Press Releases
PlayPennsylvania.com: Sportsbooks make first betting volume gains since March

The return of football helped Pennsylvania sportsbooks post their first month-over-month increase in betting volume since March with nearly $350 million in wagers in August. The gain sets the stage for what could be a record-shattering fall for the state’s sportsbooks as online casinos and poker rooms continue their own torrid pace, according to PlayPennsylvania, which tracks regulated online gaming and sports betting in the state.
“August’s sports schedule is still relatively light compared with the fall, so it is welcome to see betting volume move off the low we saw in July,” said Valerie Cross, analyst for PlayPennsylvania.com. “The next four months is the most important stretch of the year for sportsbooks, though, and every sign points toward a stretch of widespread growth.”
Pennsylvania’s online and retail sportsbooks accepted $348.5 million in wagers in August, down 4.5% from $365.0 million in August 2020 but up 14.5% from $304.4 million in July, according to official data released Monday. August marked the first month since March, when sportsbooks took in $560.3 million in wagers, that the combined handle topped the previous month’s handle.
Gross gaming revenue fell 8.3% to $25.3 million from $27.6 million in August 2020 and fell 7.9% from $27.5 million in July. August produced $18.0 million in taxable revenue, generating $6.1 million in state taxes and $360,145 in local share assessments.
The gains in August were likely in part a product of increasing interest in baseball, especially as the Philadelphia Phillies remained in postseason contention. But a handful of college and NFL preseason games, in addition to futures betting on football, undoubtedly helped boost bettors’ interest.
“An inglorious exit from the NBA playoffs, the struggles of the Pittsburgh Pirates, and the inconsistency of the Phillies, conspired to make this a relatively slow summer for Pennsylvania’s sportsbooks,” said Dustin Gouker, analyst for the PlayUSA.com Network, which includes PlayPennsylvania.com. “It took just a handful of games in August to show how important football is to the sports-betting industry.”
Bettors made $318.1 million in wagers at the state’s online sportsbooks, representing 91.3% of the state’s total handle. FanDuel led all online operators with $135.7 million in wagering, up 27.1% from $106.7 million in July. FanDuel’s online revenue fell 54% to $5.7 million in August from $12.3 million in July, yielding $3.0 million in taxable revenue.
DraftKings was second in the state with $80.4 million in wagers, up 21.4% from $66.2 million in July. That yielded $8.0 million in gross revenue and $6.6 million in taxable revenue. BetMGM was third in the state with $29.0 million in wagers and $2.5 million in gross revenue.
Penn National’s Barstool-branded app attracted $26.3 million in wagers creating $2.1 million in gross revenue and $1.6 million in taxable revenue.
The online leaders were followed by:
- BetRivers ($13.2 million handle, down from $14.5 million; $882,274 GGR, down from $1.3 million)
- SugarHouse ($10.3 million handle, up from $9 million; $692,350 in GGR, up from $680,099)
- Fox Bet ($8.6 million handle, down from $10 million; $746,103 in GGR, up from $709,376)
- Parx Casino ($6.4 million handle, down from $7.9 million; $713,282 GGR, down from $745,087)
- Unibet ($4.2 million handle, down from $4.5 million; $307,601 GGR, down from $316,936)
- TwinSpires ($2.3 million handle, up from $2.1 million; $147,448 GGR, down from $179,276)
- Caesars ($1.2 million handle, up from $947,532; $73,785 GGR, up from -$126,967)
- Betway ($617,954 handle; up from $563,481; $18,818 GGR, up from -$32,239)
- Wind Creek ($521,601 handle, up/down from $406,259; $78,195 GGR, up from $6,284)
Meanwhile, retail sportsbooks accepted $30.4 million in wagers in August, up from $29.0 million in July. Those wagers created $3.3 million in gross gaming revenue, up 22.8% from $2.7 million in July. Rivers Philadelphia topped the retail market with $5.1 million in bets, ahead of Rivers Pittsburgh’s $4.4 million handle.
“Revenue generation is important this time of year, too, but football is often a springboard for operators to build relationships with new customers,” Gouker said. “This is why operators are aggressive with their football-related promotional offerings and advertising campaigns, particularly around the opening weeks of the season. It’s also a time when giants such as FanDuel and DraftKings really can exploit their resource advantage over smaller operators.”
Online casinos and poker
Online casinos and poker rooms posted their sixth consecutive month with gross gaming revenue over $100 million with $103.2 million in August. That was up 54.8% from $66.7 million in August 2020, though down 1.2% from $104.5 million in July.
Gross revenue was whittled to $88.7 million in taxable revenue, which was even with July. August’s win yielded $39.4 million in state and local taxes. Wagering at online casino games remained brisk, hitting $3.2 billion in August, which was also even with July.
“While sportsbooks ebb and flow with the seasons, the growth at online casinos has been consistent and relentless,” Cross said. “As the weather cools, that growth should continue. There are no signs yet that point to any kind of slowdown on the immediate horizon.”
Other highlights from August:
- Online casino and poker rooms generated $3.3 million in gross gaming revenue per day over the 31 days of August, down from $3.4 million per day in July.
- Penn National, which includes the DraftKings, BetMGM, Barstool, and Hollywood casinos, led the market once again with $35.1 million in gross revenue. Rivers Philadelphia, which includes SugarHouse, Borgata, and BetRivers casinos, was second with $30.8 million.
- On the strength of the first full month of the World Series of Poker, poker generated $3.2 million in revenue, up from $2.7 million in August 2020. Mount Airy/PokerStars topped operators with $1.9 million in revenue.
For more information, visit www.playpennsylvania.com/news.
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WPT® Global Returns as Title Sponsor for Triton SUPER HIGH ROLLER SERIES Jeju II

