Report: Pennsylvania casino revenues down slightly in February

Following a strong start to the year, Pennsylvania casinos last month saw a slight drop in gambling revenue as they work to recoup from the economic impacts of the covid-19 pandemic.

In February, revenues posted by casinos across the state came in at $301.9 million, a decrease of $2.36 million, or less than 1%, from the $304.3 million posted during the same period last year, according to data from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.

Those numbers were largely carried by declines in slot machine and table game revenues, which shrunk by 27% and 26%, respectively. That’s a $53.8 million decrease in slot machine revenues and a $20 million decrease in table game revenues between last month and the same period in 2020, data show.

Every casino across the state saw lower slot machine revenues last month compared with February 2020. Mount Airy Casino Resort in Monroe County was the only facility to see a year-over-year increase in table game revenues, by $286,610.

Locally, The Meadows Racetrack and Casino in Washington County saw slot machine revenues decrease by $5.9 million and table game revenues shrink by $1.1 million. Rivers Casino on Pittsburgh’s North Shore saw bigger impacts, losing $10.1 million in slot machine revenues compared with last February and $2.9 million in table game revenues.

Lady Luck Casino Nemacolin in Fayette County also saw declines, recording decreases of $1.3 million in slot revenues and nearly $65,470 in table game revenues. Live! Casino Pittsburgh, which opened at the Westmoreland Mall in November, showed slot machine revenues of $5.4 million and table game revenues of more than $775,440 for February.

While almost every casino felt impacts on slot machine and table games revenues, those decreases were largely offset by the growing popularity of online gambling (iGaming), video gaming terminals and sports wagering.

Online gambling grew exponentially last month, data show, with iGaming slots increasing by $40.9 million, iGaming table games growing by $16.6 million and iGaming poker increasing by more than $689,700. Video gaming terminals also saw a $1.17 million increase compared with the same period last year.

According to the state Gaming Control Board, sports wagering grew by $11.6 million, similar to numbers recorded in January.

Of the $16.3 million in sports betting revenues recorded across the state last month, $13.4 million came from online bets, compared with $2.9 million in wagers made in person at casino sportsbooks. Locally, Meadows and Rivers Pittsburgh grew revenues through sports betting, posting increases of $2 million and $57,380, respectively.

Live! Casino Pittsburgh in February recorded almost $48,180 in sports betting revenues in February.

Despite that growth, local casinos largely saw overall decreases in revenues compared with February 2020. The Meadows’ revenues decreased by $5 million, Rivers Pittsburgh decreased by $13 million and Lady Luck Nemacolin decreased by $1.4 million, data show. Live! Casino Pittsburgh posted total revenues of $6.2 million last month.

Casinos across the state have been working to recoup after being forced to close twice last year to curb the spread of covid-19. Collectively, casinos across the state saw revenues drop by $759 million in 2020 compared with 2019, when they generated more than $3 billion in gambling revenue.