Pennsylvania legalized online gambling in 2017, and the five annual assessments that followed — conducted by Penn State University for the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs — have produced one of the most detailed longitudinal records of gambling behavior in any U.S. state.
The data reveal rapid change: online gambling prevalence has nearly tripled since 2021, helpline calls related to online platforms have grown from under 3% to over 50%, and an estimated 2.5–6.4% of Pennsylvania adults now meet clinical criteria for problem gambling. Yet the share of adults seeking help remains less than a quarter of a percent.
This report compiles all available statistical data from those five assessment years — covering prevalence, demographics, addiction indicators, help-seeking, revenues, and Pennsylvania’s national standing — into a single comprehensive reference for policymakers, clinicians, and the public.
Key Statistics at a Glance
The following figures represent the most critical findings from five years of Pennsylvania gambling research (2021–2025).
- Up to 30% of Pennsylvania adults gambled online in 2025 — nearly triple the 11.1% rate recorded in 2021.
- 60%–73% of Pennsylvania adults engaged in some form of gambling (online or offline) in 2025.
- 2.5%–6.4% of Pennsylvania adults are classified as problem gamblers; up to 36.3% (approximately 3.77 million people) show problem or at-risk gambling indicators.
- Only ~0.2% of Pennsylvania adults sought help for gambling in 2025; only ~6% of problem gamblers received any assistance.
- More than 50% of calls to the 1-800-GAMBLER helpline in 2024–2025 cited online gambling as the primary problem — up from under 3% before 2019.
- iGaming self-exclusion enrollments jumped 65% in 2025, reaching 11,195 total active participants.
- Total Pennsylvania gambling revenue hit a record $6.79 billion in 2025; online casino revenue alone reached $3.46 billion.
- Pennsylvania ranks 4th nationally for gambling addiction (WalletHub 2025).
- Mixed-mode gamblers (those betting both online and offline) spend $105–$230/month — 4–6 times more than single-mode gamblers — and face the highest addiction risk.
- Over 20% of Pennsylvania school students have gambled at some point in their lifetime.
Pennsylvania faces a rapidly expanding gambling addiction challenge driven by the growth of easily accessible online platforms, with millions of residents at risk and significant barriers to treatment uptake.
Gambling Prevalence Among Pennsylvania Adults
Annual Gambling Participation Trends (2021–2025)
Pennsylvania has tracked gambling participation annually since online gaming was legalized through Act 42 of 2017. The first licenses were issued in 2019 and formal assessment began in 2020.
| Year | Online Gambling | Offline Gambling | Total Gambling |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 11.1% | 44.8% | 48.2% |
| 2022 | 11.0% | 69.2% | 70.0% |
| 2023 | 16.0% | 62.4% | 65.5% |
| 2024 | 19.8% | 63.1% | 65.8% |
| 2025 | Up to 30% | Up to 69% | 60%–73% |
Online gambling prevalence nearly tripled over five years while offline gambling remained broadly stable above 60%. The 2025 rate of up to 30% online represents a 50% increase in a single year compared to the 2024 figure of 19.8%.
Types of Gamblers: Offline-Only, Online-Only, and Mixed-Mode
Because most online gamblers also gamble offline, assessments since 2023 classify all gamblers into three categories rather than a simple online/offline binary.
| Gambler Type | 2024 Share of All Adults | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Exclusively Offline Gamblers (EOFGs) | 46.0% | Gamble only in person (casinos, lotteries, bingo) |
| Exclusively Online Gamblers (EONGs) | 2.7% | Gamble only via digital platforms |
| Mixed-Mode Gamblers (MMGs) | 17.1% | Gamble both online and offline |
| Non-gamblers | ~34.2% | Did not gamble in the past 12 months |
The 2025 report provided updated prevalence ranges using two sampling methods, confirming the multi-year pattern.
- Exclusively offline: ~43% of all adults
- Exclusively online: ~4% of all adults
- Mixed-mode (online + offline): 14%–27% of all adults
- Online gamblers who also gambled offline: more than 75% of all online gamblers
The vast majority of online gamblers in Pennsylvania also gamble offline — over three-quarters. Exclusively online gamblers remain the smallest group. The growth in online gambling is therefore primarily driven by people adding digital platforms to existing offline habits, not replacing them.
Gambling Behavior: Formats, Frequency, and Spending
Most Popular Gambling Formats
For all five years of assessment (2021–2025), two formats have remained consistently most popular: sports betting online and lotteries offline.
