What’s Coming in 2022 For Pennsylvania Casinos and Sports activities Betting

What’s subsequent for Pennsylvania casinos, sports activities betting and on-line playing? A smart individual and lots of fortune cookies stated, earlier than you progress ahead it’s a must to look again.

Earlier than we flip over the mic to trade leaders to get their insights on what they’re enthusiastic about for 2022, let’s rewind.

Pennsylvania complete gaming income 2006 to current

(Figures c/o the Pennsylvania Gaming Management Board)

Three casinos opened in PA in 2021

2021 confirmed the resiliency and optimism of the Pennsylvania playing trade. COVID-19 shut down brick-and-mortar casinos from March 2020 to June 2020 and Rivers On line casino Philadelphia closed for a couple of weeks in December on account of instances surging. Regardless of the shutdowns, added restrictions and development disruptions firms ultimately cast forward with their plans so as to add extra Pennsylvania casinos.

In Feb. 2021, the Cordish Firms opened the $700 million Stay! On line casino & Resort Philadelphia within the coronary heart of the South Philadelphia Stadium District. It grew to become the second on line casino within the metropolis of Philadelphia and the primary with a resort.

Penn Nationwide Gaming made its strikes with mini-casinos within the latter half of 2021. Hollywood On line casino York opened in August 2021 with the first Barstool Sportsbook on the East Coast. In late December, Hollywood On line casino Morgantown opened. The mini-casino is seen from the Pennsylvania Turnpike and in addition has a Barstool Sportsbook but it surely’s a distinct model (extra sports activities bar) than the one at Hollywood York. Each of the mini-casinos are the primary Penn Nationwide properties to supply “3C’s” know-how (cardless, cashless contactless). And, sure, you’ll be able to nonetheless use money in any respect PNG casinos.

Pennsylvania sports activities betting in 2021

• New sports activities betting launches in 2021: 1. Betway arrived in July bringing the entire variety of PA on-line sportsbooks to 13.
• Highest month by deal with: $776.3 million in October 2021 (PA report)
• Highest month by income: $84.9 million in November (PA report)
• Share of bets positioned on-line: 90%
• High operator by deal with: FanDuel
• High operator by income: FanDuel

(December 2021 figures but to be reported) 

2021 recap of Pennsylvania iGaming

• New on-line on line casino launches: 4. Borgata on-line on line casino went dwell by way of its partnership with Rivers On line casino Philadelphia. Valley Forge On line casino introduced Stardust On line casino from old style Vegas to PA in April. Barstool on-line on line casino launched in late June. Betway on-line on line casino introduced the variety of PA iGaming choices to 17.
• New poker launches: PokerStars was the one on-line poker in PA since Nov. 2019 and gamers bought extra choices in 2021. BetMGM and Borgata launched “twin” on-line poker websites in late April. WSOP went dwell in July by way of its partnership with Harrah’s Philadelphia.
• Highest month by income: $117 million in Oct. (PA report)
• High iGaming operator: Penn Nationwide Gaming PA manufacturers (Hollywood On line casino, DraftKings, BetMGM and Barstool) lead the pack. Nonetheless, figures in PA usually are not damaged down individually by “pores and skin.”
• Price noting: Stay seller arrived in PA in late Oct. 2020 and 2021 noticed on-line casinos add extra dwell seller video games and tables powered by Evolution Studios

Pennsylvania Gaming Management Board Director of Communication Doug Harbach commented on 2021: 

“2021 proved each difficult and rewarding for the PGCB and the operators of gaming within the Commonwealth. The PGCB not solely carried out its long-time mission of oversight of the on line casino trade within the midst of ongoing pandemic security measures, however continued the roll-out of the brand new types of gaming envisioned a number of years in the past within the Gaming Enlargement Act.

“Specifically, three new casinos, all with retail sportsbooks, started operation in 2021 together with seven new on line casino iGaming or sports activities wagering websites, and 20 new areas for Video Gaming Terminals at truck stops. When income figures for December can be found, it’s anticipated that 2021 can have seen over $4.7 billion in income from the video games overseen by the PGCB, or round 40% above the earlier excessive income 12 months.”

What’s subsequent for sports activities betting and iGaming in 2022?

We requested these within the trade what they’re enthusiastic about for 2022 (and past).

