Pennsylvania Casino Revenue Cools in February as Eagles Bettors Beat Oddsmakers

Posted on: March 19, 2025, 10:27h. 

Last updated on: March 19, 2025, 10:34h.

Devin O'Connor @CasinoorgDevinO Read More
Expertise: Asia Pacific Gaming, Commercial Gaming, Legislation, Politics.
  • Super Bowl LIX was a costly event for oddsmakers in Pennsylvania
  • As a result, Pennsylvania casino revenue was down in February
  • There are ongoing concerns about the state’s brick-and-mortar casino market

Pennsylvania casino revenue across the commonwealth slowed in February as concerns regarding brick-and-mortar further intensified and bettors who took the home team Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX devastated oddsmakers.

Pennsylvania casino revenue sports betting Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles fans celebrate on Broad Street after winning Super Bowl LIX on Feb. 9, 2025. The Super Bowl outcome led to year-over-year gaming revenue losses for Pennsylvania casinos and many sportsbooks. (Image: Shutterstock)

On Tuesday, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) revealed that statewide gross gaming revenue (GGR) totaled $477.3 million in February, a 4.4% year-over-year decline.

The loss was partly propelled by the state’s 17 brick-and-mortar casinos, as iGaming continued to expand. Sports betting also caused much of the year-over-year drop. Revenue from sports gambling tumbled 75% from $30.2 million in February 2024 to just $7.5 million last month.

Pennsylvania sports bettors heavily backed the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX. That led to 12 casino sportsbooks and their online partners reporting sports betting revenue losses. Only one operator — Valley Forge Casino Resort and its FanDuel operator — reported a significant positive outcome at almost $13.7 million.

The books in Western Pennsylvania where the Eagles are hated and the Steelers are loved were where most of the retail sportsbooks managed to come out on top.

B&M Casino Worries 

Pennsylvania GGR reached a record high of $6.13 billion last year. The growth, however, was predominantly fueled by iGaming and sports betting.

In-person gaming revenue, referred to as traditional or legacy play, declined 1.5% from 2023, or a loss of roughly $51 million across the 17 gaming floors.

January 2025 bucked the trend, with brick-and-mortar revenue climbing 3.7%. But February reversed course, with in-person play again down from the prior year.

Last month, revenue from physical slot machines fell over 8% to $186.3 million. Tables kept 7% less money from players’ bets at $71.1 million. The brick-and-mortar GGR tally of $257.4 million represented a decline of almost $22 million from February 2024.

February 2025 was cold and snowy even by Pennsylvania’s standards. That could have kept some would-be gamblers at home instead of venturing out to a physical casino.

There are many concerns facing the legacy gaming market in Pennsylvania. The ongoing proliferation of slot-like skill games and Gov. Josh Shapiro’s (D) wishes to provide them with a legal, regulated framework, threatens to further poach slot play from physical casinos. The Pennsylvania Lottery, which operates instant games online that closely mimic an interactive slot, is additionally seeking permission to offer additional higher-priced scratchers that lottery officials say consumers want because they come with larger jackpots.

February Standouts

While February brought little love to the state gaming industry, there were a few highlights. Pennsylvania iGaming platforms further grew revenue, with online slots seeing GGR surge 23% to $154.3 million. Interactive tables, however, were down 10% to $50.9 million. Internet poker rake added $2.4 million — flat from a year ago.

Fantasy sports also experienced a surge, as fees for operators jumped 17% to $1.5 million. The Super Bowl presumably increased DFS play with the Eagles in the big game.

Of course, the state is always a winner. Harrisburg received more than $202.5 million from its robust gaming industry in February 2025, exclusive of lottery income. As a reminder, skill games provide no state or local tax benefit, nor are they regulated for fair play like guarantees that they’ll pay out at a certain rate.