Participation rates by gambling format are shown separately for online and offline channels (2024 data).
Online Format Participation
- Sports Betting – 7.9%
- Electronic Gaming (EGMs) – 5.7%
- Instant Lottery (online) – 5.5%
- Other Online Gambling – 4.6%
- Table Games (online) – 4.3%
- Lottery / Raffles – 4.0%
- Fantasy Sports – 3.7%
- Bingo (online) – 1.3%
- Racing (online) – 1.1%
Offline Format Participation
- Lottery / Raffles – 48.7%
- Instant Lottery – 42.4%
- Electronic Gaming (EGMs) – 12.8%
- Table Games – 12.2%
- Bingo – 11.6%
- Games of Skill – 10.4%
- Sports Betting (offline) – 6.3%
- Racing (offline) – 2.7%
- Fantasy Sports (offline) – 2.6%
Format Participation By Gambler Type (2024)
Mixed-mode gamblers dominate participation in nearly every gambling format compared to single-mode gamblers.
| Format | Offline Only (EOFGs) | Online Only (EONGs) | Mixed-Mode (MMGs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Instant Lottery | 66.0% | 26.4% | 77.9% |
| Lottery / Raffles | 79.1% | 18.4% | 77.2% |
| Games of Skill | 11.9% | N/A | 29.7% |
| EGMs | 17.0% | 13.4% | 45.0% |
| Table Games | 11.6% | 8.8% | 47.8% |
| Sports Betting | 8.0% | 16.6% | 50.2% |
| Fantasy Sports | 2.7% | 3.5% | 23.9% |
| Bingo | 19.3% | 3.0% | 19.8% |
| Racing | 3.5% | 0% | 11.8% |
| Other Gambling | 4.5% | 41.6% | 25.2% |
Lotteries dominate offline gambling (48.7% participation) while sports betting leads online (7.9%). Mixed-mode gamblers participate in sports betting at more than six times the rate of offline-only gamblers, illustrating how online access dramatically broadens gambling engagement.
Gambling Frequency and Time Spent
Gambling intensity varies sharply by gambler type and is directly linked to problem gambling risk.
Average monthly gambling frequency and hours spent are compared across all three gambler types (2024 data).
| Metric | Offline Only (EOFGs) | Online Only (EONGs) | Mixed-Mode (MMGs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg. gambling formats used | ~2 formats | ~1 format | ~5 formats |
| Avg. gambling frequency | ~once/month | ~2–3 times/month | ~once/week |
| Avg. hours/month gambling | 2.41 hours | 5.10 hours | 10.26 hours |
| Weekly+ gamblers (all adults) | Less common | Moderate | Highest rate |
This table shows the proportion of Pennsylvania adults gambling at each frequency level across the most popular formats (2024).
| Format | Once/month | 2–3×/month | Once/week | 2–3×/week | 4+×/week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max frequency (any format) | 9.5% | 7.7% | 6.5% | 3.9% | — |
| Instant Lottery | 6.7% | 5.4% | 3.6% | 3.9% | 1.3% |
| Lottery / Raffle | 6.5% | 6.2% | 3.1% | 2.7% | 1.3% |
| Sports Betting | 1.9% | 1.1% | 0.8% | — | — |
| EGMs | 2.3% | 1.6% | 0.9% | 1.2% | 1.2% |
| Table Games | 2.0% | 1.3% | 0.7% | — | 0.9% |
| Fantasy Sports | 0.2% | 0.4% | 0.4% | — | 0.2% |
| Bingo | 1.0% | 0.5% | 0.8% | 0.2% | — |
17% of Pennsylvania adults gamble weekly or more often. Mixed-mode gamblers average nearly four times as many hours per month gambling compared to offline-only gamblers, and engage in roughly five times as many formats — a pattern consistently linked to problem gambling development.
Monthly Gambling Spending
Monthly spending data reveals the financial impact of different gambling patterns, with mixed-mode gamblers spending significantly more than all other groups.
