Pennsylvania residents who gamble spend significantly more time using online casinos than they do at the brick-and-mortar locations, according to a study paid for by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB).
The study, by Penn State University in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) is called “Pennsylvania Interactive Gaming Assessment: Online Gambling Report 2023.” It found that the number of adult residents playing online increased to 16 percent last year, a 5 percent increase over the previous two years.
The study found that most residents are gaming online since that market went live in 2021, with 62.5 percent playing online. Moreover the study found that those who play online do it much more than those who gamble at brick-and-mortar locations.
Finally, the study determined that online gamblers’ numbers are increasing and they are spending more.
That could be attributed to gamblers having more game choices with more operators in the game. The latest entries were BetMGM’s newest games by Play’n Go and before that Fanatics, which went live a few months ago.
Last year, online casino revenue in Pennsylvania was $2.1 billion, compared to $800 million the previous two years combined.
The study also found that the average player who gambles online and in person spends more than $700 a month while those bet exclusively in person spend $103 a month.
The study found that telltale precursors of problem gambling demonstrate those traits online. Slightly more than half of those who gamble online and in person evinced at least one such trait, while 40 percent of those who only gamble online showed such traits, compared to 16 percent for those who only frequent physical casinos.
Calls to Pennsylvania’s online gambling hotline increased by 20 percent after online gaming opportunities multiplied.
Young men make up the majority of online gamblers. The average state resident who only plays online was 33 ¾ years old. Two thirds were single males.
