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PlayPennsylvania.com: Sportsbooks, online casinos combine for more than $100 million in revenue in December

Pennsylvania’s sportsbooks and online casinos returned to their record-breaking ways in December, setting fresh highs while combining for more than $100 million in revenue. The late-year push put the state’s sports betting handle at more than $3.5 billion for 2020, a shocking total in a year when four months of major U.S. sports were canceled and retail outlets have been shuttered, according to analysts from PlayPennsylvania, which provides news and analysis of the state’s gaming industry.
“Online betting, both on sports and online casino games, have been a crucial silver lining to what was overall a rough year for Pennsylvania’s gaming industry,” said Dustin Gouker, lead analyst for PlayPennsylvania.com. “Obviously, the growth online has come unfortunately as the retail market has faced pandemic-related shutdowns. But without the increase in online revenue, there is no telling how much weaker a position the entire industry would be in right now.”
After a one-month retreat below $500 million, Pennsylvania’s sportsbooks accepted $548.6 million in wagers in December, according to official data released Tuesday. December’s bets were up 11.5% from $491.9 million in November and topped the record $525.8 million record set in October.
Taxable operator revenue hit $34.1 million, less than the record $37.4 million in November, which generated $11.6 million in state taxes and $681,191 in local share assessments.
Compared with December 2019, December’s handle was up 60.1% from $342.6 million while taxable revenue rose a whopping 199.4% from $11.4 million.
For all of 2020, Pennsylvania’s retail and online sportsbooks produced:
- $3.6 billion in wagers, up 140.3% from $1.5 billion in 2019.
- $3.3 billion in online wagering, up 208.4% from $1.1 billion in 2019.
- $189.7 million in taxable revenue, up 125.5% from $84.1 million in 2019.
- $64.5 million in state taxes.
Only New Jersey, which shattered a U.S. record with more than $6 billion in bets in 2020, and Nevada have collected more in bets this year than Pennsylvania. But Pennsylvania’s grip on third place is being challenged by Illinois, which reached $434.3 million in October, the market’s fourth full month of operation.
“Pennsylvania and Illinois make for such an interesting comparison, because their markets are so similar, including a nearly identical population,” said Valerie Cross, analyst for PlayPennsylvania. “Pennsylvania is still the more mature market, though, and is well poised to shatter just about every record it set in 2020.”
With retail sportsbooks shut down for most of the month, 97.6%, or $548.6 million, of all bets were made online in December, which was up from 91% in November. FanDuel Sportsbook/Valley Forge Casino became the first to top $200 million in online wagers in a month with $207.6 million in December, up 17.5% from $176.7 million wagered in November. Those bets produced $7.1 million in taxable revenue, down from $15.1 million in November. DraftKings/The Meadows remained in second place with $130.9 million in bets, up from $109.9 million in November. That yielded $5.4 million in taxable revenue.
Penn National continues to make its own dent in the market. The Hollywood Casino license, which includes Penn National’s Barstool-branded app and the recently launched BetMGM app, grew to $71.8 million in bets from $55.7 million. That produced a market-leading $13.9 million in taxable revenue.
The leaders were followed in December by:
- Fox Bet/Mount Airy ($28.9 million handle, up from $28.1 million; $1.9 million, up from $1.6 million)
- BetRivers/Rivers-Pittsburgh ($26.8 million handle, down from $28.1 million; $1.6 million revenue, up/down from $975,843)
- Parx Casino ($23.7 million handle, up from $19.4 million; $2 million revenue, down from $2.1 million)
- PlaySugarHouse/Rivers-Philadelphia ($21.8 million handle, up from $19.4 million; $1 million in revenue, up from $917,164)
- Unibet/Mohegan Sun Pocono ($8.9 million handle, up from $8.2 million; $86,200 revenue, up/down from $194,793)
- Caesars/Harrah’s ($1.4 million handle, up from $1.1 million; $15,700 revenue, down from $58,141)
- BetAmerica/Presque Isle Downs ($1.5 million handle, up from $957,165; -$7,840 revenue, down from $8,632)
“The successful launch of Barstool proves there is still some room for growth in the Pennsylvania market, both in terms of overall market size and in introducing new operators,” Gouker said. “To that point, the addition of another major player such as BetMGM makes Pennsylvania one of the most competitive markets in the U.S. That should bode well for the year ahead.”
