April saw online casinos earn more than $227.7 million—a 31.3% year-on-year (YoY) increase, making it the second highest-ever monthly total for the sector in the Keystone State. 

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) findings declared that slots dominated the iGaming field, collecting $169.5 million, with online table games earning $55.9 million—up 34.5% and 24.2%, respectively.

Hollywood Casino at Penn National Leads Pennsylvania in April

Of the iGaming operators in the state, Hollywood Casino at Penn National benefited most, generating $83.2 million, a 33.5% YoY increase. Valley Forge Casino Resort also saw substantial returns, posting 38.8% from the previous year by pulling in $66.7 million over April.

In addition, Rivers Casino Philadelphia also increased revenues to $35.9 million, equivalent to a 17.1% increase. However, Golden Nugget secured the most significant profit jump, amassing $7.7 million in digital revenues, marking a 116.4% uptick.

In January, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board revealed its 2024 iGaming sector revenue topped $2.18 billion, a substantial 25.25% increase from 2023. Now, with April’s online gaming figures reflecting impressive YoY results, there is continued optimism that 2025 will eclipse last year’s totals.

In contrast, online poker revenues continued their multi-month decline, slipping by 2.8% to just $2.3 million. The regression could soon be reversed following Pennsylvania’s entry into the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement last month, boosting interstate play with five other member states.

Mixed Results for Retail and Sports Betting Sectors

Retail slots again remained the single largest gaming vertical, producing over $203.1 million in monthly revenue. 

However, that tally marked a 1.2% decline from April 2024, possibly due to the total number of operating machines dropping by more than 500 units year-over-year to just 24,363.

Pennsylvania did see marginal gains in the table games sector at in-person casino venues, which posted $80.6 million in revenue, up 2.8% from last April. 

The biggest winners here were Wind Creek Bethlehem, which led all state-based venues in this category, delivering $24 million, a 9.6% increase YoY.

Rivers Pittsburgh was second, producing $13.4 million in table game income for the month.

The Keystone State’s sports betting market saw negligible gains, plateauing at $42.5 million in gross revenue, positing just a 0.2% annual increase. Yet, despite the minimal growth, the total handle rose by 10.1% to $711.6 million, with $677.9 million of that wagered online.

Valley Forge’s good fortunes continued with its partnership with FanDuel, which again topped the online sports betting rankings, collecting $20.1 million from its $269.8 million handle in bets. 

Second was DraftKings, which operates via Hollywood Casino and generated $12.1 million from its $185.6 million in total wagers.

Other sectors included in the PGCB results saw fantasy sports contests realize $1.3 million in revenues, up 2.3% from the previous year. In comparison, video gaming terminals (VGTs) collected just $3.4 million in April revenue, a 3.6% decline.

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The move comes after Governor Josh Shapiro signed an agreement that made Pennsylvania the sixth member of the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA) on poker. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) confirmed Shapiro’s decision in an April 23 press release.

In the release, Shapiro was quoted as saying: “This is a commonsense step to support hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians, grow our economy, and bring in more revenue to support our schools, our seniors, our small businesses, and more. Three of our neighbors are already part of this agreement. And with this action today, we’re making sure Pennsylvania remains competitive in a rapidly growing online market.”

Pennsylvania Multi-State Online Poker Approval

BetMGM and PA Borgata Online, which both already provide online poker in Pennsylvania, are now set to unveil multi-state offerings. Other operators will join soon, the board said.

These could possibly include BetRivers, Pokerstars, and WSOP.com, all of whom currently offer online poker games in the state.

The board had previously said that it was working with online poker operators on plans to launch the shared liquidity market in Pennsylvania. The PGCB added that it expected official approval and launches to finalize before the end of the month.

The board added that some 150,000 Pennsylvania-based online poker players could now access the new pools. This could boost the overall multi-state player pool by more than 50%, it claimed.

The move makes Pennsylvania the largest state in the 38 million-player shared online poker market, the PGCB wrote.

