT, into the marketplace, thereby offering a comprehensive suite of payment processing solutions.