Penn State Study Finds 20 Percent of Pennsylvania Adults Gamble Online
Researchers at Penn State discovered in their 2024 Pennsylvania Interactive Gaming Assessment that participation in online gaming is still on the rise in the commonwealth.
The yearly Online Gambling Report highlights the number of Pennsylvanians aged 21 and over who are physically present in the commonwealth engaging in online gambling activities. Carried out by researchers from the university’s Criminal Justice Research Center in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, the survey of 1,400 residents found that more Pennsylvanians are placing wagers online than ever before.
The 2024 summary indicates that almost 20% (19.8%) of adults in Pennsylvania participated in online gambling at least once in the last year. That’s an increase of nearly 4% from last year’s 16% participation rate identified in the study.
"This year’s report highlights the need for ongoing monitoring of online gambling in Pennsylvania,” said Glenn Sterner, associate professor of criminal justice at Penn State Abington and the lead author of the report. “With increased revenues and prevalence of online gambling, we need to be sure we are adequately educating Pennsylvanians about risks of illegal sites that may seek to take advantage of this surge in activity.”
Sports betting was the leading online gambling style among internet users. Approximately 8% of adults in Pennsylvania placed at least one sports wager online in the past year. Virtual slot machines, engaging table games, and quick lotteries were likewise favored.
The Penn State report marked the fourth evaluation of interactive gaming since the university started tracking the online gambling sector in 2021.
Concerns About Responsible Gambling
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) announced that the gross gaming revenue (GGR) from iGaming in 2024, not including online sports betting, reached $2.18 billion. A new milestone, the iGaming revenue showed an increase of over 25% compared to the previous year.
Oddsmakers produced GGR of $510.7 million, marking a record high and exceeding 2023 by 11%. Over 90% of the revenue generated by sportsbooks is derived from online bets.
The record revenue from online gaming marks a significant success for both operators and the state, which collects 54% of online slot earnings, 16% of online table profits, and 36% of sportsbook revenue; however, it raises substantial concerns for advocates of responsible gaming.
In contrast to a brick-and-mortar casino where employees are trained to identify inebriated patrons and those who may be gambling foolishly, observing the behaviors of online players is significantly more challenging. While operators have implemented certain controls like enabling bettors to set cooling-off periods and deposit limits, researchers from Penn State argue that additional effort could, and should, be made.
“Knowing what the current online gambling trends are helps to inform our path forward in addressing compulsive and problem gambling within the commonwealth,” said Latika Davis-Jones, secretary for the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs.
Researchers from Penn State indicated that gamblers engaging both in-person and online face the greatest risk of problem gambling, whereas those who gamble only in-person exhibit the lowest risk. The report indicated that these findings highlight the necessity for specific interventions aimed at iGaming to inform the public about the dangers of gambling, particularly the heightened risk when engaging in various formats.
iGaming Not Stealing Players
Penn State’s interactive gaming evaluation revealed that although participation rates in iGaming and online sports betting are on the rise, attendance at the state’s 17 physical casinos has stayed consistent. The survey indicated that the participation of Pennsylvania adults in offline gambling rose from 62.4% to 63.1%.
The PGCB reports that its controlled gaming sector — the third-wealthiest in the country after Nevada and New Jersey — produced a record tax benefit exceeding $2.66 billion last year. In 2024, the state gathered $209.3 million additional gaming taxes compared to 2023.
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