Gambler Types – Median Spending (2024)
- Exclusively Offline (EOFGs) – $10/month
- Exclusively Online (EONGs) – $20/month
- Mixed-Mode (MMGs) – $50/month
Gambler Types – Spending Range (2025)
- Exclusively Offline (EOFGs) – $20–$40/month
- Exclusively Online (EONGs) – $20–$40/month
- Mixed-Mode (MMGs) – $105–$230/month
Mixed-mode gamblers spend 2–5 times more per month than single-mode gamblers in 2024, and the gap widened sharply in 2025 where their spending reached $105–$230/month compared to $20–$40 for other groups. Larger single-day losses are also most common among mixed-mode gamblers.
Motivations for Gambling
Primary motivations for gambling differ by gambler type, with online-only gamblers uniquely prioritizing financial gain over entertainment (2024 data).
| Primary Motivation | Offline Only (EOFGs) | Online Only (EONGs) | Mixed-Mode (MMGs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enjoyment / entertainment | 25.4% | 22.2% | 37.8% |
| To win money | 25.0% | 23.2% | 29.6% |
| Other reasons | 17.9% | 30.1% | 14.7% |
| No primary reason | 13.3% | 5.1% | 1.8% |
| To support worthy causes | 6.4% | 0% | 2.3% |
| To socialize | 5.5% | 0% | 1.5% |
| To escape / relieve stress | 1.2% | 0% | 1.9% |
| For the challenge/compete | 0.5% | 0% | 1.0% |
Online-only gamblers are uniquely motivated by financial gain and are the least likely to gamble socially — 40.6% report always gambling alone. Mixed-mode gamblers rate gambling as most important to their leisure lives and are least likely to say they have no primary reason for gambling.
Demographics of Pennsylvania Gamblers
Gambler demographics vary markedly by mode of gambling. Data from the 2024 assessment identifies consistent patterns across age, gender, race, employment, and substance use.
Age, Gender, and Race
This table compares key demographic characteristics across the three gambler types (2024).
| Demographic | Offline Only (EOFGs) | Online Only (EONGs) | Mixed-Mode (MMGs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average age | 53.55 years | 35.89 years | 38.56 years |
| Gender majority | 54.2% women | 70.9% men | 60.1% men |
| Race: White only | 81.8% | 64.8% | 68.5% |
| Race: Black/African American | 5.6% | 14.4% | 15.7% |
| Race: Asian only | 2.1% | 18.0% | 5.1% |
| Hispanic / Latino origin | 5.2% | 16.8% | 10.8% |
| Single (never married) | 23.0% | 36.2% | 44.9% |
| Employed | 56.8% | 55.3% | 68.2% |
| Retired | 24.7% | 6.8% | 5.4% |
| Student | 2.2% | 3.4% | 4.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher | ~43.9% | ~33.5% | ~37.0% |
Online-involved gamblers (both EONGs and MMGs) are significantly younger and more male than offline-only gamblers. EOFGs skew older (average 53 years), are more likely to be female, and are predominantly White. Online gamblers are more ethnically diverse, particularly Hispanic/Latino and Black/African American.
Substance Use and Mental Health
The 2024 assessment was the first to include substance use and mental health data, revealing strong associations between mixed-mode gambling and risky health behaviors.
| Substance | Non-Gamblers | Offline Only (EOFGs) | Online Only (EONGs) | Mixed-Mode (MMGs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alcohol (any use past year) | 53.7% | 72.3% | 51.9% | 77.0% |
| Alcohol (4+ times/week) | 7.0% | 7.8% | 4.2% | 5.9% |
| Tobacco / nicotine (any past year) | 18.4% | 22.4% | 27.7% | 47.5% |
| Tobacco / nicotine (4+ times/week) | 11.9% | 15.8% | 19.6% | 27.9% |
| Cannabis (any past year) | 13.9% | 17.8% | 22.0% | 31.9% |
| Cannabis (4+ times/week) | 6.5% | 6.1% | 6.4% | 12.6% |
Rates of mental health disorders among gamblers were broadly similar across modes, with depression and anxiety most commonly reported.
| Mental Health Indicator | Non-Gamblers | EOFGs | EONGs | MMGs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Any mental health disorder (past year) | 14.0% | 15.8% | 11.6% | 16.2% |
| Depression | 8.6% | 9.4% | 11.6% | 11.3% |
| Anxiety | 6.9% | 9.4% | 5.1% | 8.9% |
| Bipolar Disorder | 2.2% | 1.0% | 0% | 1.5% |
| ADHD | 1.0% | 0.7% | 2.7% | 1.3% |
| PTSD | 0.6% | 0.7% | 0% | 0.2% |
Mixed-mode gamblers display the highest rates of tobacco/nicotine use (47.5%) and cannabis use (31.9%) — roughly double the rates of offline-only gamblers. Mental health disorder rates are broadly similar across gambler types with no statistically significant differences by mode, though depression and anxiety are consistently the most reported conditions.