Pennsylvania Eyeing Legalized Gaming Growth

Per the board’s figures, Pennsylvania’s gaming industry currently comprises 17 retail casinos and 22 associated online casino sites.

The PGCB says that these businesses employ over 15,000 people. The state’s gambling businesses pay almost $2.7 billion a year in tax revenue and annual slot machine license operation fees.

In January, Pennsylvania announced that its iGaming revenue rose to $2.18 billion in 2024. This represents a 25.25% increase on the $1.7 billion raised in 2023.

The state reportedly uses this tax revenue to pay for school property tax reductions. It also uses it to fund agricultural sector purchases and grants for projects in Pennsylvania’s 67 counties.

Shapiro first signalled his willingness to sign the Keystone State up to MSIGA in October 2024. The governor said that the state needed to capitalize on its status as a leader in legalized gambling.

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On April 7, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) told attendees at a Gaming Oversight Committee that none of the operators have permits to operate in Pennsylvania.

It noted that most of the operators are based overseas. However, a few are US-headquartered, with some operating out of offices in Pennsylvania.

The media outlet Play Pennsylvania reported that “all 18 recipients have complied with the order so far.”

Pennsylvania Regulator Closing in on Sweepstakes Operators

The PGCB Chief Enforcement Counsel Cyrus Pitre told the hearing that new sweepstakes brands continue to appear in PA, obliging the regulator to play a game of “whack-a-mole.”

As sweepstakes casino operators make use of virtual currencies, regulators like PGCB do not have the authority to launch legal action against them under federal laws.

As such, regulators across the US have resorted to sending sweepstakes operators warning-type cease-and-desist letters.

Steve Cook, the PGCB Chief Counsel, said that the body needed new legal amendments to help close loopholes.

This would help the Pennsylvania regulator stave off the rise of unregulated operators, Cook explained. He said: “Unfortunately, in the area of interactive gaming, we are significantly hamstrung by the specific language of our enabling statute. Specifically, Chapter 13B of the Gaming Act includes sections that appear to ban online gaming by unlicensed operators. These prohibitions ultimately come into conflict, however, with the definitions found in the act.”

Cook noted that a Commonwealth Court ruling on skill games from December 2023 has limited the number of tools the PGCB has at its disposal.

Cook claimed that the language used in the ruling serves to “make clear that the Gaming Board only has control and authority over people licensed by it, not outside entities doing something that is arguably illegal.”

Regulator: Sweepstakes Casinos ‘Pose Threat to Legal Sector’

The PGCB said there was now a “stark contrast” between sweepstakes casinos and regulated online operators.

It noted that the law does not require sweepstakes platforms to prove their “fairness to the patron.” It also claimed that sweepstakes sites have no obligation to provide responsible gaming services or age verification checks.

Pitre claimed that the rise of sweepstake operators now poses “a threat” to the legal industry in Pennsylvania.

He claimed that the regulator remains committed “to maintaining the integrity of Pennsylvania’s legal gaming industry.”

Pitre explained that sweepstakes casinos, “despite their misleading presentation,” were in the PGCB’s “assessment,” a form of “illegal online gambling.”

The online casino segment grew rapidly in PA last year. According to official documents released in January 2025, Pennsylvania reported figures of around $2.2 billion in 2024.

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Matt Bastock

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) has fined BetMGM $260,905 for permitting self-excluded gamblers to play on its site. 

The PGCB found 152 instances of players who were self-excluded from gambling, placing wagers across the BetMGM and Borgata platforms.

Upon an audit of accounts, 148 breaches of the rule showed over $252,000 in deposits, with around $82,400 being withdrawn. The difference retained by BetMGM & Borgata as a result was approximately $170,000. 

Two additional incidents were highlighted as self-reported. The first, in July 2022, saw a self-excluded individual deposit $700, later withdraw $100, and the iGaming provider retain $600. 

The second, in July 2023, saw two additional self-excluded accounts have wagering activity. The total deposited was $183,600, with $92,935.59 withdrawn. BetMGM retained $91,648.41. 

