Nevada has been the richest gaming state in the U.S. for years and is likely to remain so for some time to come. Over the past few years, New Jersey and Pennsylvania have had a close battle for second place. In 2021, New Jersey was runner-up, but in 2022, Pennsylvania had this honor.
Pennsylvania beats New Jersey by a slim margin
Pennsylvania’s gaming tally for 2022 was over $5 billion. This included the income from casinos, iGaming and both online and in-person sports betting. Income from fantasy sports and video gaming terminals was also included in the total. The total was over a billion dollars higher than it was in 2021. The tax revenue was over $2 billion. New Jersey’s total income was only $28,735 less than Pennsylvania’s. In 2021, it earned about $2.6M more than Pennsylvania. The battle between the two is always a tight one.
Parx Casino near Philadelphia was the richest brick-and-mortar casino. Its slot machines brought in nearly $394 million. It has been the leader in slots revenue in Pennsylvania for some time. At Parx online casino, gamblers can play slots and table games via desktop or app. Table games brought in $204.9 million for Parx Casino, but Wind Creek Bethlehem brought in $243.7 for this vertical in 2022.
Pennsylvania posed for future growth
The state’s 2017 Expanded Gaming Act was instrumental in Pennsylvania’s growth. The act authorized sports betting, iGaming, and fantasy sports. It also permitted VGTs at diesel truck stops and created the opportunity for establishing mini-casinos. In 2022, new categories like sports wagering, VGTs, and iGaming in Pennsylvania set annual records. Table gaming also set new records in 2022 smihub.
Parx has recently opened a mini-casino in Shippensburg. It is the fourth category 4 mini-casino to open in Pennsylvania. People can play 500 slot machines or play roulette and other table games. The venue has 48 electronic table game positions. Other casinos have also spent money on renovations to attract more visitors. They have mainly invested in buildings and amenities that will help to attract young players.
The Pennsylvania Board of Gaming Control is presently accepting applications for iGaming operator licenses. Eligible gaming entities can submit their applications until March 3, 2023. Qualified entities can operate online without having any affiliation with a casino in Pennsylvania.
Gambling in Pennsylvania may be growing, but it will take a while before it catches up with Nevada. One of the favorite states for gambling in the US is still Nevada and its gaming revenue for only 11 months in 2022 totaled over $13.5 billion. However, Pennsylvania can still celebrate its victory over New Jersey in 2022 livechatvalue.