Problem Gambling: Prevalence, Risk, and Help-Seeking
Population Prevalence of Problem Gambling
The 2025 assessment was the first year to estimate problem gambling prevalence for the general Pennsylvania population using the Problem Gambling Measure (PGM), which classifies individuals as recreational, at-risk, or problem gamblers.
| Classification | Estimated % of PA Adults | Est. People Affected |
|---|---|---|
| Problem gamblers | 2.5%–6.4% | Up to ~665,000 |
| At-risk gamblers | 25.4%–29.9% | Up to ~3.1 million |
| Problem or at-risk (combined) | Up to 36.3% | Up to ~3.77 million |
| Adults who self-identify as having a problem | ~1.5% | Approx. 156,000 |
The 2024 assessment used two screening instruments on those gambling at least once per month; both produced similar population-level estimates.
- Brief Problem Gambling Screen (BPGS): 8.7% of adults scored 1 or higher (at-risk or worse)
- Problem & Pathological Gambling Measure (PPGM): 7.8% of adults classified as at-risk, problem, or pathological
- Combined range from both tools: 7.8%–8.7% of all Pennsylvania adults
Between 7.8% and 8.7% of Pennsylvania adults show measurable at-risk or problem gambling indicators in the 2024 data. By 2025, estimates rose to up to 36.3% when including all at-risk categories — equivalent to approximately 3.77 million residents. On average, a gambling problem affects around six people in the gambler’s immediate circle.
Problem Gambling Risk by Gambler Type
BPGS results show the share of gamblers in each mode scoring 1 or higher (indicating at least one problem gambling indicator), among those gambling at least once per month (2024).
- Exclusively Offline Gamblers (EOFGs): 15.4% scored 1 or higher
- Exclusively Online Gamblers (EONGs): 35.3% scored 1 or higher
- Mixed-Mode Gamblers (MMGs): 43.4% scored 1 or higher
PPGM results provide a fuller classification into recreational, at-risk, problem, and pathological categories among those gambling at least monthly (2024).
| Gambler Type | Recreational | At-Risk | Problem | Pathological |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Offline Only (EOFGs) | 88.7% | 8.1% | 0.5% | 2.6% |
| Online Only (EONGs) | 63.1% | 0% | 0% | 36.9% |
| Mixed-Mode (MMGs) | 60.1% | 27.0% | 6.1% | 6.8% |
Mixed-mode gamblers are the highest-risk group by every measure: 43.4% score at-risk or worse on the BPGS, and nearly 40% are classified as at-risk, problem, or pathological under the full PPGM assessment. Online-only gamblers also show disproportionate pathological gambling rates, though the small sample size warrants caution. Offline-only gamblers are the lowest-risk group.
Illegal and Unregulated Online Gambling
A significant portion of online gamblers in Pennsylvania use platforms not licensed or regulated by the state, creating additional risk and exposure. The share of online gamblers using illegal or unregulated platforms, and their representation in the overall adult population, is compared for 2022 and 2024.
| Metric | 2022 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Online gamblers using illegal/unregulated sites | 13.3% of online gamblers | 20.4% of online gamblers |
| As share of all PA adults | ~1.5% of adults | ~6.2% of adults |
Participation in illegal or unregulated online gambling grew from 1.5% of all adults in 2022 to 6.2% in 2024 — a fourfold increase. These platforms often lack age verification, problem gambling tools, and consumer protections, significantly raising risk levels for participants.
Help-Seeking Behavior
Despite millions of Pennsylvanians showing problem or at-risk gambling indicators, formal help-seeking remains critically low. The following figures compare the scale of the problem gambling population with actual rates of help-seeking.
- Adults who felt they had a gambling problem (2025): ~1.5%
- Adults who sought help for gambling (2025): ~0.2%
- Problem gamblers who actually received help (2025): ~6%
- Adults who called 1-800-GAMBLER for themselves (2024): 0.6% of adults
- Adults who called 1-800-GAMBLER for someone else (2024): 1.2% of adults
- Adults who ever called 1-800-GAMBLER (2024): ~1.8% of adults
- Adults who contacted helpline for someone else (2025): ~0.4% of adults
Only 1 in 50 adults with problem gambling characteristics sought help in 2025. Even among those meeting formal clinical criteria for problem gambling, only about 6% received assistance — a treatment gap that has persisted across all assessment years. Awareness campaigns and stigma reduction are identified as key priorities for closing this gap.