Retail sportsbooks, which were closed on Dec. 12, fell to $13.4 million in bets from $45.1 million in December 2019. Sportsbooks won $1.2 million on those bets, down from $3 million in December 2019. The top retail sportsbook was Parx Casino with $4.3 million in bets.
Online casinos surge
Online casinos and poker rooms reached $70 million in monthly revenue for the first time. Online casinos and poker took in $71.6 million in gross operator revenue, shattering the record $59.8 million set in November. That amounted to $2.3 million per day over the 31 days of the month, up from $2 million per day over the 30 days of November. December’s revenue generated $19.3 million in state taxes and another $9.8 million in local share assessments and county grants.
Online casino games and poker, launched in late 2019, have been a boon to Pennsylvania, particularly after retail casinos were shuttered in March. With its 12 casinos closed for months, online casinos produced $680.2 million in revenue and $154.6 million in state taxes for the year.
“The late-2019 launch of online casinos proved to be fortuitous timing,” Cross said. “The revenue lost from casino closures could not have been foreseen and not be completely replaced, but there is no doubt the launch of online gaming helped stem the losses and steady the industry.”
Highlights from December:
- Online table games and slots alone generated $68.9 million in revenue on $2.9 billion in bets, which was up from $2.3 billion in bets in November.
- Penn National, which includes the DraftKings casino, took the market lead with $23.5 million in revenue on a market-leading $1.1 million in wagers. Rivers-Philadelphia, which includes PlaySugarHouse and BetRivers casinos, tallied $19.3 million in revenue on $668.2 million in wagers.
- Mount Airy/PokerStars, the lone poker operator in the state, generated poker revenue of $2.7 million.
For more information on the revenue generated by Pennsylvania, visit www.playpennsylvania.com/revenue.
About the PlayUSA.com Network:
The PlayUSA.com Network is a leading source for news, analysis, and research related to the market for regulated online gaming in the United States. With a presence in over a dozen states, PlayUSA.com and its state-focused branches produce daily original reporting, publish in-depth research, and offer player advocacy tools related to the advancement of safe, licensed, and legal online gaming options for consumers. Based in Las Vegas, the PlayUSA Network is independently owned and operated, with no affiliations to any casino — commercial, tribal, online, or otherwise.
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Zitro Experience Launches a New Era in Paraguay

Zitro recently held its first-ever Zitro Experience Paraguay, an exclusive event that brought together top operators, clients, and industry leaders at the prestigious Hotel Casino Acaray.
Held during SAGSE, the event quickly became a must-attend gathering to showcase the company’s latest innovations and strengthen strategic partnerships in the region.
Attendees got an up-close look at Zitro’s new CONCEPT cabinet line and games, which are already transforming the gaming experience across Latin America with their striking design and high performance. The presentation featured a spectacular production that highlighted Zitro’s commitment to innovation and product excellence.
The atmosphere was relaxed and welcoming, designed to foster business relationships while offering a full experience with curated cuisine and unique entertainment, making the evening truly memorable. Clients, operators, and industry professionals alike agreed on the importance of this event for driving growth in the Paraguayan market and reinforcing Zitro’s position as a key strategic partner.
Alejandra Burato, Regional Director for Latin America, shared: “It was a privilege to connect with so many operators and friends at this event. I especially want to recognize Viviana Colman, our Country Manager in Paraguay, whose dedication and deep market knowledge have been instrumental in strengthening our presence and partnerships here. Paraguay is a strategic market for us, and this event reaffirms our commitment to delivering a broad and diverse offering that adds real value to operators.”
