Press Releases
Playmaker Taps Taz Patel, Kristine Bill for C-Suite Positions to Accelerate Growth in 2023
Playmaker, a leading social media sports and entertainment content platform, announced two C-Suite appointments, bringing nearly three decades of experience across sports media, strategic marketing and business development to its team. Taz Patel joins the company to assume the role of Chief Business Officer, and Kristine Bill has been promoted to Chief Operations Officer. The position of Chief Business Officer is a role new to Playmaker, while Bill is succeeding former COO Rob Elder.
“The appointments of both Taz and Kristine clearly articulate the strategic vision and aggressive growth goals we have set for ourselves in 2023,” said Brandon Harris, CEO of Playmaker. “In the coming months, Playmaker is keenly focused on expanding our roster of creative talent, bringing to life more public-facing events and developing and redefining strategic brand partnerships, all while continuing to publish the first-rate sports and entertainment content Playmaker has become so well known for. Taz and Kristine will be instrumental in leaning into the momentum Playmaker created in 2022, and springboarding our brand to new levels of creativity, influence and notoriety.”
Patel’s responsibilities as Chief Business Officer include scaling the brand’s revenue, expanding platform integrations and securing strategic partnerships to further enhance the company’s progression. Patel is a renowned early-stage startup operator with multiple exits over the past decade and previously founded Captiv8, a leading venture backed AI Influencer Marketing platform. His most notable exits included BlueLithium and Interclick, both acquired by Yahoo!, where Patel contributed to meaningful revenue growth via agency and brand partnerships.
“The early-stage companies that successfully scale talent, resources and profit have many of the characteristics Playmaker currently exhibits, most notably a lean operation, correctly leveraging technology and partnerships to maximize its output,” said Patel. “The sports industry is currently in a renaissance period, moving from its traditional state to the true intersection of entertainment, media and technology. I’m looking forward to utilizing my experience to broaden Playmaker’s sphere of influence and industry market share.”
Bill has been with Playmaker since July 2022, where she most recently served as Senior Vice President of Marketing & Events. In this new position, she will be tasked with leading all initiatives related to marketing, public relations, social media, creator content and e-commerce. Prior to joining Playmaker, she held roles with STN Digital, Blast Motion Inc. and GMR Marketing.
“The needs of today’s sports fans are rapidly changing and, as a company, Playmaker is constantly seeking to identify the next great experience, digitally or in-person,” said Bill. “This year we’ll be expanding Playmaker’s influencer program and developing engaging newsletters focused on specific areas within sports, entertainment and culture, as well as expanding our brand footprint with sponsorships and creative content activations at key tentpole sporting events. I’m excited to work with our world-class team of creatives and partners to provide our engaged audience with the exceptional experiences they demand.”
Playmaker experienced exponential growth throughout 2022 despite a series of market challenges brought on throughout the year. The rising platform saw a 300% jump in year-over-year revenue anchored by significant growth across its 30 social media channels, reaching more than 20 million followers and gaining new strategic partnerships with companies such as Pepsi, PointsBet and No House Advantage. Playmaker supported its financial growth by investing in people — specifically operational, marketing and financial employees — as well as new popular and emerging content creators such as Adam Garfield, Cam Smith and Nyrie Iskandarian. This expansion of talent brought Playmaker’s headcount from 12 to 60 in 2022, a 400% increase. In December 2022, Playmaker was named one of the Best Employers in Sports by notable sports business outlet Front Office Sports.
Latest News
Kambi Group plc signs Turnkey Sportsbook partnership with Latin American operator RedCap
New agreement will see Kambi initially power the operator’s online Betpro and Starplay brands in El Salvador and Panama, with plans for retail and additional markets in the future
Kambi Group plc, the home of premium sports betting solutions, has agreed a long-term, omni-channel sportsbook partnership with Latin American operator RedCap, further strengthening Kambi’s position as the sportsbook provider of choice in the region.
Under the terms of the agreement, RedCap’s Betpro and Starplay brands will integrate Kambi’s high-performance Turnkey Sportsbook into its proprietary player account management (PAM) platform, enabling a seamless sports betting experience. The operator will replace its current supplier with Kambi’s powerful end-to-end sports betting solution, trusted by market leaders across Latin America and beyond.
The initial rollout will see Betpro and Starplay launch Kambi’s technology across its online sportsbooks in El Salvador and Panama, with the agreement also including scope for retail provision and market expansion. Operating under a multi-brand strategy led by its flagship Betpro brand, the operator aims to leverage the strengths of Kambi’s sportsbook with its in-house technical capability and experienced industry leadership team to achieve success in each market.
