According to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, the gaming revenue for the state at the beginning of this year started strong once again, and online casino gaming is boosting its revenue even further.

Pennsylvania's gaming industry has started 2025 on a high note, continuing the strong momentum from 2024. The state, which recorded an all-time high revenue of $6.13 billion in 2024, has shown no signs of slowing down. In January of 2025, the industry reported a total revenue of over $529 million, marking a significant 11% increase from the same period in 2024.

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board released its latest figures on Thursday, detailing revenue across the state's 17 land-based casinos, sports betting, video gaming terminals, fantasy sports, and iGaming. While multiple gaming segments contributed to the surge, online casinos remained the driving force behind Pennsylvania's record-breaking numbers.

iGaming fuels unprecedented growth

Online gaming, which includes interactive table games, poker, and digital slot machines, has become the backbone of Pennsylvania's gaming expansion. In January 2025, the state's iGaming sector generated an astounding $210.7 million in gross gaming revenue, reflecting a 40.5% year-over-year increase. This surge added over $60.6 million compared to January of 2024, reinforcing the rising dominance of online casinos in the market.

American Gaming Association Chief Executive Officer and President Bill Miller recently addressed the role of iGaming in the broader US gaming industry. "Commercial gaming continues to demonstrate unprecedented success. Much of this growth has been driven by the continued expansion in online gaming," stated Miller. Pennsylvania's figures affirm this trend, as iGaming revenue alone accounted for $2.17 billion of the state's total gaming revenue in 2024 - a 25% increase from the previous year. Meanwhile, traditional land-based casino revenue saw a slight dip of 1.5% during the same period.

Brick-and-mortar casinos see promising start

Despite the overall shift toward online gaming, Pennsylvania's physical casinos began the new year on a positive note. In January of 2025, the state's land-based casinos reported a total revenue of $261.5 million from slot machines and table games, reflecting a 4% increase from January 2024.

The revenue from retail slots climbed nearly 5% to reach $187.8 million, while table game winnings increased by 1.5% to precisely $73.7 million. The steady rise was attributed in part to an exceptionally cold winter, which likely encouraged more visitors to seek indoor entertainment at casinos.

Parx Casino, located in Bensalem, retained its position as the highest-grossing physical casino, generating about $45.4 million in revenue. Wind Creek Bethlehem followed closely, bringing in $40.7 million.

Sports betting takes a slight dip amid Eagles' Super Bowl victory

While most segments of Pennsylvania's gaming industry thrived in January, sports betting faced a setback. Oddsmakers reported a revenue decline of 26% compared to January 2024, with total winnings amounting to $51.5 million - down from nearly $70 million the previous year.

The primary reason for this drop was the overwhelming support for the Philadelphia Eagles, who enjoyed a successful playoff run that culminated in a Super Bowl victory. Bettors in Pennsylvania placed a staggering $873.1 million in sports wagers in January, but sportsbooks retained less than 6% of that total. Nearly all of the state's sports betting revenue - $49.2 million - was generated through online platforms, leaving retail sportsbooks with a modest $2.3 million in earnings.

Valley Forge Casino Resort reigns supreme

Among Pennsylvania's gaming venues, Valley Forge Casino Resort emerged as the top-grossing property in January 2025. The casino, which partners with FanDuel for sports betting, reported total revenue of almost $97.8 million. Notably, most of Valley Forge's earnings came from its online operations, with FanDuel contributing $28.8 million in sportsbook revenue.

Additionally, Valley Forge's Stardust-branded iGaming platform performed exceptionally well, ranking second to Penn Entertainment's platform for online gaming.

Other gaming segments show steady growth

In addition to casino gaming and sports betting, Pennsylvania's other gaming segments also experienced growth. Video gaming terminals (VGTs) at truck stops generated $3.2 million in revenue, marking a 4.5% increase from January 2024. Meanwhile, fantasy sports contest fees climbed to 9%, reaching $2.7 million.

With January's impressive performance setting the tone for the year, Pennsylvania's gaming industry appears set for continued success. The state's ability to balance robust iGaming growth with stable brick-and-mortar casino revenue positions it as a leader in the evolving US gaming arena. As online gaming continues to gain leverage, stakeholders will closely watch Pennsylvania as a model for sustained expansion.