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BETTING AT PENNSYLVANIA SPORTSBOOKS DIPS AGAIN IN JUNE, BUT REVENUE JUMPS State closes eventful fiscal year with more than $5.6 billion in sports wagering, $1.1 billion in online casino revenue, according to PlayPennsylvania

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Wagering at Pennsylvania’s online and retail sportsbooks dropped for a third consecutive month, but that didn’t stop sportsbooks from making significant revenue gains as the summer offseason trudged on. The down month closed a dramatic fiscal year that saw more than $5.5 billion in sports wagers and an online casino gaming market that continues to compete with New Jersey as the nation’s largest, according to PlayPennsylvania, which tracks regulated online gaming and sports betting in the state.

“Betting volume typically falls over the summer, but sportsbooks tend to win more per bet on sports like golf and tennis,” said Dustin Gouker, lead analyst for the PlayUSA.com network, which includes PlayPennsylania.com. “That really helped sportsbooks in June and will help them to continue to weather the offseason even as bettors engage less.”

Online and retail sportsbooks in Pennsylvania combined to take in $420.2 million in wagers in June, down 6.1% from $447.5 million in May, according to official data released Monday. Sportsbooks’ gross gaming revenue jumped to $42.5 million, though, which was up 13.6% from $37.4 million in May. The month’s gross receipts produced $34.2 million in taxable revenue, which yielded $11.6 million in state taxes and $684,510 in local share assessments.

Still hampered by pandemic-related shutdowns, sportsbooks generated just $89.0 million wagers and $8.0 million in gross gaming revenue in June 2020. But those results would hardly be a harbinger of the fiscal year ahead, which brought:

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  • $5.6 billion in sports wagering, up 121.0% from $2.5 billion in FY 2019-20.
  • $440.7 million in gross gaming revenue, up 169.9% from $163.3 million in FY 2019-20.
  • $308.8 million in taxable revenue, up 128.0% from $135.5 million in FY 2019-20.
  • $111.2 million in state and local taxes, up 128.0% from $48.8 million in FY 2019-20.

Pennsylvania, which celebrated two years of online sports betting in June, has now taken in $8.1 billion in online and retail wagering since launch. Only New Jersey and Nevada have taken in more over that time.

“By any measure, Pennsylvania’s entry into sports betting has been an unqualified success, and the market has yet to fully mature,” said Valerie Cross, analyst for PlayPennsylvania.com. “Importantly, with more than $111 million in state and local taxes over the fiscal year no state takes in more in tax revenue from sports betting than Pennsylvania. That is where the state truly stands out.”

In June, 90.3%, or $379.3 million, of all sports bets were made online, a fitting end to a fiscal year that saw an increasing number of bets made online. FanDuel only increased its dominance of the online market, producing $162.5 million in online wagering, up from $160.9 million in May. By taking in 42.9% of all online wagers in June, FanDuel posted its largest share of the market since August. Gross gaming revenue in June jumped to $19.7 million from $17.6 million in May, generating $16.4 million in taxable revenue.

DraftKings was second in the state with $86.0 million in bets, down from $100.0 million in May. That resulted in $6.4 million in gross revenue, up from $5.2 million in May, and $5.7 million in taxable revenue. Penn National’s Barstool-branded app was fourth with $31.9 million in June wagering, down from $43.6 million in May. Those bets yielded $3.2 million in gross revenue, up from $2.8 million in May, and $2.2 million in taxable revenue.

The online leaders were followed by:

  • BetMGM ($37.4 million handle, up from $32.4 million; $3.2 million in gross gaming revenue, up from $2.2 million)
  • BetRivers ($18.5 million handle, up/down from $19.1 million; $1.4 million GGR, up from $1.2 million)
  • Fox Bet ($12.6 million handle, down from $14.2 million; $934,728 GGR, down from $964,405)
  • PlaySugarHouse ($11.3 million handle, down from $12.2 million; $918,873 in GGR, up from $832,368)
  • Parx Casino ($9.8 million handle, down from $11.1 million; $1.1 million GGR, even with May)
  • Unibet ($4.7 million handle, down from $5.5 million; $376,848 GGR, down from $390,170)
  • TwinSpires ($2.2 million handle, down from $3.2 million; $194,104 GGR, up from $120,582)
  • Caesars ($1.5 million handle, down from $2.7 million; $56,986 GGR, up from -$65,823)
  • Betfred ($771,648 handle, down from $2.5 million; $33,801 GGR, down from $101,781)
  • Betway ($14,883 handle, $3,655 in GGR)

Meanwhile, retail sportsbooks continued on their road to health with $40.9 million in wagers in June, up from $40.1 million in May. Those bets yielded $4.9 million in taxable revenue, up from $5.2 million in May. Rivers-Philadelphia led the retail market with $8.0 million in bets, topping Parx Casino’s $6.4 million handle.