Response Indicators: Helpline Calls and Self-Exclusion
1-800-GAMBLER Helpline Call Trends
Pennsylvania’s problem gambling helpline is operated 24/7 by the Council on Compulsive Gambling of Pennsylvania (CCGP). The share of calls mentioning online gambling as the primary problem has grown from under 3% in 2016–2019 to more than 50% in 2024–2025.
| Fiscal Year | Total Intake Calls | Calls Mentioning Online Gambling | % of Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016–2017 | 1,173 | 30 | ~2.6% |
| 2017–2018 | 1,069 | 20 | ~1.9% |
| 2018–2019 | 1,099 | 29 | ~2.6% |
| 2019–2020 | 1,040 | 131 | ~12.6% |
| 2020–2021 | 1,644 | 330 | ~20.1% |
| 2021–2022 | 2,401 | 479 | ~20.0% |
| 2022–2023 | 2,834 | 974 | ~34.4% |
| 2023–2024 | 2,370 | 1,171 | ~49.5% |
| 2024–2025 | 2,447 | 1,230 | ~50.2% |
Helpline Call Volume By Quarter (2019–2024)
Quarterly helpline call data shows the surge in calls following the COVID-19 period and the gradual stabilization since 2023.
| Year | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Annual Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 271 | 254 | 289 | 320 | 1,134 |
| 2020 | 280 | 151 | 365 | 319 | 1,115 |
| 2021 | 462 | 498 | 526 | 604 | 2,090 |
| 2022 | 592 | 679 | 652 | 698 | 2,621 |
| 2023 | 816 | 668 | 600 | 609 | 2,693 |
| 2024 | 636 | 525 | 519 | 488 | 2,168 |
Helpline Caller Demographics (2024, All Callers Including Out-Of-State)
Age and gender breakdown of 2,168 helpline calls received in 2024 shows that men aged 25–44 account for the largest share of callers.
Age Group – Calls
- Under 18 – 10
- 18 to 24 – 254
- 25 to 34 – 492
- 35 to 44 – 427
- 45 to 54 – 302
- 55 to 64 – 212
- 65+ – 132
- Unknown – 339
Gender – Calls
- Male – 1,544
- Female – 570
- Unknown – 54
- Total – 2,168
County-level helpline call rates per 100,000 residents (2024) highlight geographic concentrations of gambling harm.
| County | Calls (2024) | Rate per 100,000 |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | 287 | 18.2 |
| Allegheny | 263 | 21.7 |
| Montgomery | 119 | 14.3 |
| Delaware | 84 | 14.8 |
| Bucks | 84 | 13.4 |
| Lackawanna | 54 | 25.8 |
| Northumberland | 19 | 21.1 |
| Venango | 12 | 23.8 |
| Bedford | 10 | 20.3 |
| Statewide | 1,854 | 14.5 |
Helpline call volume has more than doubled since 2018–2019, driven by the growth of online gambling. The shift to online gambling as the primary problem cited — from under 3% pre-2019 to over 50% in 2024–2025 — mirrors broader participation trends. Calls peaked in 2023 and modestly declined in 2024, though online-specific calls continued to rise.
Self-Exclusion Program Enrollment
Pennsylvania’s Gaming Control Board maintains voluntary self-exclusion programs for casinos, iGaming sites, fantasy sports, and video gaming terminals. Enrollment has grown significantly year over year. New casino self-exclusion enrollments have increased substantially since 2020, with a particularly sharp rise from 2022 onward.
- 2016: 1,510 new enrollments
- 2017: 1,445 new enrollments
- 2018: 1,386 new enrollments
- 2019: 1,489 new enrollments
- 2020: 750 new enrollments
- 2021: 1,292 new enrollments
- 2022: 1,858 new enrollments
- 2023: 2,345 new enrollments
- 2024: 3,040 new enrollments
- 2025: 3,314 new enrollments
2025 Self-Exclusion Program Summary Statistics
Key program metrics for 2025 show the scale and composition of Pennsylvania’s self-exclusion efforts across all gambling platforms.
