Pennsylvania iGaming reports initial results; from humble beginnings, 24/7 gambling is borne

Three Pennsylvania casinos took in $812,306 in revenue from online gamblers playing slot machines and table games in the inaugural month of iGaming.

SugarHouse Casino, Parx Casino and Holywood Casino at Penn National Race Course reported modest revenue hauls from their new online offerings, launched in the middle of July, according to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. The state collected $326,700 in taxes on the $812,306 in revenue.

Online casino games amounted to less than 0.3 percent of the total monthly revenue for the state’s casino industry, which reported $281.5 million in total gaming revenue in July, up 1.1 percent over the previous year.

But as more casinos launch internet gaming offerings -- allowing gamblers to wager "real money” on slot machines, roulette and blackjack from anywhere in the state with internet access -- industry analysts expect more business will move online.

SugarHouse reported $422,796 in online gaming revenue; Parx Casino reported $26,124; and Hollywood Casino reported $129,386.

In New Jersey, where online gaming launched five years ago, operators reported $39.3 million in internet gaming revenue in July, about 11.8 percent of the state’s total monthly gaming revenue of $334.4 million.

Nevada and Delaware are the only other states where online casino gambling is legal.

Internet gaming was approved under the sweeping 2017 expansion of Pennsylvania’s gaming law. Casino operators could buy separate licenses for online slots, casino games, or poker. Most operators paid $10 million license fees to get all three internet gaming licenses. Two out-of-state operators also bought licenses that went unclaimed by Pennsylvania casinos.

None of the Pennsylvania operators have yet to be approved to launch online peer-to-peer poker.