Pa. sports betting slips, but March Madness may bring recovery

Pennsylvania’s sports betting industry took a hit last month, seemingly contributing to a downward trend in revenues recorded at casinos across the state in February, officials said.

In all, casinos generated more than $375.6 million in revenues last month, according to a report from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. That’s $17.4 million less than when compared to January’s $393.1 million. In addition, the state’s sports betting industry lost more than $440,000 last month as NFL games came to an end after the Super Bowl.

Still, February revenues were 24% higher than the same period last year, when they totaled $301.9 million.

Total tax revenue generated through all forms of gambling and fantasy contests last month reached $155.8 million.

Of the state’s 16 licensed casinos, Hollywood Casino at Penn National in Dauphin County saw the highest revenue in January, bringing in more than $59.8 million.

Locally, Rivers Casino Pittsburgh saw revenue of $28 million. Of that, slot machines brought in more than $21.4 million, with over $6 million generated from table games.

Sports betting brought in $586,637 last month. That’s an $871,841 decrease from January, when sports betting generated $1.4 million.

In all, the casino saw $29 million wagered through retail and online sportsbooks in February.

At Hollywood Casino at the Meadows in Washington County, revenue in February totaled $11.8 million.

The facility brought in $12.9 million from slot machines and $2.2 million from table games. The facility lost $3.2 million in sports betting in February, almost breaking even with revenue generated in January, which reached $3.1 million. Still, $141.4 million in sports bets were wagered at the facility in February, officials said.

Lady Luck Casino Nemacolin in Fayette County generated $2 million last month, $1.8 million of which came from slot machines and $203,289 from table games.

Live! Casino Pittsburgh at Westmoreland Mall saw revenue of $9.1 million last month. Of that, $7.7 million came from slot machines, $1.4 million from table games and $7,883 from retail sports wagering. That’s a $178,664 decrease from January, when sports bets generated $186,547.

The Hempfield facility saw more than $644,514 wagered on sports bets in January.

In casinos across the state last month, retail slot machine revenues totaled $194.6 million, and retail table games generated $74.3 million. In addition, $68.1 million was generated from online slot machines, $31.4 million from online table games and $2.8 million from online poker.

Video gaming terminals generated $3 million, and fantasy contests brought in $1.6 million, data show.

Retail and online sports wagering saw a loss of $442,847 last month. In January, the industry generated $32.1 million.

Across Pennsylvania, the amount wagered on sports last month reached $597 million, as compared to January when the state saw $793.7 million in wagers.

That’s the lowest handle recorded since September, which saw $578.8 million in wagers, and almost 25% lower than January’s record-breaking wagers, according to Play Pennsylvania, an independent website covering legal and regulated gambling in the state. Online sportsbooks generated $558.1 million, or almost 94% of the state’s handle.

“The Super Bowl is the most bet-on single game in the U.S., but it can’t alone replace a full schedule of football games,” Dustin Gouker, analyst for PlayUSA.com, said in a release. “The lull in February is expected and always short-lived. March Madness should get sportsbooks back into record or near-record territory.”