Gambling in the USA

Casinos in Pennsylvania Can Now Return to Full Capacity

Published

5 years ago

May 24, 2021

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Memorial Day 2021 might be a big day for casinos in Pennsylvania. Operators within this jurisdiction were beset by the state’s orders issued on Memorial Day 2020.

The casinos were forced to shut down operations in a bid to contain the spread of the notorious coronavirus. However, according to statements made by Governor Wolf, the PA state government will be lifting all Covid-19 related restrictions apart from mask-wearing.

Governor Tom Wolf recently made a statement that PA casinos can resume 100% operations on Memorial Day. With the ban on restaurants and bars being lifted, the industry expects to witness a significant turnabout.

Review the map of Pennsylvania casinos found here. Then you could decide whether to promote the companies now that they’re back in business.

Philly Set to Review State Plan
After the Governor’s statement concerning the lift of Covid-19 bans in the state, Philadelphia Health Commissioner Thomas Farley didn’t confirm whether the City of Philadelphia would follow suit. But, according to him, the Commission will have to review the state plan before giving a green light.

These statements from Farley triggered a violent reaction from the City’s council members. The furious council members argued that they are counting on the Farley’s reopening the City because Live Casino Philadelphia and Rivers Casino Philadelphia are within the City’s boundaries. As such, they are bound by the Commission’s rules.

There Lacks Absolute Certainty
You will realize that the operative word in these statements is “can.” Following last year’s closure of casinos in Pennsylvania for a hundred days, the PA Gaming Board released Covid-19 protocols for reopening.

However, with Wolf allowing these casinos to resume 100% operation, it remains unclear what the operators will do in light of added safety and health measures the gaming board put in place.

With many residents getting vaccinated and brick-and-mortar casinos resuming operation at 100% capacity, they have already begun hiring personnel. Valley Forge Casino was the first to hold a job fair. Other casinos in Pennsylvania have followed suit, with most posting job advertisements on social media.

Pennsylvania Casino Revenue Plunged in 2020
In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, PA casinos witnessed a total of 1,500 closure days, about a third of the number of days they would have run normally cumulatively. With revenue from land-based casinos plummeting by about half, casino revenues in PA were bound to drop.

The State Gaming Control Board reported that fantasy sports operators and all the land-based casinos in the state generated a total of $2.65 billion last year, a significant (22%) drop from 2019’s year’s $3 billion collected from 12 casinos.

Land-Based Casinos Rebuild
At this point, it is worth noting that Pennsylvania is the second-largest gaming and gambling industry in the U.S after Nevada. The margin between these two states has grown wider since casinos in Nevada were legally allowed to offer full-scale iGaming services during the pandemic.

With the closure of brick-and-mortar wagering houses, gamblers turned to online casinos. These virtual casinos collected a gross iGaming revenue of slightly above half a billion dollars in 2020. However, since interactive iGaming platforms went live in mid-2019, there was no year-to-year comparison.

Wolf’s closure of brick-and-mortar casinos began in March last year, and gradual reopening commenced in June. By that time, the gaming revenue had dropped significantly. Table games and slots from developers like Relax Gaming generated a revenue of $1.86 billion last year. That was a 43% drop ($1.4 billion) from $3.26 billion gross gaming revenue recorded in 2019.

In light of the current developments, PA land-based casinos are getting ready to get back into business at full capacity. Pennsylvania National Gaming, the oldest operator in PA, will be launching two more venues, one in Morgantown and the other in York, later this year. According to the casino’s Q1 2021 report, it is currently experiencing high demand across the nationwide portfolio.

PA Residents Expected to Keep their Masks On
Wolf made it clear that lifting the bans did not mean that residents can return to the streets without wearing masks. Despite being vaccinated already, residents are expected to wear their mask when walking into land-based casinos.

The Governor says that he will lift the mandatory mask wearing order after 70% of the adults in the state has been vaccinated. According to the state Department of Health, about 50.1% of the adults had received at least one dose of the Covid-19 jab by May 6. In addition, 32.2% of the adults are fully vaccinated by taking a single dose of Johnson & Johnson or two Pfizer or Moderna vaccines doses.

The state department of health continues to make progress in the fight against Covid-19. With the evolving CDC guidance and more residents getting vaccinated, the state is committed to seeing its reopening efforts come to fruition.

However, the health agency is still calling upon Pennsylvanians to take all the necessary steps required to eradicate Covid-19, which means masking, social distancing, sanitizing, frequent hand washing and receiving vaccines.

Some Casinos are Enduring Better than Others
While not a single PA casino has managed to match pre-Covid revenue performance, the experience is different for each operator. In March, for instance, the statewide plunge in table and slots revenue from 2019 for casinos that had been in operation for at least two years was 21.5%, but Meadows went down 35.8%, Wind Creek 32,8%, and Mohegan Sun 13.9%.

McCraken and Frabbiele, two casinos on the opposite sides of Pennsylvania, both reported that part of their problems had to do with being in close proximity with other states that had adopted less restrictive measures. Meadows is also facing new competition from Live! Pittsburgh, a young but promising casino.

