While the well-established Tropicana hotel and casino in Atlantic City is celebrating its historic 40th anniversary this week, a newcomer is hitting a significant milestone in Pennsylvania sports betting today.
Live! Casino Pittsburgh, approximately 30 miles from downtown Pittsburgh, marks its first anniversary today.
Live! Casino Pittsburgh opened Nov. 24, 2020, and has totaled an estimated amount of nearly $135 million dollars in economic impact investments during its first year of operation, according to a company news release. The casino is owned by The Cordish Companies, which also opened Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia Jan. 19 of this year. That casino is right beside the stadium complex (Citizens Bank Park, Lincoln Financial Field and the Wells Fargo Center) in Philadelphia.
Both facilities feature a FanDuel Sportsbook and Lounge.
Live! Casino Pittsburgh Boosts Local Economy
Live! Casino Pittsburgh has become a main factor in the revitalization of the Westmoreland Mall and its 170 shops. Recently, a number of businesses have signed leases inside Westmoreland and in the nearby surrounding business community.
According to the release, the area has benefitted from significant investment by the casino in local businesses, including $5.5 million toward ventures owned by women and minorities.
“Live! Casino is delighted to have had such a large and positive impact on our local communities,” Live! Casino general manager Sean Sullivan said in a news release. “In addition to serving as the hottest entertainment destination for the region, we are proud to be able to provide value to our entire community by offering family-sustaining jobs, patronizing local businesses, and the having the ability to distribute a substantial portion of dollars for community enhancements through donations and taxes.”
According to figures released last week by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, Live! Casino Pittsburgh notched $9,442,970 of the total revenue of $425,916,762 for the state of Pennsylvania for total gaming and fantasy contests. Live! Philadelphia checked in with $18.75 million.
There are a total of 16 real money casino properties within the Keystone State including three others in the Western Region: Hollywood Casino at the Meadows (Washington), Rivers Casino (Pittsburgh) and Lady Luck Casino (Nemacolin). Most of these casino properties have a PA online casnio they are partnered with
PA Sports Betting Continues to Explode
Pennsylvania sports wagering handle in the Keystone State hit $776.278 million in October, the all-time single highest total thus far for the state. The figure eclipsed $615.29 million in January of this year. The October handle was an increase of 34.1% over the $578.8 million wagered in September.
The October number also was $250.47 million more — a 47.6% increase — than October 2020 ($525.8 million).
Mobile sports betting in October was $714.1 million, up 35.4% from September ($527.4 million), and up 51.2% from October 2020 ($472.2 million). In October, mobile betting was 92% of the market.
October gross sports betting revenue was $23.5 million, down 16.7% from September ($28.3 million) and down 36.0% from October 2020 ($36.8 million).
This year’s October total handle for Pennsylvania is among the top 10 for any state since the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 was PASPA was struck down in 2018.
