Pennsylvania Gambling Revenue Fell By More Than 20% in 2020
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Beset by state-ordered closures during the pandemic, casinos and other gambling operators in Pennsylvania reported a drop in 2020′s revenues of more than one-fifth the previous year, even as their take from online gambling and sports betting skyrocketed.
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Pennsylvania also dropped behind New Jersey in traditional casino gambling revenue in 2020, eight years after it passed New Jersey to become the nation’s No. 2 gambling revenue state behind Nevada.
Pennsylvania’s 13 operating casinos, fantasy sports operators and truck stops took in $2.65 billion in gross revenue in 2020, compared to $3.4 billion taken in by 12 casinos in 2019, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board said. That was a drop of 22%.
Not including sports wagering, fantasy sports or truck stops, Pennsylvania’s casinos drew $2.4 billion, a drop of 26% from $3.3 billion.
Pennsylvania’s casinos racked up nearly 1,500 closure days, or 33% of the days the casinos would have operated normally, the gaming control board said.
Traditional land-based casino revenue nearly halved. Slot-machine revenue fell by $1 billion to $1.3 billion, while table games revenue fell by $400 million to $500 million.
However, internet gambling shot up 17 times from $34 million in 2019 to $566 million, and sports betting more than doubled to almost $190 million.
Casinos are open again in January, after being closed until Jan. 4, under the governor’s pandemic orders.