- New casino self-exclusion enrollments: 3,314
- Total active casino self-exclusion enrollments: 170,917
- Removals from casino self-exclusion list: 1,606
- Statewide rate (casino, 2025): 21.2 per 100,000 residents
- New iGaming-specific enrollments: 4,403 (a 65% increase from 2024)
- Total cumulative iGaming self-exclusions: 11,195
- New iGaming enrollments in 2023–2024: 2,887 new; 6,792 total at that time
- 1-year program enrollments (2025): 1,705
- 5-year program enrollments (2025): 711
- Lifetime program enrollments (2025): 898
Self-Exclusion Enrollee Demographics (2025, Casino Program)
Among 3,314 new casino self-exclusion enrollees in 2025, adults aged 26–44 account for more than half of all enrollments and males outnumber females by more than 2:1.
| Age Group | Enrollments | Gender | Enrollments | Race | Enrollments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21–25 | 404 | Male | 2,336 | White | 2,314 |
| 26–34 | 908 | Female | 974 | African American | 382 |
| 35–44 | 916 | Total | 3,314 | Asian | 265 |
| 45–54 | 591 | Hispanic | 190 | ||
| 55–64 | 343 | Other | 163 | ||
| 65+ | 154 | Total | 3,314 |
Counties with the highest per-capita casino self-exclusion enrollment rates in 2025 are listed below.
| County | New Enrollments | Rate per 100,000 |
|---|---|---|
| Luzerne | 127 | 40.1 |
| Lackawanna | 78 | 37.3 |
| Westmoreland | 112 | 32.3 |
| Northampton | 95 | 31.2 |
| Erie | 80 | 29.8 |
| Philadelphia | 338 | 21.4 |
| Allegheny | 312 | 25.8 |
| Bucks | 150 | 23.9 |
| Delaware | 128 | 22.6 |
| Montgomery | 175 | 21.0 |
Self-exclusion enrollment has more than quadrupled from 2020 to 2025, with iGaming-specific exclusions jumping 65% in 2025 alone. Adults aged 26–44 make up the core of enrollees, and males enroll at more than twice the rate of females, mirroring the demographic profile of problem gamblers. Total active casino self-exclusion enrollment stands at over 170,000.
Gambling Revenue and Its Growth
Pennsylvania’s gambling industry has consistently set revenue records, with the most rapid growth coming from iGaming (online casinos) and sports betting. This revenue growth directly correlates with the expansion of online gambling prevalence and problem gambling indicators.
Total Gambling Revenue Trends
Annual combined gambling revenue figures show sustained double-digit growth, with online casino revenue becoming the dominant driver by 2025.
- 2021–2022 fiscal year: iGaming: $1.2B+; online sports betting: $267M+; fantasy sports: $27M+
- 2022–2023 fiscal year: Total gaming revenue: $5.69B (9.3% increase from 2022); first month in history exceeding $500M
- 2023–2024 fiscal year: Total online gambling revenue: $2.1B+ (5% increase); iGaming: $1.4B; sports betting: $732M; iLottery: $96M (17% increase)
- 2024 calendar year: Total gambling spend: $6.1B; state tax revenue: $2.7B
- 2025 calendar year: Total combined revenue: $6.79B (10.74% increase from 2024); online casino alone: $3.46B (27% increase); taxes collected: $2.98B
Sports Wagering Tax Revenue (by Fiscal Year)
Sports wagering tax revenue has grown almost fivefold since 2019–2020 and continues to accelerate.
- 2019–2020: $29,831,815
- 2020–2021: $59,448,505
- 2021–2022: $69,466,099
- 2022–2023: $100,940,691
- 2023–2024: $100,032,674
- 2024–2025: $101,979,804
- 2025–2026 (partial): $147,794,428
Total Pennsylvania gambling revenue nearly doubled from 2022 to 2025, driven largely by a 27% jump in online casino revenue in 2025. Sports wagering tax revenue is nearly five times higher than in 2019–2020 and continues to accelerate. The state collected $2.98 billion in gambling taxes in 2025 alone.
Problem Gambling Treatment Funding and Resources
A small portion of gambling revenues is directed toward addiction prevention, treatment, and harm reduction services.
