Pennsylvania Gaming Revenue Climbs in December on iGaming Momentum
Pennsylvania posted $616.7 million in gaming revenue in December, a 15.6% increase from a year earlier, driven by strong online play even as traditional slot income slipped.
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) reported the December totals on Tuesday, noting the state collected $255.8 million in tax receipts from the month’s activity. While overall receipts rose, the makeup of that revenue continued to shift: iGaming and sports betting expanded, offsetting a decline in brick-and-mortar slot takings.
iGaming Growth Outpaces Land-Based Slot Declines
Online casino games accounted for the largest share of the month’s gains. iGaming revenue climbed to $259.7 million statewide, up 16.1% year-over-year. Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course led the iGaming segment, reporting $101.9 million in online revenue, an 18% increase versus December last year. Valley Forge Casino Resort followed with $71.1 million (up 16.4%), and Rivers Casino Philadelphia generated $39.0 million, up 10.9%.
By contrast, slot machine revenue statewide fell to $186.6 million, a 7.5% decline. Parx Casino remained the top slot operator with $29.0 million in slot receipts but saw a 7.7% drop. Rivers Casino Pittsburgh recorded $21.1 million (down 4.1%), while Wind Creek Bethlehem’s slot income fell 11.8% to $20.4 million. The split underlines a continuing migration of wagering spend from on-site machines to mobile and desktop platforms.
“These numbers reflect an ongoing structural shift in player behaviour,” said Daniel Reed, senior analyst at Stratagem Gaming. “Operators that invested early in robust online platforms are capturing more of the wallet share, and that growth is currently outpacing recovery at casino floors. Expect operators to redeploy capital toward digital marketing, loyalty systems and product development to sustain this momentum.”
Related: Pennsylvania Gaming Revenue Hits Record $623.1 Million in November
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Operator Performance and Sports Betting Trends
At the operator level, Valley Forge Casino Resort posted the highest total gaming revenue in December with $121.8 million, a 39% increase year-over-year. Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course reported $116.4 million (up 17.2%), while Rivers Casino Philadelphia logged $57.1 million (up 6.5%).
Sports betting generated $84.8 million in revenue in December from a total handle of $797.4 million. Valley Forge produced $38.3 million in sports-betting revenue from a handle of $283.9 million. Hollywood Casino at The Meadows reported $24.9 million in sports-betting revenue on a $245.4 million handle, and Hollywood Casino York posted $4.6 million in revenue from a $55.0 million handle.
“Sportsbooks continue to be an important diversifier for casino operators, but margins can be volatile month to month”, Reed added. “The combination of iGaming stability and sportsbook upside is creating a more mixed but resilient revenue base for Pennsylvania.”
Regulatory oversight by the PGCB ensures tax flows to state and local governments; the agency’s monthly reporting remains a key barometer for Pennsylvania’s gaming economy as operators refine omnichannel strategies across markets that include Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and the Lehigh Valley.
Looking ahead, operators will be watching early 2026 performance for signs that the digital surge can sustain itself beyond holiday-driven volumes. Investment decisions already appear to be tilting toward online product and customer acquisition, while casino floors are being repositioned to emphasise experiences – dining, entertainment and non-wagering amenities – designed to complement rather than replace the online offering.
Analysts say the trend in Pennsylvania mirrors developments in other mature jurisdictions such as New Jersey and Michigan, where online gaming has become the primary growth driver. For local governments, the shift alters the composition of taxable receipts even as total collections remain robust.
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