The overall figure for the period in review saw over $436,000 deposited by individuals who had placed themself on the exclusion list, with BetMGM retaining upwards of $260,000.

BetMGM’s Compliance Failures and the Resulting Penalty 

BetMGM has agreed to pay a civil penalty of $260,905, a $2,500 administrative fee, and will donate $20,000 to the Pennsylvania Council on Problem Gambling. 

Commissioner Shawn Dillan expressed surprise that BetMGM’s systems let one player deposit $183,000, “I mean, who’s got that kind of money to deposit $183,000? Doesn’t that raise a red flag?” 

He continued, “If somebody puts that big of a deposit into an account, doesn’t somebody got to look into that?” 

BetMGM’s Senior Director of Compliance, Sarah Brennan, responded, “We do evaluate players for any inconsistency in play behavior. We have an anti-money laundering team, but we have players of all value who wager on our platform. Based only on deposit amount, it wouldn’t necessarily raise a flag if there weren’t other issues that would have been flagged by fraud risk or AML.” 

BetMGM attributed the first error to the platform not properly consuming PII (Personally Identifiable Information). The company now conducts manual line-by-line reviews of any self-exclusion data before it’s uploaded to the platform. 

The latter violations were the result of manual errors and technological misconfigurations. BetMGM has told the commission that it now undertakes rigorous system testing and has invested in additional training and oversight. 

Commissioner Manzano-Diaz commented regarding human error, “I only have one question—you said, I think it was the second time, it was a human error. So, what do you do about that? How do you address that? That’s a challenging one because, as you know, humans make mistakes.” 

BetMGM’s response was to assure the Commission that rigorous training had taken place after the issue, “So when the issue was identified, and the individual who had made the mistake was forthcoming in the fact that they had identified how it happened and that it was a miss—a miss on their part—we went over the process with them again, exactly how it works. And that individual has not made the same mistake twice.”

How BetMGM is Addressing Self-Exclusion Breaches

BetMGM agreed on the settlement terms, given that the company had self-reported the identified issues. It has also outlined remediation measures taken:

• Manual review process for self-exclusion data;
• Increasing the size of the Compliance department from 9 to nearly 100 employees;
• Enhanced training for all staff;
• Investment in back-office technology;
• Regular internal audits for improved accuracy and oversight. 

Written By

Matt Bastock

Matt is a casino and sports betting expert with over two decades’ writing and editing experience. He loves getting into the nitty gritty of how casinos and sportsbooks really operate in order to make solid recommendations based on real experiences. His favourite games are blackjack and poker, and he loves watching NFL and soccer in his spare time.

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In a letter dated 10 October to the PGCB’s Executive Director Kevin O’Toole, Shapiro requested that Pennsylvania joins the MSIGA to help the state “continue to remain competitive in the legalised gambling sector”.

The MSIGA allows a state’s online poker players to play against players in other US states that are also part of the agreement.

Managed by the Multi-State Internet Gaming Association, the agreement was first established by Nevada and Delaware in 2014, but it has since grown to include New Jersey in 2017, Michigan in 2022 and West Virginia in 2023.

Shapiro highlighted how the gaming sector is an important contributor to the state’s economy, referencing the market’s 17 retail casinos and 22 online casino sites that employ more than 15,000 people.

The Governor also brought attention to the $1.9bn reported in igaming revenue last year, which produced $841m in tax revenue for the state, with legalised gambling in Pennsylvania bringing in over $2bn annually.

“In order to continue to remain competitive in the legalised gambling sector, I am expressing my strong support for Pennsylvania to join the MSIGA alongside Michigan, Delaware, Nevada, New Jersey and West Virginia,” stated Shapiro in his letter.

“Pennsylvania should capitalise on our status as a leader in legalised gambling, and join this compact, which would bring in additional revenue for the Commonwealth and allow players more gaming options.

“My administration is prepared to do our part to help Pennsylvania compete in the gaming sector and continue to build a strong economy that works for everyone. My staff stands ready to assist you with this effort to ensure Pennsylvania’s joinder to the MSIGA as soon as possible.”

