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WILKES-BARRE — Statewide revenue for gaming and fantasy contests totaled more than $3.4 billion in 2019, an increase in total revenue of 4.5%.
That according to figures released by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board that show total gaming and fantasy contests revenue was significantly up over 2018.
Sources of gaming revenue regulated by the board include slot machines, table games, internet gaming, retail and internet sports wagering, fantasy contests and video gaming terminals. The board has posted separate reports for these types of gaming on its website.
At Mohegan Sun Pocono, revenue for the year was reported at $228,078,162 for 2019, a 2.56% drop from 2018’s $234,081,987.
At Mount Airy Casino Resort, revenue was up 1.83% in 2019 at $191,389,799, over 2018’s $187,957,740.
Anthony Carlucci, president and general manager at Mohegan Sun Pocono, said hold percentage was unfavorable from a year over year perspective, adding that this was a factor in the slight decline.
“Looking ahead, Mohegan Sun Pocono has both the brick-and-mortar Unibet Sportsbook and its online platform fully launched, and will be soon expanding sports betting to the Downs at Lehigh Valley,” Carlucci said in an emailed statement. “Both our gaming and non-gaming amenities will also continue to be enhanced this year, which include refreshes to gaming floors, our food court and our buffet.“
Carlucci said Timbers Buffet will reopen in the spring as Seasons Buffet and will be open Wednesdays through Sundays.
Some of the highlights from the Gaming Control Board report include:
• Calendar year 2019 gross revenue from slot machines at the 12 casinos was $2,363,085,678, a decrease of less than one-half of 1% in revenue when compared to the $2,369,885,203 generated in calendar year 2018.
Mohegan Sun Pocono was at $193,353,624, down 2.54% from $198,384,600 in 2018.
Mount Airy Casino Resort was down 1.36% at $144,071,602 in 2019, from $146,061,593 in 2018.
• Table games revenue reached an all-time high during calendar year 2019, totaling 903,594,181. It was the first year in which table games revenue topped $900 million and was an increase of 2.8% over 2018 when revenue was $878,796,174.
But at Mohegan Sun Pocono, table game revenue was down 6.29%, from $35,697,387 in 2018, to $33,453,321 in 2019.
Mount Airy numbers were down more, 9.18%, from 2018’s $41,896,146, to $38,050,354 in 2019./
• Internet Casino-Type Gaming Revenue: Casino games offered online generated gross revenue of $33,599,749 and tax revenue of $13,325,610 during calendar year 2019.
• Sports Wagering Revenue: Calendar year 2019 represented the first full year of sports wagering in the Commonwealth. The handle from both retail and online outlets totaled $1,490,167,110 and resulted in revenue of $84,112,967. Taxes derived from sports wagering in 2019 was $30,280,668.
The Unibet Sportsbook at Mohegan Sun Pocono opened in September and later offered online sports betting, bringing in more than $15 million in 2019.
Mount Airy saw more than $46.8 million in sports betting in 2019.
• Video Gaming Terminals: At the 20 establishments offering VGT gaming and operating a total of 100 machines, 2019 revenue was $2,329,540, producing tax revenue of $1,211,361.
• Fantasy Contests: Fantasy Contests revenue for calendar year 2019 was $25,872,124, an increase of 70% over calendar year 2018’s $15,309,615.
The mature land-based casino industry in Pennsylvania currently consists of 10 stand-alone and racetrack casinos in operation, along with the two smaller resort casinos. These facilities collectively employ over 16,000 people and annually generate over $1.4 billion in tax revenue from slot machine and table games play.
Construction of a 13th casino is currently underway along with a number of new “mini-casinos” that are expected to begin operation over the next couple of years.
Pace-O-Matic of Pennsylvania released a statement congratulating Pennsylvania’s casino industry on achieving record-high profits in 2019.
“We applaud Pennsylvania’s casino industry on their record growth over the past year,” said Tom Marino, Pace-O-Matic Vice President of Government Relations. “The casino industry is creating jobs and providing tax revenue to the Commonwealth.”
Marino, the former U.S. Representative from the old 10th Congressional District, added, the organization continues to fight in Harrisburg to pass legislation that will regulate, tax and provide strong enforcement to the skill game industry.