- Compulsive & Problem Gambling Treatment Fund: receives 0.002% of combined casino/iGaming/sports/fantasy revenue, or $2M minimum, whichever is greater
- Dept. of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP): $3M annually for compulsive gambling support alongside drug/alcohol programs
- Sports betting legislation earmark: $18M+ per year — nearly doubled since legalization
- iGaming assessment (Act 42 of 2017): annual assessment funded through licensed iGaming operator revenues
- 1-800-GAMBLER helpline: free, 24/7 service available by call, text, and chat; support in 130+ languages; operated by CCGP
- Self-exclusion program: voluntary bans from casinos, iGaming, fantasy sports, and VGTs; available at responsibleplay.pa.gov
- New in 2025: Case management services: DDAP expanding to offer financial counseling, childcare, medical, and employment support alongside clinical treatment for the first time
- Gamblers Anonymous meetings in PA: 49 listed in-person meetings statewide; only 1 located in a rural area
While treatment funding has grown significantly — the sports betting earmark now exceeds $18M annually — critics note that less than 1% of total gambling revenue is directed toward addiction mitigation. Pennsylvania expanded its services in 2025 to include case management for the first time. The 49 in-person Gamblers Anonymous meetings statewide represent a very limited resource, particularly for rural residents.
Youth Gambling in Pennsylvania
Growing concerns about gambling among minors have led to targeted awareness campaigns and legislative action. The Pennsylvania Youth Survey (PAYS) tracks gambling behavior among students in grades 6, 8, 10, and 12 every two years.
Youth Gambling Prevalence (PAYS 2023)
Lifetime and recent gambling rates among Pennsylvania school students differ significantly by school level.
| Group | Gambled in Lifetime | Gambled in Past 30 Days |
|---|---|---|
| All students (middle + high school) | Just over 20% | Just over 9% |
| High school students | 23.8% | Higher than middle school |
| Middle school students | 19.3% | Lower than high school |
Types of Gambling Among High School Students (PAYS 2023)
Among high school students who gambled in the past year, card and skill games were most common, followed closely by sports and lottery participation.
- Games: Poker, Cards, Dice, Pool, Darts: 9.8% participation rate
- Sporting Events, Pools or Fantasy: 9.0%
- Lottery: 8.4%
- Other Gambling: 8.3%
- Video games or online gaming for money: 7.4%
- Online Gambling: 3.7%
Online Youth Gambling Trend (PAYS 2015–2023)
Online gambling among Pennsylvania youth has remained relatively stable over the survey period, with a slight decline in the most recent year.
- 2015: 4.3%
- 2017: 3.8%
- 2019: 4.3%
- 2021: 4.3%
- 2023: 3.1%
National Youth Gambling Benchmarks
National data cited by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board highlights the broader scale of underage gambling and related harms across the U.S.
- U.S. college students who gambled in the past year (legal or illegal): 75%
- College students who gamble weekly or more often: 18%
- Ages 18–22 who engaged in sports betting: 58%
- Ages 18–22 who lost more than $500 in a single day: 6%
- College students meeting criteria for a serious gambling problem: 6%
- Youth under 18 who gambled in a one-year period: 33.7%
- Boys ages 11–17 who gambled in the past year: more than 1 in 3
- Adults who participated in gambling before turning 21: nearly two-thirds
Over one in five Pennsylvania school students has gambled in their lifetime, and online gambling remains a concern despite appearing stable in PAYS data — unregulated offshore sites lack age verification, and the Council on Compulsive Gambling of PA reports increasing calls from young people. More than 10% of online-only gamblers in PSU surveys identified as students.
Rural vs. Urban Gambling Differences in Pennsylvania
A dedicated study using Pennsylvania assessment data examined gambling behavior differences between urban and rural residents. Although rural residents gamble less overall, those who do gamble engage in more formats — a key risk factor for problem gambling development.
Prevalence and Engagement Differences
Urban residents are more likely to gamble online or offline than rural residents, but rural gamblers engage in a greater variety of formats in both channels.
| Metric | Urban | Rural |
|---|---|---|
| Online gambling prevalence | 14.1% | 8.8% |
| Offline gambling prevalence | 72.9% | 66.6% |
| Likelihood of gambling online vs. not (OR) | 1.69× | — |
| Median online gambling formats used | 1.00 | 2.00 |
| Avg. offline gambling formats used | 2.40 | 2.69 |
| Online gamblers also gambling offline | 90.9% | 89.5% |
| BPGS score ≥1 (online gamblers) | 33.3% | 38.5% |
Online Gambling Format Preferences by Region
Rural online gamblers are significantly more likely than urban gamblers to engage in table games, poker, and slots — formats linked to elevated problem gambling risk.