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Receiving approval from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, Strive Gaming will be able to supply operators in the Keystone State with full service omni-channel igaming platform.

The licence comes off the back of a funding round led by OpenBet in which Strive Gaming expressed ambitions to expand its footprint across the North American market with licences in all strategically important online casino states in 2024.

“We are thrilled to receive the interim authorisation for igaming and sports wagering manufacturer license in Pennsylvania,” noted Max Meltzer, CEO at Strive Gaming. 

“This milestone follows our Michigan state license a few months ago and continues to reflect our dedication to regulatory compliance and our ongoing efforts to deliver a best-in-class igaming and sports betting PAM solution. We look forward to contributing to the vibrant digital landscape of Pennsylvania and providing our award-winning technology in the state.”

Earlier this year, Strive Gaming announced that it had secured an ISO 27001 certification and a gaming supplier licence for Michigan, linking up with Four Winds Casino in the state.

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Due to ODDSworks’ licence with the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, the supplier requires a full audit of its cybersecurity provisions. Continent 8 was chosen to review its security using Vulnerability Assessment Penetration Testing. 

Having worked together across several US states, such as New Jersey and Michigan, Continent 8 conducted the audit using its dedicated cybersecurity division – C8 Secure – using VAPT to examine ODDSworks’ compliance with PGCB legislation. 

Patrick Gardner, Managing Partner at C8 Secure, stated: “Cybersecurity is a hot topic in the online and land-based gaming industry, and ODDSworks are an example of a company that is prioritising cybersecurity.

“Having cybersecurity provisions in place is not only a must when it comes to protecting the organisation, but also when it comes to compliance. Pennsylvania is setting the standard when it comes to protecting the igaming market.

“The regulatory landscape and requirements across different states can make it incredibly complex for operators and suppliers operating in these markets. Of course, we can assist other operators and suppliers with their cybersecurity audits in Pennsylvania and any other regulated US state.”

Pennsylvania requires both operators and suppliers to carry out annual security audits with the use of VAPT via a third-party, hence ODDSworks’ decision to select Continent 8. 

Following the audit, which was conducted ‘on time and under budget’ within eight weeks, Continent 8 alerted ODDSworks of certain vulnerabilities in its security before sending off the audit to the PGCB, which approved the final review. 

Steven De Mar, Executive VP at ODDSworks, added: “At ODDSworks we are taking cybersecurity seriously – the industry is under attack. Continent 8 has done an incredible job at supporting us through our cybersecurity audit in the state of Pennsylvania. 

“We were impressed by the speed at which the audit was planned, undertaken and reported on, as well as its scope and depth.

“We already knew that Continent 8 was at the top of its game having used its hosting solutions in other US states, but its cybersecurity audit for us shows that it really does set the standard for others to follow.”

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Mountainview Thoroughbred Racing Association,, operator of Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course, gained the largest of the financial sanctions.

A penalty of $45,000 was levied as three instances of individuals under the age of 21 accessing the gaming floor and gambling was discovered.

In addition, Lightning Gaming, a licensed slot machine manufacturer, was fined $5,000 for a failure to notify the PGCB of material changes to their financial status. 

In addition, a quartet of adults have also been banned from all casinos within the Commonwealth for leaving a total of six minors unattended in order to engage in gaming activities.

The first of these, the regulator reported, saw one-year-old left unattended in a locked vehicle, with an outside temperature of 84 degrees, in the parking lot of Valley Forge Casino Resort for nine minutes to gamble at a sportsbook and table game.

“Pennsylvania State Police broke a car window to extract the child and the patron later attempted to flee in the vehicle, which contained illegal drugs, until police detained and removed him,” the PGCB stated.

In addition, minors aged six and eight were left at Live! Casino Pittsburgh for 13 minutes to gamble at slot machines, while a ten and 13-year-old were unattended for 24 minutes for similar activities at Live! Casino Philadelphia.

Finally, a female patron was placed on the list after leaving a 13-year-old unattended in the Sky Bridge hallway of Mohegan Pennsylvania Casino for 10 minutes while she also gambled at slot machines. 

