Three PA Casinos Post Double-Digit Revenue Increases in January

^{Wind Creek Bethlehem showed the biggest percentage gain in the January revenue report for Pennsylvania. (Photo: Rick Smith / AP)} 

Pennsylvania’s land-based casinos recorded $264.9 million in revenue for January, up from the previous year’s figure of $261.6 million and representing a year-on-year increase of 1.3%.  

The figures, published by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, show that slots accounted for $189.1 million of the total revenue, rising slightly from $187.8 million, a 0.7% year-on-year increase. Table games also rose last month, up 2.8% year-on-year from $73.7 million to $75.8 million.  

As Pennsylvania casinos celebrate a decent month, the state’s Governor, Josh Shapiro, has once again put forward the regulation of skill games in his 26-27 budget proposal to generate an additional $2 billion in tax revenue.  

Parx Casino and Wind Creek Bethlehem Fight for Top Spot 

Of the state’s 17 casinos, 11 recorded year-on-year revenue increases, while six were not as lucky. Looking at top revenue generators for January, Parx Casino took the cake, reporting $46.4 million, up 2.2% year-on-year. Of this, slots were down 2.5% to $29.2 million, and table games increased 11.1% to $17.2 million.  

The second-highest revenue generator was Wind Creek Bethlehem, which was up 3.9% year-on-year to $42.3 million. Slots at the casino declined 0.7% to $21.1 million, as table games rose 8.9% to $21.2 million.  

Parx Shippensburg reported the biggest year-on-year revenue increase of the bunch, with a 14.1% year-on-year rise to $3.3 million. The majority of this revenue came from slots, which increased 14.7% to $3.2 million.  

Other double-digit revenue rises came from Live! Casino Pittsburgh, up 11.5% year-on-year, and Hollywood Casino at the Meadows, which increased 10% year-on-year.  

Mohegan Pennsylvania recorded the largest year-on-year revenue decline in January, down 7.3% to $15.3 million. Slots at the casino decreased 1.5% to $13.5 million, and table games revenue was down 36.5% to $1.7 million.  

Other year-on-year revenue declines came from Mount Airy Casino Resort, down 7.1%; Hollywood Casino Morgantown, down 5.3%; Valley Forge Casino Resort, down 3.8%; Rivers Casino Pittsburgh, down 3%; and Hollywood Casino York, down 0.6%.  

Pennsylvania Gov. Ponders Skill Games Regulation in New Budget 

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro is once again discussing regulating skill game machines to address a $2 billion revenue shortfall.  

Currently, skill games, which closely resemble slot machines, do not fall under state gambling regulations, despite lawmakers having tried for years to bring them under state oversight. These machines are currently found in the likes of gas stations and bars.  

According to the Governor’s budget proposal, there would be a 52% tax rate on skill games, a cap of 40,000 video lottery terminals and skill games, and a limit of 5 machines per establishment.  

“We’re putting our communities at risk and losing out on billions of dollars in revenue by doing nothing on both,” Shapiro said, while also putting skill games in the same category as legalizing recreational marijuana.