“With no Sixers to bet on and with the Phillies and Pirates sagging in the standings, sportsbooks will have to get creative in driving action in July and August,” Gouker said. “The Olympics later this month should help fill the gap, but it won’t be until football season that we see significant growth return to either retail or online sportsbooks.”

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Online casinos and poker

Gross gaming revenue at online casinos and poker rooms topped $100 million for the fourth consecutive month, even as it fell to $100.8 million in June, down from $110.8 million in May.  June’s Gross revenue produced $88.9 million in taxable revenue, down from $101.3 million in May, and $37.2 million in state and local taxes.

Pennsylvania’s online gambling market has boomed since the beginning of the pandemic, taking in more than $1 billion in gross revenue over the fiscal year. New Jersey’s $107.1 million in gross gaming revenue topped Pennsylvania in June, making the Garden State No. 1 among U.S. markets in June. But near the two-year anniversary of the launch of online casinos in Pennsylvania, which debuted on May 31, 2019, online gambling has generated more in monthly gross gaming revenue than New Jersey for two of the last seven months, including in May.

For fiscal year 2020-21, Pennsylvania’s online casinos and poker rooms generated:

  • $1.1 billion in gross gaming revenue, up 259.8% from $297.3 million in FY 2019-20.
  • $897.2 million in taxable revenue, up 272.5% from $240.9 million in FY 2019-20.
  • $372.7 million in state and local taxes, up 283.4% from $97.2 million in FY 2019-20.
  • $31.9 billion in online casino wagering, up 291.4% from $8.1 billion in FY 2019-20.

“The growth of online casinos over the past 15 months has forever altered the landscape of Pennsylvania’s gaming industry,” Cross said. “The potential of Pennsylvania was obvious from the start. But the expansion over the last year to the cusp of becoming the largest online gambling market in the country, capable of generating more than $1 billion in revenue in a single year, has been remarkable.”

Other highlights from May:

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  • Wagering on online casino games reached $3.1 billion in June, up from $1.7 billion in June 2020 but down from $3.3 billion in May.
  • Online casino and poker rooms generated $3.4 million per day in gross gaming revenue over the 30 days in June, down from $3.6 million per day in May.
  • Penn National, which includes the DraftKings, BetMGM, Barstool, and Hollywood casinos, topped the market with $37.2 million in revenue. Rivers-Philadelphia, which includes PlaySugarHouse, Borgata, and BetRivers casinos, was second with $27.3 million in revenue.
  • Betway PA soft-launched its online casino and sportsbook in late June through its partnership with Live! Casino Philadelphia, adding another operator to the Pennsylvania landscape.
  • Poker revenue in June fell to $2.4 million from $2.6 million in May. Mount Airy/PokerStars topped operators with $2.0 million in June.
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Canada

Soft2Bet granted Ontario Certification of Registration and readies for imminent launch

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Ontario Certificate is hugely promising as Soft2Bet continues its regulatory expansion

Soft2Bet, a leading provider of online betting and gaming solutions to regulated operators worldwide, is delighted to announce that it has been granted a Certificate of Registration in Ontario, Canada’s largest province, moving it one step closer to being able to launch its Tooniebet.com iGaming brand.

Obtaining its Certificate of Registration (Nbr: OPIG1280338) from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) will enable Soft2Bet to continue its expansion into the world’s largest regulated jurisdictions.

Ontario has been a major success story for regulated online sports betting and casino in North America in the past two years. The province launched its regulations in April 2022 and latest figures for the fourth quarter of 2023 showed that operators recorded a 21% rise in wagers to CA$17.2bn and a 22% increase in gross gaming revenues to CA$658m, the highest ever revenue total in Ontario’s wagering history. Online casino was the main driver of this growth and generated CA$13.7bn of the total stakes and CA$471m in GGR.

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Elisabeth Isaksson, Head of Regulatory Compliance at Soft2Bet, commented: “Being registered with the AGCO in Ontario is testament to the work our compliance and regulatory teams are doing daily to enable our continued expansion in the world’s largest regulated markets. We’re immensely excited about taking our first steps in North America and look forward to licensing and launching in more jurisdictions in the region.”

Chief Business Development Officer Martin Collins added: “This Ontario certification is another significant and important step in our corporate expansion plans. It fits perfectly with our stated aim of growing our regulatory footprint and we very much look forward to continuing forward on this path.”