The high-stakes action is back in South Korea on the heels of the recently
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The Super High Roller Series returns to Jeju, September 8–23, 2025, with another nosebleed schedule and non-stop live stream coverage. WPT® Global proudly continues its strong relationship with Triton as the event’s title sponsor.
Super High Roller Series Jeju II: What’s on the Cards
Super High Roller Series Jeju II brings a monolith of a schedule from September 8 to 23, with buy-ins ranging from $25,000 to $150,000. The action kicks off on September 9 with Event 1, the WPT Global Slam, featuring a $25,000 buy-in.
The $100,000 Main Event, Event 9, begins on September 16 and is expected to draw the biggest names and deepest stacks of the series. Players and fans can expect poker’s most notorious faces, from Phil Ivey to Jesse Lonis, chasing titles at one of the most prestigious series in the industry.
Xuan Liu Makes History for WPTG in Montenegro
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Logifuture goes live in Mexico with Zoom Soccer via Aristocrat Interactive integration

Logifuture, a leading supplier of award-winning iGaming products, has entered the Mexican market with Zoom Soccer, via its integration with Aristocrat Interactive™.
Zoom Soccer is a one-of-a-kind 24/7 virtual sports feed that delivers ultra-realistic, fully simulated matches and outcomes, featuring teams and leagues designed to feel familiar to fans. Built to complement real football offerings, it provides an immersive betting experience.
With over 30,000 additional pre-match and in-play betting events each month, Zoom Soccer ensures sportsbooks stay engaging – not just during off-seasons but also during quieter moments of the day or week when real football options are limited. Thanks to existing partner integrations, it attracts tens of millions of bets every month.
The integration of Zoom Soccer is facilitated by Logifuture’s existing relationship with Aristocrat Interactive. Through Aristocrat Interactive’s digital gaming platform, Logifuture is bringing its sophisticated products to millions of players across emerging markets, including Africa, Eastern Europe, Latin America and Central America.
Niccolo Cassettari, Chief Business Development Officer at Logifuture, shared: “We’re thrilled that sports fans in Mexico will now have the flexibility to experience Zoom Soccer, our 24/7 feed of virtual leagues, at their convenience. Offering both pre-match and in-play betting, it delivers an experience that closely mirrors real football, keeping users continually entertained.
“As the demand for engaging sports content grows, this integration helps operators deliver. With a broader pre-match lineup and a live section constantly packed with soccer events, Zoom Soccer enhances the sportsbook experience for customers in Mexico.”
“At Logifuture, we’re dedicated to meeting the need for dynamic, captivating sports products, and expanding Zoom Soccer’s presence helps us achieve that goal and we’re excited to continue working together to bring the excitement of virtual sports to the Mexican market.”
Malte Hegeler, VP Sports Product at Aristocrat Interactive iGaming & Sports, said: “We are always looking for new gaming innovations to entertain our customers’ audiences.
“The addition of Logifuture’s Zoom Soccer in Mexico is an exciting example of our ever-expanding digital portfolio curated to provide regulated markets with the highest quality, immersive betting content.”
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Dreidel names Elias Liberas as Chief Commercial Officer

Former Ortiz Gaming exec joins proudly Mexican land-based and online slot game producer to spearhead its ambitious expansion plans
Dreidel, the proudly Mexican casino game developer, has strengthened its management team with the appointment of Elias Liberas as Chief Commercial Officer.
Elias joins Dreidel at an important time for the business as it continues to establish itself as the leading land-based slot provider in Latin America, North America and beyond, while pushing into the online market for the first time.
It’s an important hire in that regard, with Elias having a strong track record in the gaming industry. He joins Dreidel from Ortiz Gaming, where he was Commercial Director over a 14-year career with the company. Before that, he worked for Cadillac Jack and Siente.
Elias brings a strong strategic vision and invaluable experience gained across more than 20 years in commercial roles both in and out of the industry, experience that Dreidel will use to continue to scale its business with purpose and pace.
As Chief Commercial Officer at Dreidel, Elias will be responsible for fostering and developing key relationships with operator and supplier partners, and ensuring that the company continues to provide unique experiences for both casinos and their players.
José Shemaria CEO at Dreidel, said: “I am thrilled to welcome Elias to Dreidel as Chief Commercial Officer and for us to benefit from his unrivalled commercial experience in the industry.
“Elias has spent more than two decades in commercial roles across the industry, and this gives him a unique understanding of what land-based and online casino operators look for in the games they offer to players.
“At Dreidel, we are passionate about creating slots that not only meet but exceed players’ expectations, and with Elias on board, we will be able to make more operators aware of our innovative and exciting suite of games than ever before.
“All that’s left for me to do is to officially welcome Elias to the Dreidel family.”
Elias Liberas, Chief Commercial Officer at Dreidel, added: “The opportunity to join Dreidel as Chief Commercial Officer was one that I simply couldn’t turn down.
“Since 2015, the company has been committed to developing the best land-based slots in Mexico, and now it’s looking to not only take these games online, but also into more Latin American and North American markets.
“This makes it an exciting and important time for me to join the business, and I’m looking forward to leveraging my more than 20 years of experience to help drive Dreidel into the next chapter of its success story.”
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