Gambling in the USA
Pennsylvania Sportsbooks Lose Out On $220 Million In Bets While Online Casinos Hit New Revenue Record In March

With $24.3 million in revenue, online casinos and poker lone bright spot for the industry, according to PlayPennsylvania
LAS VEGAS — The handle for Pennsylvania’s retail and online sportsbooks shrunk in March to its smallest monthly total since August 2019, while online casinos and poker exploded to a new record. Coronavirus shutdowns loom over the gambling industry, costing sportsbooks $220 million in wagers in March, according to PlayPennsylvania estimates, and sending home-bound bettors to online casinos and poker rooms in record numbers.
“Pennsylvania’s gaming industry is navigating waters that are unprecedented anywhere,” said Dustin Gouker, lead analyst for PlayPennsylvania.com. “It’s an industry that employs thousands in Pennsylvania and generates millions of dollars in tax revenue, and it is not designed to be closed. Growth in online casinos is helping, but it can’t entirely make up for the revenue lost from sports betting and land-based casinos being shut down.”
Pennsylvania sportsbooks appeared headed for its first month with a handle of more than $350 million in revenue. But with the sports world largely shuttered after March 11, Pennsylvania’s handle slumped to just $131.3 million for the month, according to official data released Thursday. That is down 60.2% from $329.8 million in February, though up from $44.5 million in March 2019, before online sports betting launched.
March’s revenue hit $8.6 million, up from $4.7 million in February. The win resulted in $2.3 million in tax revenue for the state.
The suspension of the NBA season on March 11 sent shockwaves through the sports world, leading to the eventual indefinite shut down of most major events. That included the cancelation of March Madness, which would have attracted $100 million in bets at Pennsylvania sportsbooks, according to PlayPennsylvania estimates. The closures have limited books to futures betting, mostly on the NFL, and some international sports.
“The timing of the coronavirus shutdowns was particularly damaging to Pennsylvania sportsbooks, costing the industry millions in basketball-related bets,” Gouker said. “The first weekend of March Madness is the second-biggest sports betting event in the U.S., behind only the Super Bowl, and its cancellation leaves no feasible way to make up that revenue. Obviously, there are dramatic health and economic concerns for everyone right now, but the loss of revenue will be felt by Pennsylvania’s gambling industry for quite some time.”
$118.3 million, or 90.1%, of the state’s March handle came from online betting. FanDuel Sportsbook at Valley Forge Casino led the market with $53.7 million in March wagers, down from $138.5 million in February. That yielded $2.8 million in taxable revenue, up from $146,080 in February. FanDuel was followed by:
- DraftKings at The Meadows ($28.6 million in handle, down from $72.3 million; $1.5 million taxable revenue, up from $1 million)
- Rivers-Philadelphia ($12 million in handle, down from $24.7 million; $601,984 revenue, down from $784,565)
- Rivers-Pittsburgh ($8.2 million in handle, down from $18.9 million; $535,860 revenue, down from $680,514)
- Parx Casino ($7.9 million handle, down from $19.9 million; $618,159 revenue, down from $818,817)
- Fox Bet at Mount Airy ($6.1 million handle, down from $14.4 million; $159,013 revenue, down from $539,372)
- Unibet at Mohegan Sun Pocono ($1.2 million handle, down from $4 million; $19,750 revenue, down from $86,558)
- Presque Isle Downs ($483,429 handle, down from $1.4 million; $23,905 revenue, down from $37,258)
- Harrah’s ($139,790 handle, -$18,075 revenue)
Rivers-Philadelphia led the retail market with a $2.3 million handle, down from $7.2 million in February. That yielded $146,281 in revenue, down from $383,793. Rivers-Philadelphia was followed by:
- Parx ($2 million handle, down from $5.9 million; $168,090 revenue, up from $127,231)
- Rivers-Pittsburgh ($1.8 million handle, down from $6 million; $130,270 revenue, down from $809,858)
- South Philadelphia Race and Sportsbook ($1.1 million handle, down from $2.7 million; $87,757 revenue, down from $181,236)
- Presque Isle ($1.1 million handle, down from $1.7 million; $35,838 revenue, up from $12,865)
- Harrah’s Philadelphia ($1 million handle, down from $2.9 million; $94,056 revenue revenue, up from -$64,494)
- Valley Forge Casino ($859,504 handle, down from $2.5 million; -$40,280 revenue, up from -$75,306)
- Mount Airy ($769,909 handle, up from $589,668; $14,344 revenue, up from -$20,065 in revenue)
- Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course ($571,511 handle, down from $2.1 million; $53,730 revenue, up from -$150,053)
- Mohegan ($463,552 handle, down from $1.7 million; -$15,336 revenue, down from $19,561)
- Oaks Race and Sportsbook ($284,736 handle, down from $856,374; -$8,526 revenue, down from $17,529)
“The bottom line is that Pennsylvania’s sportsbooks will not be healthy again until the sports world begins to reopen,” Gouker said. “No one yet knows for sure when that day will come. But sports leagues everywhere are trying to figure out ways to begin games again, so there is at least some reason for some optimism.”