Soft2Bet is also actively working to obtain a licence in New Jersey and continue its expansion in the Americas. This activity comes after the group obtained B2C licences in Italy, Greece and Romania in 2023.

 

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Hacksaw Gaming and DraftKings Score Again in Ontario

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2023 saw Hacksaw Gaming go live in West Virginia and New Jersey and now we have made our long-awaited entry in Ontario, Canada. Securing this trio has hit new heights and hopes for further successes throughout the rest of this year.

DraftKings Casino entered the iGaming market in Ontario in May of 2022 and partnered with Hacksaw Gaming in the back end of the same year. As Ontario’s regulated iGaming market only went live in April of 2022, the pair have given an outstanding performance with effective launch strategies and expansive footing in North America.

Apart from gaining an unprecedented reach across regulated markets, the mobile-friendly format of Hacksaw Gaming games can be visited on phone or tablet via the DraftKings Casino app. Boasting an impressive online casino’s selection of over 300 games, DraftKings now welcomes Hacksaw Gaming favourites such as Chaos Crew, Mines, Omnom and Boxes.

“The benchmarks we have set as a partnership are remarkable and we are ready to take on more challenges continuing into 2024,” the Chief Executive Officer for Hacksaw Gaming, Marcus Cordes, said.

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Exploring Canada’s video Game Market: Survey Insights

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Technology has become a great source of entertainment to many. Video games particularly have garnered interest from all demographics. In Canada, the gaming industry has experienced significant growth, fuelled by increased accessibility to gaming platforms and the growth of online gaming communities.

Statistics indicate that a large percentage of Canadians are engaged in gaming activities, whether it be playing console or PC games, mobile games, or online multiplayer games. The popularity of video games extends beyond leisure pastimes, with many Canadians participating in gaming competitions, attending gaming conventions, and consuming gaming-related content on platforms like Twitch and YouTube.

The number of video game users in Canada reflects how broad the sector is, from mobile games to digital video games, download games and live streaming. In 2024, the gaming sector will see millions of users in each of these categories. Statista projects 13.38 million users for digital video games and 7.35 million users for online games respectively. It estimates that revenue in the Canadian video game market is expected to reach US$3,925.00m in 2024, so it is no surprise to observe the increasing popularity of the sector.

Well-known online casino provider BetVictor has compiled some key points from major surveys detailing the video game market to give further insight into its makeup and potential. The gaming culture in Canada is growing, which means the type of games and genres will grow along with the sector. Statista recently conducted a survey of 1 576 respondents aged 18 – 64 who are avid video game players, with telling results. ​​In December 2023, a survey about preferred video game genres in Canada revealed the top four genres as being Action, Action – adventure, Adventure and casual games accounting for 31% of respondents’ preferences.

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David Winter, Marketing Manager at BetVictor notes that “We’ve seen a steady increase in the popularity of action-themed and adventure-themed slots and many providers are exploring how to expand further into this market.”

The popularity of Action games such as platform and fighting games can be attributed to various factors, such as: social interaction, accessibility and inclusivity, social appeal, and cultural influence. With such a diverse audience, all these factors are crucial to understand the appeal of Action games.

In the digital age, gaming has transcended mere entertainment to become a cornerstone of culture, and nowhere is this more evident than in Canada. From coast to coast, a diverse community of gamers is thriving, reflecting the country’s inclusive spirit and passion for technology. Whether it’s the casual gamer enjoying a quick session on their smartphone or the dedicated enthusiast meticulously building a custom gaming PC, Canada offers a welcome haven for all kinds of gamers.

Diving deeper into the Statista results, Strategy games accounted for 29%. This shows us that players have a strong interest in tactical and decision-making games. While role-playing (RPG) and sports games garnered 22% each, simulation and shooters trailed slightly behind at 21% and 20% respectively.

MMO (massively multiplayer online games), as well as MMORPGs (massively multiplayer online role-playing games) and MOBA (multi online battle arenas) came in at 13% and 8% respectively, representing a significant but niche following. With such a diverse array of preferences, the survey underscores the multifaceted nature of interests among Canadian gamers. It highlights the need for game developers to cater for a wide range of genres and gameplaying styles in the Canadian market.

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From action shooter games to role-playing adventures, the industry has something for every gaming enthusiast in the Canadian market. Overall, the popularity of video games in Canada reflects a growing cultural phenomenon, where gaming has become a mainstream form of entertainment and a significant aspect of modern-day leisure activities.

Statistics anticipate a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.10% for 2022-2027, resulting in a projected market volume of US$24.52bn by 2027. Canada’s online gaming market is experiencing a surge in popularity, with a surging number of Canadian players engaging in immersive virtual reality experiences.

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