Pa. casinos post record $5B in revenue in 2021-22 fiscal year

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Pa. casinos post record $5B in revenue in 2021-22 fiscal year
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Pennsylvania casinos saw substantial growth during the last fiscal year, with the industry posting a record $5 billion in revenue, state regulators said.

In all, the state’s 16 casinos generated $5.04 billion in revenue in fiscal year 2021-22, which runs from July 1 through June 30, according to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.

That’s $1.2 billion more than the $3.9 billion generated in the 2020-21 fiscal year, the last time a record was reached. That year, facilities were forced to close for less than a month because of the covid-19 pandemic. Prior to the 2020-21 record, the highest revenue reached $3.3 billion in 2018-19.

In all, the combined tax revenue for all forms of gambling in the 2021-22 fiscal year topped $2 billion for the first time.

Included in the fiscal year totals are June numbers, released by the gaming control board this week.

According to the report, revenue last month totaled $389.8 million. That’s $57.9 million less than the $447.7 million recorded in May, continuing a gradual decline seen since March.

Despite the decrease seen over the past few months, Pennsylvania casinos continued to shatter records throughout the fiscal year. In March, revenue reached $462.7 million, the highest monthly sum to date.

Additionally, almost all forms of gambling saw an increase in revenue in the 2021-22 fiscal year.

In that time, $2.4 billion came from slot machines, an almost 28% increase from the 2020-21 fiscal year; $1.2 billion from internet gambling, a 37% increase; $1 billion from table games, an almost 41% increase; $315.7 million from sports betting, a 2% increase; and $41.6 million from video gaming terminals, an almost 33% increase.

Fantasy sports contests generated $27.3 million, which is a 3% decrease from the past fiscal year.

Several local casinos contributed to those dollars.

Last fiscal year, Rivers Casino Pittsburgh generated $270.1 million from slot machines, $92 million from table games and $17.1 million from sports betting. In June, the facility brought in $29 million. Of that, slot machines generated $21.1 million, with more than $6.9 million generated from table games.

Sports betting at the North Shore casino last month brought in $949,153, which is $829,661 less than the $1.7 million generated in May. In all, the casino saw $19 million wagered through retail and online sportsbooks last month.

During the last fiscal year, Hollywood Casino at the Meadows in Washington County generated $161.8 million from slot machines, $31.2 million from table games and $52.4 million from sports betting.

That’s compared to June when revenue totaled $17 million. Of that, $13.6 million came from slot machines and $1.4 million came from table games. It saw $1.9 million from sports betting. That’s $5.1 million less than the $7 million generated in May. In all, $88.5 million was wagered at the facility in June, officials said.

Lady Luck Casino Nemacolin in Fayette County generated $22.1 million from slot machines in the 2021-22 fiscal year and $2.3 million from table games.

In June, the casino saw revenue reach $1.7 million, $1.5 million of which came from slot machines and $154,035 from table games.

At Hempfield’s Westmoreland Mall, Live! Casino Pittsburgh generated $93.8 million from slot machines this past fiscal year, $15.6 million from table games and $1.6 million from sports wagering.

Revenue in June reached $8.1 million. Of that, $7 million came from slot machines, $1 million from table games and $63,741 from retail sports wagering. That’s $38,010 less than the $101,751 generated in May. The Hempfield facility saw $864,476 wagered on sports bets in June.

Across the state, retail slot machines made up $192.9 million of June’s revenue, and retail table games generated $76.1 million. In addition, $72.2 million was generated from online slot machines, $28 million from online table games and $2.6 million from online poker.

Video gaming terminals generated $3.5 million, and fantasy contests brought in $1.5 million, data show.

Retail and online sports wagering brought in $12.7 million.

Megan Tomasic is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Megan at 724-850-1203, mtomasic@triblive.com or via Twitter .