Online casinos and poker boom
With land-based casinos closed and many of the state’s residents home-bound, Pennsylvania’s online casinos and poker rooms boomed to dramatic new records. Combined, online casino games and poker generated a record $24.3 million in revenue, easily surpassing the previous best of $19.5 million in revenue set just last month. March’s gains yielded $5.9 million in tax revenue for the state.
Poker alone generated $3.1 million in March revenue, all by Mount Airy/PokerStars, the lone online poker operator in the state. Previously, the all-jurisdiction record for poker revenue in a month was $3.1 million, set in October 2016 in New Jersey. The Garden State also set a new record in March with $3.6 million.
Online casinos boosted monthly revenue to $21.1 million on $871.6 million in wagers, which was up from $547.6 million in bets in February.
A high tax rate and technological issues had slowed the development of Pennsylvania’s online casinos and poker industry, and even now those issues continue to impede the market. But March’s gains were much-needed for an industry with nowhere else to turn.
“Pennsylvania’s online product has been slow to develop, but the revenue the industry is generating now is vital to the gaming industry and the state budget,” Gouker said. “Ideally, Pennsylvania’s online casino industry would’ve had the opportunity to mature more quickly. But it is definitely better than if it didn’t exist at all, as is the case in most states.”
Other important online data from March:
- Rivers-Philadelphia led the market with $6.8 million in revenue on $293.2 million in wagers. That is up from $4.8 million in revenue on $194.7 million in wagers in February.
- FanDuel/Valley Forge Casino was second with $5 million in online revenue on $250.6 million in wagers. That was down from $6.1 million in revenue on $279.3 million in wagers in February.
- Casinos and poker generated $782,768 per day in the 31 days of March, up from $672,097 per day in the 29 days in February.
For more information on the revenue generated by Pennsylvania sports betting, visit www.playpennsylvania.com/revenue.
Gambling in the USA
Aristocrat Interactive™ to Showcase Innovative iLottery Solutions at NASPL 2025 Annual Conference & Trade Show

Aristocrat Interactive™, the Real Money Gaming (RMG) division of Aristocrat, today announced its participation as a Level II Sponsor at the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries (NASPL) 2025 Annual Conference & Trade Show.
NASPL, the leading trade association representing 53 lottery organizations across North America, serves as a platform for collaboration, research, standards, and best practices that drive the future of the industry. Taking place September 8–11, 2025 at the Niagara Falls Convention Center in Ontario, Canada, the event, themed “Here to Play”, will gather lottery leaders from across North America to explore the evolving future of the industry.
Aristocrat Interactive will be showcasing its latest innovations for the iLottery sector through an interactive booth setup, one-on-one director’s dialogue sessions, a product and services showcase, and more. Attendees will get a first look at new eInstant titles, featuring fresh game mechanics and the business’s first cross-over game with its iGaming & Sports division. Aristocrat Interactive will also highlight its successful omnichannel solutions, which connect retail and online play to enhance player engagement and experience.
Building on this momentum, Aristocrat Interactive recently launched the New Hampshire Lottery’s new digital platform, signed long-term contracts with the Michigan Lottery and the Massachusetts Lottery, and secured a two-year extension with its NeoPollard Joint Venture in North Carolina—where Aristocrat Interactive provides the iLottery platform. These partnerships underscore Aristocrat Interactive’s commitment to helping lotteries deliver engaging digital experiences and sustainable growth.
