2025 Estimates and Market Projections for the Online Casino Industry in Pennsylvania
By Space Coast Daily // February 1, 2025
The end of 2024 was an encouraging period for the iGaming industry in the Keystone State of Pennsylvania. Prior to the Christmas period, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board issued its gaming revenue data for November 2024, which posted an impressive 26.06% year-on-year increase.
Key factors behind revenue growth
The released figure was driven largely by sizeable increases in sports betting revenue, as well as continued growth in its well-established iGaming market. Sports betting revenues were up a whopping 498% year-on-year to $77.1m, while iGaming revenues hit $200.5m, representing a 26.88% year-on-year increase. It’s clear that the market for PA online casinos is stronger than ever right now, too, with no fewer than 22 major iGaming brands now licensed by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. This is greater than the 17 licenses dished out to land-based casinos within the Keystone State.
iGaming has been legalized in Pennsylvania since 2017, with the first online casinos opening serving locals from 2019 onwards. To increase iGaming revenues by more than a quarter year-on-year, five years after launch, is testament to the caliber of operators and casino gaming experiences at the fingertips of citizens of the Keystone State.
Delving deeper into the iGaming revenue figures for Pennsylvania in November, almost three-quarters of the revenue generated was derived from online slots. Some $148.7m was wagered on slot games, posting a 36% year-on-year rise. This leaves almost $52m worth of revenue derived from classic table games like blackjack and roulette, as well as online poker.
How do iGaming revenues compare to retail gaming revenues in PA?
Retail casino revenues in Pennsylvania saw a 6.21% year-on-year rise in slot machine revenue to $201.5m. It is clinging on by its fingertips as the biggest contributor to overall casino gaming revenue in the Keystone State. Interestingly, revenue from retail table games fell 2.45% year-on-year to $77.6m.
There are indications that online casinos are starting to take hold in Pennsylvania. If we were to make any prediction for the Pennsylvania iGaming market in 2025 it’s that iGaming revenues will surpass retail gaming revenues.
This is backed by the news that revenue from video gaming terminals (VGTs) fell 4.39% year-on-year. Citizens are increasingly recognizing that they don’t need to venture to a brick-and-mortar casino to play on VGTs and can get a similarly immersive gaming experience via licensed online casino sites.
The iGaming industry is brimming with creative online casino software studios passionate about designing and building next-generation slot and table game experiences. With high-definition visuals and audio, the clarity and detail of slot game animations are fast becoming on a level with video game titles.
There’s also the live dealer casino game craze which is adding a fresh dimension to all PA-licensed casinos online. Caesars Entertainment recently launched its inaugural live dealer casino studio in the Keystone State, in partnership with live casino behemoth Evolution. Live dealer games bring players closer to the action online, replicating a casino floor-style gaming environment. Whether it’s classic table games like blackjack, or some of the innovative live gameshows which require little to no skill to play, live casino gaming ramps up the engagement and authenticity that’s sure to drive PA’s iGaming bottom line this year.
