For the third year in a row, Pennsylvania’s gaming revenue has reached new heights.
On Friday, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board PGCBPGCB disclosed the state’s December numbers, accounting for revenue from 17 brick\-and\-mortar casinos, iGaming, sports betting, truck stop video gaming terminals, and fantasy sports. The gross revenue from these sectors totaled \$533 million, capping off an unprecedented year.
An analysis by Casino\.org revealed that the statewide gross gaming revenue GGRGGR in 2024 surpassed \$6.13 billion, marking a 7.7% year\-over\-year increase, or an additional \$440 million.
Eight months in 2024 reported GGR over half a billion dollars, with November leading at \$562.3 million. November was the best month on record for Pennsylvania’s gaming operators.
At \$6.13 billion, Pennsylvania ranked third in 2024 GGR, behind Nevada and New Jersey. Although Nevada has not yet released December figures, through November, their GGR approached \$14 billion. New Jersey’s annual revenue totaled \$6.3 billion.
Internet Growth Boosts Revenue
Pennsylvania’s gaming industry is thriving, with the state receiving more tax revenue than ever since legalizing slot machines in 2006.
However, the traditional gaming sector saw a slowdown, with retail gaming revenue decreasing by 1.5%, from \$3.43 billion to \$3.38 billion in 2024.
The nearly 8% year-over-year growth in gaming revenue was primarily driven by iGaming. Online casino gambling, including poker rake, totaled \$2.17 billion, marking a 25% increase from 2023 — about \$439.8 million more.
For the first time in 2024, Pennsylvania’s iGaming revenue exceeded \$2 billion, with December alone bringing in nearly \$223.6 million from online casinos.
Sportsbooks reported over \$510.7 million in revenue from online and in-person bets, an 11% increase from 2023’s \$458.6 million. This was the first year sportsbooks in Pennsylvania surpassed half a billion dollars in annual revenue.
Revenue from VGTs at truck stops remained steady, with a 0.7% increase, or \$288,539, totaling \$41.5 million in 2024. Fantasy sports operators earned about \$18.7 million in commission, slightly down from 2023’s \$20 million.
Online fantasy sports and in-person casino revenue were the only two sectors that experienced year-over-year GGR declines.
Potential Expansion in 2025
The PGCB oversees all forms of gaming in Pennsylvania, excluding the state lottery. The last significant gaming expansion happened in 2017 with the authorization of additional physical casinos, dubbed satellite or mini-casinos, which can house up to 750 slot machines and 30 live dealer table games.
The 2017 expansion also included iGaming, VGTs, and fantasy sports. It provided the legal framework for sports betting, following the U.S. Supreme Court’s repeal of a federal ban the following May.
In 2025, the PGCB’s regulatory scope could widen to include skill games, controversial slot-like gray games that the casino industry and the state’s attorney general argue are illegal. Legislation is likely to revisit the potential framework for these games, often branded as Pennsylvania Skill.
This record-breaking revenue highlights the dynamic and evolving landscape of Pennsylvania’s gaming industry.
