COVID-19 negatively impacted Pennsylvania’s brick-and-mortar casino revenues, but the state found some comfort in the numbers generated by its igaming industry in May.
Recently, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) released the figures for May, 2020, showing that local players spent over $1 billion on online slot machines for the first time since online gambling was introduced in the state.
Over $24 million was generated for the state through online slots and online table games, according to the authority.
The PGCB said in a statement:
“Further emphasizing the significant increase in online play during the COVID-19 shut down of casinos is the jump in revenue in just two months. The $55.8 million May online casino-type revenue figure was more than double the revenue generated from those games in March, when revenue stood at $24.9 million.”
Governor Tom Wolf shut down the state’s 12 casinos and three off-track betting parlors in mid-March as a response to the novel coronavirus. Over a typical year, gaming in Pennsylvania can generate as much as $1.5 billion.
Last month, the Gaming Board issued protocols ahead of the reopening of casinos, with strict instructions on how operators have to keep their facilities safe for players.
This led to a gradual reopening of the casinos, with three more given the go-ahead to open their doors recently. As a result, one of the most popular casinos in the state, Hollywood Casino at Penn National re-opened on Friday. Visitors found a different reality to pre-COVID19 times – compulsory mask-wearing, plexiglass partitions between slots and other machines deliberately put out of service to allow for social distancing.
“While the amenities our customers have come to know and love may be somewhat limited for the time being, the ability to safely welcome back our team members and guests remains our top priority,” said Hollywood Casino’s General Manager, Dan Ihm in a statement on the casino’s website.