Sebastián Salat, Zitro’s International President, added: “We’re incredibly proud to bring Zitro Experience to Paraguay for the first time. As the first slot machine manufacturer to organize an event like this in the country, we want to demonstrate our commitment to this market and continue innovating with high-performance products that drive our clients’ success. As I always say, Zitro isn’t just entering Paraguay — we’re already here, with a dedicated and talented local team and office. This Zitro Experience marks the beginning of a new era where we’re more determined than ever to support the dynamic and growing gaming industry in this fantastic country.”
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Winpot names Miroslava Montemayor as brand ambassador

Leading Mexican online casino and sportsbook, and glamorous sports broadcaster, join forces to promote the brand to more players than ever before
Winpot, Mexico’s player-favourite online casino and sports betting brand, has signed popular sports broadcaster Miroslava Montemayor to its growing team of brand ambassadors.
Miroslava is a former beauty pageant winner who has become one of the leading sports broadcasters and TV personalities in Mexico.
Her TV career began back in 2014, appearing on TV Azteca Noreste’s sports show where she covered the 2015 Pro Bowl and the Super Bowl XLIX from Glendale, Arizona.
She then left Azteca to join ESPN, where she presented the Spanish-language version of NFL Live, as well as ESPN Mexico’s afternoon sports talk show, Los Capitanes.
In 2017, she became anchor for the Spanish version of SportsCenter and hosted a show called Otra Ronda, which aired on ESPN2 in Mexico.
Today, she hosts the Champions League and Premier League coverage for TNT Sports Mexico.
As a Winpot brand ambassador, she will promote the hugely popular online casino and sportsbook to her fans through a range of campaigns and media activations.
This includes the brand’s latest TV campaign, set to air in August, which is focused on Winpot offering the best odds, guaranteed.
Winpot, which is powered by the cutting-edge Wiztech platform, has become the go-to destination for online casino players and sports bettors in Mexico.
It offers generous bonuses, localised payment options and a vast game lobby covering slots, table games, instant wins, live dealer and more, as well as the best odds across a huge range of sports.
Yoni Sidi, CEO at Winpot, said: “Miroslava is one of the most loved sports broadcasters in Mexico, combining her deep knowledge of the game with her captivating presenting style.
“This has seen her build a large and loyal fanbase across Mexico, and through this partnership, we can introduce these people to Winpot for the first time.
“We are really excited about our upcoming TV ad campaign, with Miroslava taking centre stage.”
Miroslava Montemayor, sports broadcaster and Winpot brand ambassador, added: “Winpot is one of the most trusted betting brands in Mexico, and I’m delighted to have been announced as a brand ambassador.
“I’ve had great fun filming the TV ad campaign and look forward to seeing it hit TV screens in August.
“This partnership is the perfect fit – I have a large and loyal fanbase of sports enthusiasts, and Winpot provides the superior sports betting experience they deserve.”
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BMM Testlabs’ Travis Foley Appointed Chair of IGSA’s Emerging Technology Committee

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The ETC is a specialized committee within IGSA focused on identifying and evaluating transformative technologies likely to be deployed within the gaming industry. As Chair, Foley will lead collaborative efforts to support suppliers, regulators, and operators with clear frameworks, regulatory guidance, and standardization strategies that ensure the safe and efficient implementation of new technologies.
IGSA President Mark Pace said, “We are thrilled to have Travis lead the Emerging Technology Committee at such a critical time in the gaming industry. His deep understanding of regulatory frameworks and new and evolving gaming products and solutions will be invaluable as we work to guide the industry through the safe and practical adoption of groundbreaking technologies.”
Foley said, “The gaming industry is evolving rapidly, with technologies like AI, blockchain, cloud-based systems, and advanced remote gaming platforms reshaping how we think about compliance and innovation. I’m honored and excited to chair the Emerging Technology Committee and to work alongside IGSA’s members and global stakeholders to help see new technologies implemented safely, securely, and with integrity.”
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