Werner Becher, CEO of Kambi, said: “This partnership marks an important next step in Kambi’s Latin American growth strategy. By selecting Kambi to replace their existing provider, RedCap has shown clear confidence in our market-leading technology and ability to support scalable growth. We are excited to help them bring best-in-class sports betting experiences to players across the region.”
Oscar Henao, CEO of RedCap, added: “We are thrilled to join forces with Kambi. This agreement gives us the product and flexibility we need to compete at the highest level, offering our customers premium betting experience across all channels. With Kambi’s support, we look forward to launching in Panama and El Salvador and expanding into new markets as we execute our multi-brand strategy.”
Financial reports
PGCB Reports Record Revenue of Nearly $6.4 Billion from Legal Gambling in State Fiscal Year
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (“PGCB”) today reported that revenue generated during the combined Fiscal Year 2024/2025 of gaming it regulates reached a record level of $6,394,641,819.
This figure consists of the combined revenue from casino slot machines and table games, iGaming, sports wagering, video gaming terminals (VGTs) and fantasy sports contests. The amount eclipses the previous high for revenue in a fiscal year of $5,892,516,807 achieved in 2023/2024. Pennsylvania’s Fiscal Year runs from July 1 to June 30.
The resulting tax revenue from the play of these games in Fiscal Year 2024/2025 was $2,797,395,982. That figure eclipses the previous high for tax revenue in a fiscal year achieved during 2023/2024 of approximately $2.54 billion. The estimated amounts for revenue and taxes being reported are prior to any possible adjustments by the PA Department of Revenue.
Tax revenue from the various forms of gaming regulated by the PGCB is returned to Pennsylvanians in a number of ways. These include, but are not limited to:
- school property tax reduction on an owner’s primary residence;
- state, county, and local economic development, safety and recreational projects;
- support of the agricultural industry through support of horse racing; and,
- revenue toward the Commonwealth’s General Fund.
A comparison of combined revenue is below:
|
Fiscal Year |
Slot Machine Revenue |
iGaming Revenue |
Table Games Revenue  |
Sports Wagering Revenue |
VGT’s Revenue |
Fantasy Sports Contests |
Total Gaming Revenue |
|
12/13 |
$2,428,887,430 |
|
$713,107,163 |
|
|
|
$3,141,994,593 |
|
13/14 |
$2,319,890,598 |
|
$731,874,861 |
|
|
|
$3,051,765,460 |
|
14/15 |
$2,335,787,919 |
|
$779,738,065 |
|
|
|
$3,115,525,984 |
|
15/16 |
$2,388,658,549 |
|
$839,177,086 |
|
|
|
$3,227,835,635 |
|
16/17 |
$2,336,152,508 |
|
$866,518,820 |
|
|
|
$3,202,671,328 |
|
17/18 |
$2,352,320,937 |
|
$895,278,806 |
|
|
$2,349,569 |
$3,249,949,311 |
|
18/19 |
$2,378,859,341 |
|
$885,588,231 |
$21,730,113 |
|
$23,588,490 |
$3,309,766,175 |
|
19/20 |
$1,697,955,473 |
$240,894,852 |
$644,543,736 |
$113,724,759 |
$6,798,123 |
$20,868,176 |
$2,724,785,117 |
|
20/21 |
$1,887,573,437 |
$897,216,020 |
$721,763,471 |
$308,849,184 |
$31,334,744 |
$28,186,529 |
$3,874,923,386 |
|
21/22 |
$2,410,313,212 |
$1,232,309,138 |
$1,015,735,661 |
$315,716,247 |
$41,584,158 |
$27,308,976 |
$5,042,967,392 |
|
22/23 |
$2,452,239,440 |
$1,532,761,065 |
$974,018,112 |
$491,960,612 |
$42,114,593 |
$20,668,195 |
$5,513,762,017 |
|
23/24 |
$2,438,537,357 |
$1,949,017,248 |
$958,027,818 |
$486,566,429 |
$41,105,387 |
$19,262,568 |
$5,892,516,807 |
|
24/25 |
$2,440,474,767 |
$2,477,083,825 |
$928,915,940 |
$487,639,844 |
$41,392,843 |
$19,134,601 |
$6,394,641,819 |
Retail Slot Machine Revenue
Fiscal Year 2024/25 gross revenue from slot machines at the casinos was $2,440,474,767, a 0.08% increase in revenue when compared to the $2,438,537,357 generated in Fiscal Year 2023/24.