With the state allowing PA casinos to drop the 6-foot social distancing order and the resumption of full operation on May 31, operators within the state are filled with hope. According to state statistics, about 5,000 slot machines were not in operation as of March 2021 compared with March 2019.

The number of table game players had also been reduced from six to three. Casino executives suggest that cautious players be allowed to sit at a reserved table with three seats while others play on 6-player tables.
To surmise, PA casino operators need to be fully aware that the post-Covid world remains undefined.

American gambling industry

Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – November 17-23

Published

4 days ago

November 25, 2025

Niji Narayan

gaming-americas-weekly-roundup-–-november-17-23

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Welcome to our weekly roundup of American gambling news again! Here, we are going through the weekly highlights of the American gambling industry which include the latest news and new partnerships. Read on and get updated.

Latest News

National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) Board of Directors has announced Heather L. Maurer, MA, CAE as the organisation’s next Executive Director, effective January 7, 2026. Maurer brings more than 25 years of leadership experience in the fields of public health, policy and nonprofit management. Most recently, she served as CEO of National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health, where she led the organisation to its strongest financial position in more than a decade by expanding revenue streams, restructuring operations and building sustainable reserves to ensure long-term growth. As Executive Director, Ms. Maurer will lead NCPG’s strategic direction and oversee its national programmes, partnerships and advocacy initiatives. Her work will focus on strengthening NCPG’s advocacy presence and uniting affiliates, policymakers, industry leaders and community partners to advance policies that prevent gambling-related harm and expand access to support services.

Hard Rock Casino Tejon, developed in partnership with the Tejon Indian Tribe, officially opens to the public following a celebratory Guitar Smash ceremony marking a historic milestone as the first full-scale gaming and entertainment property in Kern County. Located 80 miles north of Los Angeles, the $600 million project is a multi-phase investment designed to transform the region through hospitality, entertainment and economic development. The destination has created more than 1000 permanent jobs and over 5000 construction-related roles, representing the largest private hospitality investment in Kern County’s history. Hard Rock Casino Tejon is expected to continue delivering lasting benefits for the local economy, tourism sector and community development across the Southern San Joaquin Valley. The opening was celebrated with Hard Rock’s iconic Guitar Smash Ceremony, symbolising a bold new beginning.

Partnerships

BetMGM announced that the company is now an official sports betting and online casino partner of the Pittsburgh Penguins. With this multi-year agreement, BetMGM holds partnerships with all three of Pittsburgh’s major professional sports teams. Key elements of the partnership include prominent BetMGM signage and branding throughout PPG Paints Arena, co-branded social media content, exclusive promotions and premium hospitality assets for VIP fan experiences. BetMGM also plans to introduce Penguins-themed iGaming products in the near future. As BetMGM continues to expand into new markets and introduce new features, responsible gaming remains a key focus. Additionally, BetMGM provides resources to help customers play responsibly including GameSense, an industry leading programme, developed and licensed to MGM Resorts by the British Columbia Lottery Corporation.

Hard Rock International and Seminole Gaming joined forces with nonprofit organisation Ocean Conservancy for the Global Sound Waves joint sustainability programme. This collaboration unites Hard Rock team members and communities worldwide with Ocean Conservancy’s mission of protecting the oceans by reducing waste and driving meaningful environmental change. The partnership, motivated by one of Hard Rock’s guiding mottos: Save the Planet, takes a proactive approach to ocean conservation by focusing on upstream waste management, addressing water, food and material waste to prevent it from polluting the ocean. Through comprehensive waste audits and data-driven analysis, Hard Rock and Ocean Conservancy identify diversion opportunities and implement alternatives that set meaningful waste reduction goals across Hard Rock’s global operations.

The post Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – November 17-23 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

American gambling industry

Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – November 3-9

Published

3 weeks ago

November 11, 2025

Niji Narayan

gaming-americas-weekly-roundup-–-november-3-9

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Latest News

Petroglyph Development Group (PDG), a wholly owned corporation of Snuneymuxw First Nation (Snuneymuxw), and Great Canadian Entertainment announced that they have entered into definitive agreements for the purchase by PDG from Great Canadian Entertainment of two casino businesses, River Rock Casino Resort and Chances Maple Ridge. Upon closing and subject to regulatory and other approvals, PDG is expected to become one of the largest casino operators by revenue in British Columbia, and anticipates being the largest Canadian Indigenous owned gaming operator by revenue in Canada, cementing Snuneymuxw as a leading force in the province’s gaming industry. Building on PDG’s recent acquisitions of Casino Nanaimo and Elements Casino Victoria earlier this year, these transactions demonstrate the strength of the collaboration between PDG and Great Canadian Entertainment and the momentum of PDG’s growing gaming platform.

Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI) has announced the promotion of Michael Meagher to Senior Vice President of Gaming Operations, effective November 3, 2025. Meagher succeeds Maureen Adams, whose retirement was announced earlier this year. He will oversee operations at all gaming and HRM locations throughout the CDI portfolio, along with corporate gaming functions, including analytics, marketing and product performance. Meagher will report directly to Bill Mudd, President and Chief Operating Officer of CDI. Meagher has served as Vice President of Gaming Operations since 2022, where he oversaw nine gaming properties across CDI’s portfolio, including the development and successful grand opening of Terre Haute Casino Resort. In this role, he was instrumental in driving operational performance, enhancing guest experiences and supporting the Company’s continued growth in regional gaming markets.

Partnerships

Zoomd Technologies Ltd has announced that it has entered into a strategic partnership with E2-Quadrat communications GMBH (E2), a global leader in digital marketing and technology solutions for the sports and betting industry. With over two decades of experience in the industry, E2 has established itself as a trusted partner to some of the most prominent names in the sector. The privately owned company operates a broad international network of offices enabling it to serve clients on a truly global scale. This partnership is expected to enable E2’s current and future clients worldwide to benefit from Zoomd’s advanced user acquisition (UA) technologies and performance marketing expertise and aligns with Zoomd’s strategic focus on expanding its impact across high-growth verticals.

MyPrize, the fastest growing social gaming business in the US, has announced a strategic partnership with Crypto.com | Derivatives North America (CDNA), a CFTC-registered exchange and clearinghouse and an affiliate of Crypto.com, to launch MyPrize Markets, a first of its kind product allowing users to access social gaming and prediction markets for the first time in one unified platform. As Crypto.com’s first social gaming partner, MyPrize will leverage the company’s enterprise-grade infrastructure to deliver an engaging and intuitive prediction market experience to its massive global user base, now numbering over 1 million+. This strategic partnership continues MyPrize’s explosive growth in 2025 and further cements its market position as the leading social gaming and entertainment platform.

The post Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – November 3-9 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

American gambling industry

Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – October 27-November 2

Published

4 weeks ago

November 4, 2025

Niji Narayan

gaming-americas-weekly-roundup-–-october-27-november-2

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Latest News

The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) announced the addition of the Texas Coalition on Problem Gambling and the Vermont Council on Gaming and Health as its newest state Affiliate members, joining a growing community of organisations dedicated to advancing prevention, education, treatment and recovery for those impacted by problem gambling. While NCPG advocates for problem gambling programmes, policies and funding at the national level, its state affiliates focus efforts closer to home – connecting individuals and families with local resources, community partners and culturally relevant support. With these new additions, NCPG now has Affiliates in 37 states.

The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) has taken further enforcement action against unlicensed gambling operators, issuing cease-and-desist letters to eight online casinos found to be illegally offering internet gaming to Michigan residents. The letters were recently sent to Aussie Play, CryptoGames, FortuneJack, Hugewin Casino, My Stake Casino, Play at Harry’s Casino, RuneChat and Slots Garden. Michigan’s regulated internet gaming and sports betting markets are reserved exclusively for operators licensed and monitored by the MGCB. Any site that offers gambling without state authorisation violates multiple statutes, including the Lawful Internet Gaming Act, the Michigan Gaming Control and Revenue Act and sections of the Michigan Penal Code.

Great Canadian Entertainment announced that 10 of its casinos from coast to coast have successfully achieved RG Check reaccreditation, one of the world’s most comprehensive and rigorous responsible gambling accreditation programmes. RG Check is governed by the Responsible Gambling Council (RGC), an independent non-profit organisation recognised internationally for advancing responsible gambling standards. The programme evaluates gaming facilities on a broad set of best-practice criteria, including player safeguards, staff training, self-exclusion options, advertising standards and continuous improvement practices.

Partnerships

CT Interactive is expanding its presence in Peru with a new content launch on Te Apuesto, offering players a curated selection of top-quality games proven successful in other regulated markets. As part of the launch, Te Apuesto will offer exclusive access to Duck of Luck Buy Bonus from CT Interactive’s popular Buy Bonus series. The game features an innovative one-level Buy Bonus mechanic, delivering more strategic gameplay and greater player control. Another exclusive title, Lucky Clover 10, features vintage-inspired graphics and a strong mathematical model, delivering a smooth, engaging gameplay experience. In addition the exclusive titles, Te Apuesto players will also enjoy a variety of new games, including Enchanted Woods, The Shining Globe, Hyper Cuber, The Wild Rhino and Kyoto Magic.

Betsson Group has announced a new partnership with the Peruvian Volleyball Federation (FPV), becoming the Official Sponsor and Naming Partner of Peru’s premier women’s volleyball competition, now officially called the Betsson Peruvian Volleyball League. The 2025/2026 season of the Betsson Peruvian Volleyball League will take place from 25 October 2025 to 3 May 2026, marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Peruvian volleyball. This partnership aims to elevate the visibility, professionalism and competitive standards of the sport, strengthening its presence both nationally and internationally. During an official press conference, FPV President Gino Vegas highlighted the key developments of the organisation of the tournament and expressed his enthusiasm for Betsson’s involvement as the league’s new main partner.

The post Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – October 27-November 2 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.