For the last ten years, the Pennsylvania gambling market has shown significant diversification and growth. It has become one of the most dynamic and largest gambling markets in the United States. A close second to Nevada, the state has made a name for itself in the gambling industry since legalizing iGaming.
The gambling scene as a whole was legalized in 2004 and is controlled by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) which regulates the state’s regulations and laws for gambling– ensuring fair play. The Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming Act led to the establishment of land-based casinos and much later online gambling platforms.
Currently, these land-based casinos offer a wide variety of gaming options such as slot machines, sports betting, and table games including poker, roulette, and blackjack. Pennsylvania has at least 16 licensed casinos which include the most famous establishments, Rivers Casino, Wind Creek Bethlehem, (previously named Sands Bethlehem), and Parx Casino.
Later in 2017, online gambling was set up and Pennsylvania became the fourth state to legalize the use of online casinos. Among the most popular options for iGamers, instant pay and online casinos with no limits are becoming huge draws. By allowing a wealth of games like online poker and blackjack to be enjoyed from the comfort of your home, or for anyone out of state with access to these sites, iGaming has represented a massive gain in tax revenue for the state.
According to crypto expert Michael Graw, specialized casinos like no-limit platforms have no restrictions when it comes to gameplay and allow players to win big and real money prizes that can be cashed out without being capped. Despite online casinos being legal in PA, niche sites like those and others that accept cryptocurrencies are still being enjoyed via offshore sites for their added benefits like anonymous play.
Meanwhile, online sports betting in Pennsylvania has been legalized as well and this has successfully added to the overall revenue the state is producing. In 2018, Pennsylvania moved to legalize sports betting which allowed both retail sportsbooks and online sports betting platforms to flourish. The state has a large range of sports teams that can be bet on, and betting activity usually picks up drastically around this time of year as the new NFL season kicks off. Each sports teams listed below have a huge following within the state and these are:
With a myriad of betting choices that include the Pittsburgh Pirates, Philadelphia Phillies, Philadelphia 76ers, Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Penguin, Philadelphia Flyers, and the Philadelphia Union, punters in PA are spoiled for choice.
In comparison to other gambling states, Nevada remains in the lead, with New Jersey following close behind with $5.8 billion for the year. However, Pennsylvania has made $2.54 from the taxation of registered operators for the financial year of 23/24 giving them a total revenue of $5.9 billion for the year.
During the same period, other states like Louisiana, Maryland, Indiana, Illinois, and Ohio have made it into the top 10 with revenue totals as follows:
The Pennsylvania market is expected to continue to evolve, especially with the expansion of online gambling and sports betting. With a combination of online and land-based casinos, the state has captured a massive audience. eSports betting may also become a future trend targeting a younger audience.
It’s important to note that the gambling industry in Pennsylvania has created jobs and the tax generated from this industry has been used to better the state. Most of the revenue supports infrastructure, education, and community projects, allowing the money to be used in a way that benefits the whole state of Pennsylvania.