Slot machine revenue for each of the casinos, with the percentage change reflected over the previous year, is as follows:
|
Retail Slot Machine Revenue by Operator |
Slot Machine Revenue FY2024/25 |
Slot Machine Revenue FY2023/24 |
% Change |
|
Parx Casino |
$377,741,868 |
$377,032,792 |
0.19% |
|
Wind Creek Bethlehem |
$281,813,834 |
$284,307,219 |
-0.88% |
|
Rivers Casino Pittsburgh |
$259,376,552 |
$265,520,300 |
-2.31% |
|
Mohegan Pennsylvania |
$175,512,043 |
$178,826,406 |
-1.85% |
|
Hollywood Casino at the Meadows |
$165,364,220 |
$162,709,117 |
1.63% |
|
Mount Airy Casino Resort |
$153,287,514 |
$155,143,779 |
-1.20% |
|
Live! Casino Philadelphia |
$152,124,613 |
$144,926,580 |
4.97% |
|
Rivers Casino Philadelphia |
$137,486,000 |
$133,819,461 |
2.74% |
|
Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course |
$134,995,246 |
$137,320,744 |
-1.69% |
|
Harrah’s Philadelphia |
$105,042,096 |
$109,918,495 |
-4.44% |
|
Valley Forge Casino Resort |
$103,226,169 |
$103,889,859 |
-0.64% |
|
Live! Casino Pittsburgh |
$99,739,181 |
$99,808,958 |
-0.07% |
|
Presque Isle Downs and Casino |
$85,948,165 |
$89,925,305 |
-4.42% |
|
Hollywood Casino York |
$85,268,464 |
$80,121,662 |
6.42% |
|
Hollywood Casino Morgantown |
$61,408,784 |
$59,013,269 |
4.06% |
|
Parx Shippensburg |
$36,866,401 |
$34,471,430 |
6.95% |
|
The Casino at Nemacolin |
$25,273,617 |
$21,781,982 |
16.03% |
|
Statewide Total |
$2,440,474,767 |
$2,438,537,357 |
0.08% |
Tax revenue from the play of slots machines in Fiscal Year 2024/25, including mandated fees paid by some operators, amounted to $1,343,013,822.
Retail Table Games Revenue
Fiscal Year 2024/25 gross revenue from table games at the casinos was $928,915,940, a 3.04% decrease in revenue when compared to the $958,027,818 generated in Fiscal Year 2023/24.
Table games revenue for each of the casinos, with the percentage change reflected over the previous year, is as follows:
|
Retail Table Games Revenue by Operator |
Table Games Revenue FY2024/25 |
Table Games Revenue FY2023/24 |
% Change |
|
Wind Creek Bethlehem |
$248,027,460 |
$252,200,606 |
-1.65% |
|
Parx Casino |
$196,413,495 |
$199,049,817 |
-1.32% |
|
Live! Casino Philadelphia |
$104,163,224 |
$107,817,308 |
-3.39% |
|
Rivers Casino Philadelphia |
$82,091,166 |
$86,998,189 |
-5.64% |
|
Rivers Casino Pittsburgh |
$73,919,682 |
$79,129,580 |
-6.58% |
|
Valley Forge Casino Resort |
$37,167,593 |
$33,693,962 |
10.31% |
|
Mount Airy Casino Resort |
$35,514,513 |
$34,636,221 |
2.54% |
|
Mohegan Pennsylvania |
$28,386,495 |
$27,999,899 |
1.38% |
|
Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course |
$24,867,554 |
$24,576,944 |
1.18% |
|
Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino |
$22,172,289 |
$26,708,238 |
-16.98% |
|
Hollywood Casino at the Meadows |
$21,931,051 |
$28,181,270 |
-22.18% |
|
Live! Casino Pittsburgh |
$14,750,775 |
$15,535,302 |
-5.05% |
|
Hollywood Casino York |
$13,612,400 |
$15,918,424 |
-14.49% |
|
Presque Isle Downs and Casino |
$12,364,452 |
$13,038,895 |
-5.17% |
|
Hollywood Casino Morgantown |
$10,207,462 |
$9,272,263 |
10.09% |
|
The Casino at Nemacolin |
$2,552,301 |
$2,377,478 |
7.35% |
|
Parx Shippensburg |
$774,029 |
$893,423 |
-13.36% |
|
Statewide Total |
$928,915,940 |
$958,027,818 |
-3.04% |
Tax revenue from the play of table games in Fiscal Year 2024/25 was $154,879,545.