“The board’s actions serve as a reminder that adults are prohibited from leaving minors unattended in the parking lot or garage, a hotel, or other venues at a casino since it creates a potentially unsafe and dangerous environment for the children,” the regulator reminded.

“Leaving minors unattended at a Pennsylvania casino also subjects the offending adult to criminal prosecution in addition to exclusion from all Pennsylvania casinos.”

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Following similar actions taken last month, the first of the financial penalties concerns Mohegan Pennsylvania. The gaming venue received a fine of $50,000 for permitting individuals under the age of 21 to gain access to the gaming floor.

One incident saw access gained to gamble on multiple occasions, while another followed suit and was also provided with alcohol.

Elsewhere, Rivers Casino Pittsburgh was penalised $10,000 for allowing someone under the age of 21 to gain access to the gaming floor to gamble, while a $7,500 fine was issued to Rivers Casino Philadelphia after an untrained employee was allowed to deal roulette.

Furthermore, the Keystone State’s regulator also added numerous individuals on its involuntary exclusion list, which bans adults from all casinos in the commonwealth.

This comes after a total of nine minors were left unattended at Mount Airy Casino Resort, Rivers Casino Philadelphia, Live! Philadelphia Hotel and Casino, Rivers Casino Pittsburgh and Parx Casino, in order to engage in gaming activities.

The children, which ranged in age from 11 months to 13 years, were left for between 10 minutes and seven hours and 48 minutes, while adults either gambled in a sportsbook, tables game or slots, while one visited a casino to observe an acquaintance gambling.

Since the start of 2022, the Pennsylvania GCB has identified 397 incidents of adults leaving children unattended to gamble at Pennsylvania casinos, which involved 633 minors.

“The board’s actions serve as a reminder that adults are prohibited from leaving minors unattended in the parking lot or garage, a hotel, or other venues at a casino since it creates a potentially unsafe and dangerous environment for the children,” licensees were reminded.

“Leaving minors unattended at a Pennsylvania casino also subjects the offending adult to criminal prosecution in addition to exclusion from all Pennsylvania casinos.”

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Signalling record numbers for the Keystone State’s regulated gambling sector, tax revenue generated during the combined fiscal year reached a record £2,369,249,258, the majority of which derived from slot machine revenue. 

For 2022/23, total gaming revenue came in at $5.5bn, an increase of 9.33 per cent on 2021/2022’s previous record-high statistics of $5.04bn, with a similar uptick in tax revenue of 9.67 per cent from 2021/22’s $2.16bn. 

Throughout the fiscal year, slot machine revenue contributed a total of $2.45bn, a 1.74 per cent increase on the previous year’s figures of $2.41bn. This represents the state’s second highest-performing fiscal year for slot machine revenue, second only to 2011/12’s $2.47bn. 

While Parx Casino, Wind Creek Bethlehem, Rivers Casino Pittsburgh and Mohegan Pennsylvania contributed the most slot machine revenue, the sector’s tax revenue amounted to more than $1.36bn. 

The fiscal year also saw an impressive performance in Pennsylvania’s igaming sector, which increased by 24.38 per cent to $1.53bn from 2021/22’s $1.23bn. This robust performance led to a tax revenue contribution of $652m. 

Other sectors to publish positive results were video gaming terminals, witnessing a 1.28 per cent uptick to $42m, and sports wagering, which recorded a substantial 55.82 per cent increase from $315m (2021/22) to $491m. 

As a result of the performance of both sectors, video gaming terminal tax revenue stood at $21.9m and sports wagering tax revenue contributed $117.1m

However, not all sectors had witnessed growth in the 2022/2023 fiscal year, as fantasy contests revenue came in at $20.6m, citing a 24.32 per cent decrease from the previous fiscal year’s $27.3m. 

Additionally, retail table games revenue waivered, falling by 4.11 per cent to $974m from 2021/2022’s $1.01bn. Fantasy tax revenue contributed $3.1m, while retail table games tax revenue was at $158.15m.

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