Online gambling explodes in Pa. as brick-and-mortar casino revenues tank due to pandemic – By Sam Wood (Philly Inquirer) / April 16 2020
Casino revenues in Pennsylvania crashed in March as all gaming halls were shuttered for half the month due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board on Thursday released the predicaby dismal data collected from the state’s 12 casinos and video gaming terminals and fantasy contests.
Revenues collapsed 51% last month to roughly $154 million from $316 million in the same period in 2019. The Gaming Control Board suspended gambling operations at all casinos after Gov. Tom Wolf ordered a state-wide shutdown on March 16 to in a bid to slow the spread of the virus.
Online wagering, however, provided one ray of revenue sunshine. Online operations weren’t subject to the shutdown. That sparked betting on internet casino games to soar 25 percent in March compared to the previous month.
“Pennsylvania is one of the few states that has an online gaming option,” said Doug Harbach, spokesman for the Gaming Control Board. “That has continued to keep tax revenue flowing.”
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