Worlds colliding

Dan Bravato, President at SeventySix Capital Sports activities Advisory:

“I’m most excited in regards to the accelerated convergence of the sports activities and iGaming worlds. Previous to 2018, as an government within the sports activities world, it was taboo to even talk about the phrase ‘betting’, however in 2021, SeventySix Capital Sports activities Advisory is now advising skilled groups on their sports activities betting methods and serving to them acquire market entry in new states/provinces.

“It’s unbelievable to see how rapidly these two industries merged and can proceed to combine by way of betting-focused broadcasts resembling NBABet Stream, sports activities leagues creating betting particular occasions (i.e. NASCAR’s Busch Mild Conflict on the L.A. Coliseum), and even the creation of recent leagues or occasions constructed across the client betting expertise (resembling Magic Metropolis Jai Alai x Wager Rivers). I firmly consider that these examples are solely the tip of the iceberg and there are a lot of extra methods through which conventional sports activities and iGaming will converge that we can not even conceive of right this moment. I’m very excited to see the place the crossover goes in 2022 and past!”

The pandemic accelerated cost improvements

Jennifer Carleton, Chief Authorized Officer at Sightline Funds:

“In 2016, I used to be requested what I assumed was the way forward for gaming. My reply was funds and sports activities betting. Now that in-person sports activities are again in america, individuals are wanting to not solely go to a recreation however to guess on it. I’m thrilled that States have been given the chance to determine easy methods to permit sports activities betting. Legalized sports activities betting can solely improve participant safety, the place folks have the boldness that they’re with a dependable, secure and licensed operator.”

“The pandemic accelerated the expansion of gaming in a variety of methods, however none extra so than funds. On-line gaming operators have at all times relied on licensed funds suppliers for seamless entry to participant funds. Now, those self same funds companies are offering cashless options for gaming at slots, tables and sports activities books along with cell and on-line wagering. I can’t look ahead to the day when there are extra touchless machines than invoice acceptors on the on line casino flooring and followers can guess on a recreation from their fringe of their stadium seat.”

A unique sort of sports activities betting expertise

Alex Kane, CEO and Founding father of Sporttrade:

“Because the trade of sports activities betting and iGaming continues to evolve, I’m most trying ahead to the introduction of revolutionary merchandise that target interesting to a extra various and underserved viewers. Most on-line wagering platforms obtainable right this moment are extra of the identical with related constructions, choices and promotions which can be designed for an apparent demographic.

“Within the coming years, I consider we’ll start to see a wave of differentiated platforms for patrons to select from, resembling trade wagering, which will likely be poised to enter the market in 2022 by way of Sporttrade. As well as, In-play betting will proceed to be on the forefront of innovation and progress to the trade, creating an surroundings for bettors to take pleasure in a extra immersive expertise wagering.

“The launch of functions resembling Sporttrade, will enchantment to a broader viewers of present and potential clients permitting for an inclusive and distinctive expertise buying and selling sports activities in actual time.”

Growing fan engagement by way of betting

Matt Stallknecht, Senior Supervisor of Sports activities Betting at NASCAR:

“The largest factor I look ahead to is seeing how leagues will proceed to evolve their strategy to the partnership facet of the sports activities betting self-discipline. At NASCAR, we’re working hand-in-hand with the operators and knowledge suppliers that we’re partnered with to maximise engagement round NASCAR betting– whether or not that be by way of creating new bet-types, amplifying partaking bet-types on our platforms, or creating compelling betting content material. Leagues like us have a large alternative to extend fan engagement by way of sports activities betting – however that may solely occur if we work straight with operators to enhance the standard and attain of their NASCAR betting choices. I’m intrigued to see how different leagues strategy this evolving facet of the NASCAR/operator relationship. I consider it’ll be a crucial ingredient for fulfillment within the new 12 months and past as increasingly more states come on-line.”

Thrilling instances forward for authorized on-line poker within the US

Valerie Cross, content material supervisor for PlayPennsylvania and PlayNJ was additionally the previous affiliate editor of PokerNews. She gave her ideas on what’s occurring (or not) for on-line poker:

Wire Act

“Poker stays a really small a part of the general iGaming income image for operators and tax {dollars}, held again by the shortcoming for gamers in states like Michigan and Pennsylvania to compete in opposition to these in different authorized on-line poker states. However that might be altering quickly.