“NASPL always sets the table for engaging discussions that can advance our customer-driven strategies to drive real digital growth for lotteries,” said Chris Shaban, Managing Director, iLottery at Aristocrat Interactive. “We’re looking forward to another opportunity to showcase Aristocrat Interactive as a solidified, future-ready unit with global gaming expertise.”
Attendees can connect with Aristocrat Interactive at Booth #209 and meet the team for one-on-one discussions in Room #205. Aristocrat Interactive will also hold a showcase on Wednesday, September 10 at 1:30 p.m. at its booth.
For more information about Aristocrat Interactive and its iLottery solutions, please visit aristocratinteractive.com.
Gambling in the USA
Scientific Games Introduces Obsidian, All-Black Holographic Lottery Scratch Games

Premium Instant Scratch Game Innovation Adds Luxury and Uniqueness at Retail with Exclusive Play Experience
Scientific Games announces Obsidian, its latest breakthrough in instant scratch game innovation. A revolutionary addition to the global lottery company’s holographic product offerings, Obsidian will debut at the North American Association of State & Provincial Lotteries 2025 Conference taking place September 8 to September 11 in Ontario, Canada.
With 18 unique design concepts, Obsidian games feature a dramatic combination of all-black tones and holographics to create a sleek, glasslike appearance. Named after naturally occurring volcanic rock, the Obsidian line offers a bold, ultra-premium look and scratch experience.
Obsidian is one of a number of new product designs from Scientific Games to be unveiled at NASPL 2025. The new products were developed by Scientific Games’ Innovation and Discovery teams at its metro Atlanta global headquarters, the largest lottery instant game production facility in the world. Obsidian games will also be produced at the company’s Canadian and UK facilities.
“Our game innovators have followed holographic trends on high-end luxury items and were inspired to create fresh, new games centered on value proposition design for our lottery partners,” said Danielle Hodges, Senior Director, Global Product Innovation & Development for Scientific Games. “At a time when the market basket average is increasing, holographic games allow lotteries to differentiate their games by adding a touch of luxury and uniqueness. In sneak previews of Obsidian with several lotteries, the response we’ve received is pure excitement.”
The company continues to lead the industry in scratch game innovation, using holographics to heighten retail appeal and create immersive player experiences.
Scientific Games, the world’s largest creator, producer and manager of lottery instant games, offers more than 100 strategic enhancements for its world-leading scratch products. The company’s products represent 70% of global instant game retail sales.
Innovating products and solutions that move the global lottery industry forward since 1973, Scientific Games provides retail and digital games, technology, analytics and services to 150 lotteries in 50 countries around the globe, including nearly every North American lottery.
Obsidian™ is a trademark of Scientific Games, LLC. © 2025 Scientific Games, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Gambling in the USA
ETPL APPOINTS LONDON-BASED OAKVALE CAPITAL AS EXCLUSIVE INVESTMENT BANKER TO LEAD CAPITAL RAISE AND GROWTH STRATEGY

The European T20 Premier League (ETPL), an ICC-approved T20 league co-owned by Abhishek Bachchan and backed by Cricket Ireland, Cricket Scotland, and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association, has appointed Oakvale Capital as its exclusive investment banker.
“Oakvale’s deep expertise in sports finance will be a game-changer for ETPL’s long-term vision. We look forward to working closely with their expert team to help bring our event to fruition,” said Warren Deutrom, CEO, Cricket Ireland.
“Oakvale is one of the leading London-based investment banks in the sports and gaming ecosystem. Their sector depth, global network, and track record advising rights-holders, clubs, and technology platforms make them the right partner for ETPL as we scale,” said Saurav Banerjee, Co-owner and Director, ETPL.
“We’re excited to support ETPL’s bold and innovative approach to cricket. The vision to elevate the sport in Europe with a premium, differentiated offering aligns well with Oakvale’s strategic focus in global sports properties,” said Sandford Loudon, Partner, Oakvale Capital.
Blending world-class cricket with a distinctively European experience, ETPL aims to redefine the sport through elite talent, immersive fan experiences, and data-driven innovation. In addition, KPMG in India has been appointed as ETPL’s strategic advisor.
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