Pennsylvania Online Poker Solid in December

Last updated on January 19th, 2020

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The first month of online poker in the new Pennsylvania state-regulated internet gaming market was November, but it was not a full month. PokerStars – the only site to launch online poker in the state thus far – went fully live on November 6. That means the December revenue numbers are the first full-month stats available.

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) revealed the December revenue numbers for all forms of gaming in the state just this week.

Overall, total gaming revenue was up 4.5% for the 2019 year. Pennsylvania calculated more than $3.4 billion in revenue from casino slot machines and table games, internet gaming, sports wagering, video gaming terminals, and fantasy sports contests.

Since internet gaming only launched in July, the full-year numbers aren’t especially meaningful for that particular sector. Monthly stats are important at this point, especially for online poker.

PA Online Poker Revenue

The first two months of Pennsylvania online poker cannot truly be compared, as PokerStars didn’t launch until on November 6. Even so, this was the result:

–PA online poker revenue in December: $2,473,137 (25.8% increase)
–PA online poker revenue in November: $1,965,494

To break it down by average revenue per day, it gives a more accurate indication of the difference.

–PA average ipoker revenue per day in December: $77,778.61 (1.1% decrease)
–PA average ipoker revenue per day in November: $78,619.76

Considering there have been only two months of online poker in a new state with only one operator, it is impossible to predict how the market will move forward.

One factor that could most change revenue in 2020 is shared online poker liquidity. When New Jersey and Pennsylvania link their player pools by signing the multi-state agreement, PokerStars will be able to increase its revenue.

Another factor is that numerous casinos paid for online poker licenses, but only PokerStars has launched. No other sites have even indicated that they are preparing to offer online poker. However, all signs point to two sites likely to launch in 2020.

WSOP-888 is likely to move forward in the early months of this year to connect poker in all four states ahead of the 2020 WSOP.

PartyPoker is also a possibility at some point in the year. It has a solid presence with Borgata in New Jersey and has shown every indication that it will launch an online poker site in Nevada. This makes it more likely that it will open in Pennsylvania as well.

PA Internet Gaming Revenue Totals

All five licensed casino operators offering online gaming have been operating for at least a few months, some for close to six months. Their revenue was as follows:

–Rivers Casino Philadelphia = $ 11,813,990 (slots = $8,310,933, table games = $3,503,056)
–Mount Airy Casino = $7,021,325 (slots = $1,119,227, table games = $1,463,467, poker = $4,438,631)
–Hollywood Casino = $7,971,959 (slots = $7,058,596, table games = $913,363)
–Parx Casino = $6,254,616 (slots = $3,893,281, table games = $2,361,335)
–Mohegan Sun Pocono = $537,861 (slots = $537,861, table games = -$235)

All in all, the total of internet gaming revenue in 2019, including online poker, came to $33,599,749. With the sites prepared to be fully operational in some form for all of 2020, expect that revenue to double, at the very least.

PA Sports Betting Revenue

There are a dozen casinos offering sports betting, all in retail form and some online as well. The total revenue for all of them in 2019 was $84,112,967, broken out as follows:

–Valley Forge Casino Resort = $24,585,966 ($2,394,800 retail, $22,201,166 online)
–Rivers Philadelphia = $15,488,594 ($7,828,423 retail, $7,660,171 online)
–Rivers Pittsburgh = $12,308,738 ($8,263,506 retail, $4,045,232 online)
–Parx Casino = $14,351,607 ($8,975,809 retail, $5,375,798 online)
–Meadows Racetrack & Casino = $2,321,986 ($537,442 retail, $1,784,545 online)
–Harrah’s Philadelphia = $2,544,969 (all retail)
–Mount Airy Casino Resort = $2,246,518 ($249,829 retail, $1,996,689 online)
–Hollywood Casino at Penn National = $3,082,054 (all retail)
–South Philly Race & Sportsbook = $3,721,614 (all retail)
–Mohegan Sun Pocono = $733,356 ($811,742 retail, $-78,386 online)
–Presque Isle Downs & Casino = $1,531,258 ($1,502,558 retail, $28,700 online)
–Oaks Race & Sportsbook = $1,186,305 (all retail)