The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) has reported a 162.7% year-on-year increase in gambling revenue for the US state in March, while the market also experienced a 22.0% month-on-month increase.
Overall gambling revenue for the month – comprising land-based table games and slots, online casino, sports betting, fantasy sports and video gaming terminals – amounted to $403.2m.
This marked a significantly improvement from from $153.5m in March last year, the month when then state’s casinos were shuttered as a result of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, from March 17.
The March total was also higher than the $302.0m posted in February this year.
Looking at individual market sectors, the PGCB reported year-on-year growth across all products.
The biggest increase was recorded for sports wagering, where revenue rocketed by 326.1% to $26.0m, split $26.0m online and $3.4m at retail sportsbooks. The month marked the start of the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s men’s basketball tournament, colloquially known as March Madness.
Players wagered a total of $560.3m on sports during March, some 326.7% higher than in the same month last year. Consumers bet $514.3m online, compared to just $45.9m at land-based facilities.
Turning to online gambling and revenue here was up 302.1% to $97.7m. Online slots accounted for $66.4m of total revenue, with players having spent $1.75bn during the month.
Online table games revenue was $28.9m from $1.51bn in wagers, while poker revenue from rake and tournament fees was $2.4m.
The land-based casino market also enjoyed year-on-year growth, with the sector now open again, though operators still face certain restrictions in terms of capacity limits.
Slots revenue was up 127.5% to $199.3m, while table games revenue climbed by 115.7% from $33.1m to $71.4m.
Elsewhere, video gaming terminal revenue hiked 285.4% to $3.6m and fantasy sports revenue 148.6% to $1.8m.