Pennsylvania sports betting revenue climbed despite a drop in April handle

(AsiaGameHub) –   Pennsylvania sportsbooks accepted a lower amount of bets in April compared to the same month last year, but improved operator win percentages led to a robust revenue performance for the month.

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Good to Know

• Pennsylvania sports betting handle declined 9.8% year-over-year to $641.6 million.
• Sportsbooks earned $77.2 million in gross revenue, a 25% increase.
• Online casinos brought in $245.8 million in revenue during April.

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Higher Hold Helps Sportsbooks Offset Lower Betting Volume

According to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, the state’s bettors placed $641.6 million in wagers in April, a decrease from $711.5 million in April 2025. This marks a year-on-year decline in handle for every month so far in 2026.

Despite a full sports schedule featuring the NBA and NHL playoffs, NCAA Tournament semifinals, the first complete month of MLB, and the Masters, betting activity fell to Pennsylvania’s lowest April total since 2023.

Revenue told a different story for operators. Sportsbooks generated $77.2 million in gross revenue, rising 25% from April of the previous year. The 12% hold rate was significantly higher than the 8.7% win rate from a year ago, representing the state’s fourth double-digit hold in a six-month period.

Online sportsbooks were responsible for the majority of this outcome, securing $75 million from $617.4 million in bets. Retail sportsbooks handled $24.1 million and maintained a hold rate under 10%.

FanDuel was the market leader in April with $217.9 million in handle and $31.5 million in revenue. Its 14.3% win rate resulted in its second-strongest month in Pennsylvania for 2026, trailing only January’s $38.9 million.

DraftKings came next with $190.1 million in handle and $21.5 million in revenue. Fanatics earned $6.1 million from $52 million in wagers, and BetMGM produced $3.7 million from $45.3 million. Bet365 recorded the fourth-highest revenue at $4.6 million from $37.6 million in bets.

Adjusted sports betting revenue came to $59 million, yielding $21.2 million in state tax. Year-to-date tax revenue from Pennsylvania sports betting now exceeds $70 million.

Online casino gaming continued to be the larger source of tax income. Pennsylvania iGaming revenue increased 8% year-over-year to $245.8 million, generating $113.5 million in tax. Combined revenue from all gaming segments—including sports betting, online casino, retail slots, table games, fantasy sports, and video gaming terminals—totaled $595 million for April, with tax revenue amounting to $255.3 million.