“A January 2021 resolution by the First Circuit Courtroom of Appeals dominated in opposition to a 2018 reinterpretation of the Wire Act by the Division of Justice (DOJ). The 2018 Opinion claimed that the Wire Act utilized to all types of iGaming (together with on-line lottery and on-line poker) reasonably than simply to sports activities betting. The window for the DOJ to enchantment that ruling closed on June 21 and 26 state Attorneys Normal signed a letter urging the DOJ to place the problem to mattress.”

Interstate poker compact

“Michigan is actively pursuing becoming a member of the interstate poker compact that Nevada, New Jersey and Delaware have already got in place. Including massive inhabitants states like MI and PA to the fold wouldn’t solely almost triple the participant pool, however might additionally speed up different interstate iGaming options like shared progressive jackpots and dwell seller video games in additional states. It might additionally entice extra states to affix in and cross on-line poker and iGaming laws down the highway.

“Within the brief time period although, if MI and PA get on board with shared liquidity, event prize swimming pools and money video games for authorized on-line poker will start to achieve heights unseen for the reason that days earlier than the DOJ shut down the poker prepare on “Black Friday” in 2011.

2022: Sports activities betting bars, in-game betting, extra competitors

Katie Kohler is the Managing Editor at PlayPennsylvania. “What’s subsequent?” It’s my favourite query. Right here, I’m going to inform you what I’m watching and ready for in 2022.

How will the vaccine mandates influence will influence Philadelphia casinos?

On Jan. 3, Rivers On line casino Philadelphia and Stay! On line casino Philadelphia adopted the Metropolis of Philadelphia’s vaccine mandate and require proof of vaccine and legitimate photograph for entry. Harrah’s Philadelphia (no vaccine mandate) is 13 miles from Stay and 19 miles from Rivers. Parx, which is non-smoking and doesn’t have a vaccine mandate is 16 miles from Rivers Philadelphia and about 22 miles from Stay! Philadelphia. In fact, gamblers who wish to keep in a single day at a resort (and presumably smoke whereas they play) can select to go to Atlantic Metropolis. How will this play out over the subsequent few months? The income figures gained’t lie.

Sports activities bars with a sports activities betting focus

Bankroll Membership, which is being billed as “the sports activities betting parlor of the longer term” plans to open in Philadelphia within the former spot of the Boyd Theater with a Stephen Starr restaurant. PlayPennsylvania solely reported the Philadelphia location of the Barstool Sports activities bar.

Over the summer time, I used to be having dinner at Council Oak in Atlantic Metropolis. A man on the desk subsequent to me saved sneaking peeks at his FanDuel app. At a neighborhood sports activities bar throughout a university soccer Saturday, “Simply Associates” was on a number of TVs as a substitute of video games. I can’t look ahead to Barstool Philadelphia and Bankroll to open. Particularly Bankroll since Stephen Starr is working the restaurant.

Extra mini-casinos

A Greenwood Gaming-owned Parx mini-casino is opening in Shippensburg in 2022. The $120 million Bally’s mini-casino goes up at Nittany Mall close to State School.

Massive flirts

Since September, PA sports activities betting and iGaming income numbers have damaged or flirted with breaking month-to-month information. Which month will likely be greater? January (NFL playoff video games and CFB playoffs) or February (Tremendous Bowl)?

Competitors on the sports activities betting apps and on-line casinos

Do sports activities betting apps get extra aggressive with pricing on strains or is PA’s excessive taxes too restrictive? How briskly/adaptive is your in-game product? As a substitute of solely bonuses and affords to new clients at on-line casinos (and sportsbooks), how about some incentives for present clients?

Will Hollywood On line casino Morgantown poach income from Valley Forge On line casino?

Through the holidays, Hollywood On line casino Morgantown arrange a promotional space at King of Prussia mall which is lower than two miles from Valley Forge On line casino as a result of all is truthful in love, warfare and the battle for playing income share. Whereas Hollywood On line casino Morgantown is a “mini-casino” it has a bigger gaming flooring (80 sq. ft.) than Valley Forge On line casino (40,000 sq. ft). The casinos are a couple of half-hour journey on the PA Turnpike aside. In November 2021, Valley Forge noticed its slot income leap 76.5% and desk video games income fell 5% YoY.

Different PA on line casino happenings in 2022

• Rivers On line casino Pittsburgh’s $60 million resort venture, “The Touchdown Resort Pittsburgh.” 
• A brand new, everlasting poker site at Wind Creek On line casino.
• Golden Nugget on-line on line casino plans to launch in PA.

Lead picture c/o Dreamstime