The state’s lifetime handle has now surpassed $10bn; additionally, Pennsylvania has joined New Jersey as the only state to produce $1bn in gross revenue from online casino and poker over a calendar year.
Since the launch of the first retail sportsbooks in November 2018, the state has generated $10.1bn in wagers ($5.04bn of which has come in 2021), $776.8m in gross revenue (including $382.6m so far this year), $232.9m in promotional spending or ‘free bets’ and $192.2m in state taxes (including $92.7m for 2021).
Dustin Gouker, Analyst for PlayUSA, said: “Three years in and the state’s sportsbooks continue to expand. Remarkably, about half of all wagers and revenue have come through sportsbooks in the last 10 months. Pennsylvania clearly has room to grow before it reaches its ceiling.”
Online sportsbooks generated 92% (or $714.1m) of Pennsylvania’s total handle, with FanDuel leading the online market with $270.8m in wagering. DraftKings followed with $201.7m in wagers, Penn National’s Barstool-branded app was third with a $71.5m handle. Rivers Pittsburgh led retailers with $9.3m in bets and Rivers Philadelphia followed with a $9.1m handle.
Gouker added: “Online gambling continues to thrive, while the state has a consistent and significant revenue generator. Pennsylvania taxes its online gambling industry at a higher rate than any other open market in the US, and that decision made years ago by regulators has proven to be a valuable one for the state.”