Internet Casino-Type Gaming (iGaming) Revenue
Fiscal Year 2024/25 revenue from iGaming was $2,477,083,825, a 27.09% increase in revenue when compared to the $1,949,017,248 generated in Fiscal Year 2023/24. This revenue amount is a high mark for a fiscal year.
|
Operator |
FY2024/25 |
FY2023/24 |
% Change |
|
Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course |
$935,823,045 |
$751,177,422 |
24.58% |
|
Valley Forge Casino Resort |
$675,170,190 |
$482,491,457 |
39.93% |
|
Rivers Casino Philadelphia |
$411,718,444 |
$356,647,653 |
15.44% |
|
Harrah’s Philadelphia |
$115,994,074 |
$102,020,334 |
13.70% |
|
Golden Nugget |
$79,696,001 |
$39,281,525 |
102.88% |
|
Parx Casino |
$58,964,411 |
$58,835,932 |
0.22% |
|
Live! Casino Philadelphia |
$54,177,983 |
$39,973,190 |
35.54% |
|
Mount Airy Casino Resort |
$42,559,169 |
$46,187,631 |
-7.86% |
|
Bally’s Pennsylvania |
$41,566,491 |
$32,518,516 |
27.82% |
|
Presque Isle Downs and Casino |
$23,128,408 |
n/a |
n/a |
|
Mohegan Pennsylvania |
$20,183,159 |
$17,081,366 |
18.16% |
|
Wind Creek Bethlehem |
$18,102,450 |
$22,802,222 |
-20.61% |
|
Statewide Total |
$2,477,083,825 |
$1,949,017,248 |
27.09% |
Tax revenue from iGaming in Fiscal Year 2024/25 was $1,099,557,803.
Sports Wagering Revenue
Fiscal Year 2024/25 revenue from sports wagering was $487,639,844, a 0.22% decrease in revenue when compared to the $486,566,429 generated in Fiscal Year 2023/24. At the same time, the sports wagering handle increased between the two fiscal years from $8,169,540,520 to $8,721,795,533.
Sports wagering revenue for each of the casinos, with the percentage change reflected over the previous year, is as follows:
|
Sports Wagering Revenue by Operator |
Sports Wagering Revenue FY2024/25 |
Sports Wagering Revenue FY2023/24 |
% Change |
|
Valley Forge Casino Resort |
$250,290,144 |
$249,370,325 |
0.37% |
|
Hollywood Casino at the Meadows |
$131,189,196 |
$137,139,171 |
-4.34% |
|
Hollywood Casino Morgantown |
$19,991,392 |
$21,196,614 |
-5.69% |
|
Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course |
$16,995,365 |
$4,701,217 |
261.51% |
|
Rivers Casino Pittsburgh |
$14,869,925 |
$16,901,149 |
-12.02% |
|
Parx Casino |
$12,466,404 |
$16,833,893 |
-25.94% |
|
Hollywood Casino York |
$10,753,708 |
$6,102,831 |
76.21% |
|
Harrah’s Philadelphia |
$9,983,926 |
$8,362,280 |
19.39% |
|
Rivers Casino Philadelphia |
$9,215,349 |
$8,289,394 |
11.17% |
|
Live! Casino Philadelphia |
$5,326,723 |
$6,331,196 |
-15.87% |
|
Presque Isle Downs and Casino |
$1,788,457 |
$1,043,731 |
71.35% |
|
Live! Casino Pittsburgh |
$1,518,356 |
$1,609,231 |
-5.65% |
|
Mohegan Sun Lehigh Valley |
$1,076,750 |
$1,397,927 |
-22.98% |
|
Mohegan Pennsylvania |
$973,182 |
$3,271,401 |
-70.25% |
|
Wind Creek Bethlehem |
$489,195 |
$1,072,775 |
-54.40% |
|
Mount Airy Casino Resort |
$357,192 |
$704,580 |
-49.30% |
|
South Philly Race & Sportsbook |
$250,878 |
$2,038,030 |
-87.69% |
|
Parx Shippensburg |
$103,704 |
$109,718 |
-5.48% |
|
Parx Malvern |
n/a |
$90,967 |
n/a |
|
Statewide Total |
$487,639,844 |
$486,566,429 |
0.22% |
Tax revenue from Sports Wagering in Fiscal Year 2024/25 was $175,550,344.
Video Gaming Terminals
Fiscal Year 2024/25 revenue for Video Gaming Terminals at Truck Stops was $41,392,843, a 0.70% increase when compared to the $41,105,387 in Fiscal Year 2023/24. Â At the end of this fiscal year, there were 75 VGT facilities operating in Pennsylvania compared to 74 facilities in operation at the end of Fiscal Year 2023/2024.
VGT revenue for each of the providers, with the percentage change reflected over the previous year, is as follows:
|
VGT Terminal Operator |
VGT Revenue FY2024/25 |
VGT Revenue FY2023/24 |
% Change |
|
Marquee by Penn1 |
$27,567,893 |
$25,876,995 |
6.53% |
|
J&J Ventures Gaming2 |
$10,410,895 |
$11,462,180 |
-9.17% |
|
Jango Entertainment3 |
$3,250,748 |
$3,419,612 |
-4.94% |
|
Venture Gaming LLC4 |
$109,734 |
$266,424 |
-58.81% |
|
Accel Entertainment Gaming5 |
$53,573 |
$80,177 |
-33.18% |
|
Statewide Total |
$41,392,843 |
$41,105,387 |
0.70% |
Tax revenue from VGTs in Fiscal Year 2024/25 was $21,524,278.
Fantasy Contests Revenue
Fiscal Year 2024/25 revenue from fantasy contests was $19,134,601, a 0.66% decrease in revenue when compared to the $19,262,568 generated in Fiscal Year 2023/24.
Fantasy contests revenue for each of the providers, with the percentage change reflected over the previous year, is as follows:
|
Fantasy Contests Operator |
Fantasy Revenue FY2024/25 |
Fantasy Revenue FY2023/24 |
% Change |
|
DraftKings |
$13,359,018 |
$13,585,594 |
-1.67% |
|
FanDuel |
$3,291,034 |
$3,685,166 |
-10.70% |
|
UnderDog Sports |
$1,900,354 |
$1,306,281 |
45.48% |
|
Fantasy Football Players Championship |
$255,652 |
$292,287 |
-12.53% |
|
Yahoo Fantasy Sports |
$152,853 |
$219,313 |
-30.30% |
|
Sportshub Technologies |
$72,239 |
$72,931 |
-0.95% |
|
Fantasy Sports Gaming, LLC |
$67,624 |
$69,398 |
-2.56% |
|
DataForce |
$38,216 |
$35,986 |
6.20% |
|
Jock MKT |
$0 |
-$131 |
-100.00% |
|
OwnersBox |
-$2,389 |
-$4,257 |
-43.88% |
|
Statewide Total |
$19,134,601 |
$19,262,568 |
-0.66% |
Tax revenue from Fantasy Contests in Fiscal Year 2024/25 was $2,870,190.
The 2025 WSOP sets unprecedented benchmarks across entries, prize money, and payouts, solidifying its status as the pinnacle of live tournament poker
After eight weeks of thrilling competition, the 56th annual World Series of Poker (WSOP®) at the Paris Las Vegas and Horseshoe Las Vegas officially concluded on July 16. The 2025 series has once again redefined live tournament poker, shattering multiple all-time records and further cementing its legendary status.
“The poker renaissance was on full display at the 2025 WSOP,” said Ty Stewart, Chief Executive Officer of WSOP. “If you missed the amazing action, the good news is that you can inevitably expect bigger and better next year. A sincere thank you to every player and staffer who came to Las Vegas and made this a summer to remember.”
The action-packed summer on the Las Vegas Strip featured appearances from a host of celebrities and poker legends, all vying for poker’s most coveted prize: the WSOP gold bracelet. In addition to the strong turnout, the 2025 WSOP will be remembered for the launch of the revolutionary WSOP+ app, which virtually eliminated registration lines throughout the summer and greatly enhanced the WSOP experience for the entire playing community.
2025 WSOP By the Numbers – A Historic Summer
This year’s WSOP delivered staggering figures, setting several new all-time records across the board:
-
246,960 entries – The most all-time entries for a single WSOP series
-
$481,761,879 – The largest total prize money awarded in WSOP history
-
37,311 places paid – The highest number of unique payouts in series history
-
43 – The number of $1M+ prizes won across the 2025 series
-
Event #53: Millionaire Maker No-Limit Hold’em attracted 11,996 entries, setting a new record for the largest $1,500 buy-in field in live tournament poker history
-
Event #89: Mid-Stakes Championship No-Limit Hold’em saw 3,797 entries, becoming the largest $3,000 buy-in field ever
-
Event #86: Mystery Bounty Pot-Limit Omaha drew 5,284 entries, establishing itself as the largest PLO field in live tournament poker history
-
57 events exceeded $2+ million prize pools – An all-time record for the series
-
9 events exceeded $10+ million prize pools – An all-time record for the series
Although this year’s summer tournament is over, the excitement continues with the WSOP Circuit (WSOP-C) 2025 Season Part 2 already underway, and the return of WSOP Paradise this winter in the Bahamas from Dec. 4 to 18. Additionally, WSOP Europe (WSOP-E) runs from Sept. 12 to Oct. 8, with the WSOP-E Main Event beginning on Oct. 3.
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