| Online Format | Urban (%) | Rural (%) | Statistically Significant? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online Sports Betting | 48.5% | 55.6% | No (p=0.320) |
| Online Slots | 29.4% | 51.7% | Yes (p<0.01) |
| Online Table Games | 19.5% | 32.2% | Yes (p<0.05) |
| Online Poker | 13.5% | 27.3% | Yes (p<0.05) |
| Online Fantasy Sports | 24.8% | 36.0% | No (p=0.082) |
| iLottery | 16.5% | 21.8% | No (p=0.320) |
| Other Online Gambling | 1.3% | 17.7% | Yes (p<0.001) |
Gambling Attitudes by Region
Beliefs about gambling harms are similar across regions, but rural residents are significantly less likely to believe all gambling should be legal.
| Attitude | Urban | Rural |
|---|---|---|
| Harms far or somewhat outweigh benefits | 67.3% | 67.4% |
| Harms and benefits are about equal | 24.1% | 24.9% |
| Benefits outweigh harms | 8.7% | 7.7% |
| All gambling should be legal | 39.7% | 30.1% |
| Some legal, some illegal | 53.8% | 56.7% |
| All gambling should be illegal | 6.5% | 13.2% |
Urban residents are 1.7 times more likely to gamble online and 1.4 times more likely to gamble offline than rural residents. However, rural gamblers who do play online are more likely to engage in higher-risk formats (slots, table games, poker) and show a slightly higher rate of problem gambling indicators. Rural residents also face greater barriers to treatment, with only one rural in-person Gamblers Anonymous meeting available statewide.
Pennsylvania’s National Context
National Ranking for Gambling Addiction
WalletHub’s annual Gambling Addiction rankings incorporate lottery sales per capita, gaming machines per 1,000 residents, illegal gambling activity, and the share of adults with gambling disorders.
Pennsylvania’s national ranking and the key metrics behind it are shown for the 2024 and 2025 WalletHub reports.
| Report Year | PA Rank | #1 State | PA Gambling-Friendliness Rank | PA Problem & Treatment Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | #5 | Nevada | #5 | #16 |
| 2025 | #4 | Nevada | Top 5 | Top 20 |
Problem Gambling Rates: Pennsylvania vs. Other States
Pennsylvania’s problem gambling prevalence, especially at the at-risk level, is considerably higher than comparable state estimates.
- U.S. national average: 1%–3% of adults with gambling disorders
- Nevada (#1, 2025): ~2.7% of adults with gambling disorders
- Pennsylvania (2025): 2.5%–6.4% problem gamblers; 7.8%–8.7% at-risk or worse
- Connecticut (2024, post-legalization): 1.4%–1.8% (stable after sports betting/iGaming launch)
- Indiana (2022): 1.3%–2.3%
Pennsylvania vs. New Jersey
New Jersey, with a more established gambling market, offers a useful comparison point for Pennsylvania’s evolving online gambling landscape.
| Metric | Pennsylvania | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Total adult gambling prevalence | 65.8% | 61% |
| Gamblers who are exclusively offline | 69.9% | 49% |
| Adults who gamble online | ~30% | Higher (more established market) |
Pennsylvania consistently ranks among the top five most gambling-addicted states nationally. Its problem gambling prevalence exceeds national averages and many comparable states, and its rapid growth in online gambling access suggests further upward pressure on these rates in coming years. Compared to more established markets like New Jersey, Pennsylvania still has more gamblers exclusively offline — indicating that online participation will continue to grow.
Conclusion
In the eight years since Pennsylvania legalized online gambling, the state has built one of the most lucrative gambling markets in the country — and one of its most consequential addiction challenges. Online gambling prevalence has nearly tripled in five years, revenue has grown even faster, and problem gambling indicators have risen in parallel. An estimated 2.5 to 6.4% of Pennsylvania adults now meet clinical criteria for problem gambling, with up to 36% more showing at-risk signs.
The highest-risk group is clear: mixed-mode gamblers — who bet both online and offline — gamble four times as often, spend up to six times as much, and are nearly three times more likely to score as problem gamblers. Yet help-seeking remains critically low: only about 6% of those who meet clinical criteria received any treatment in 2025, and funding for harm reduction amounts to less than 1% of total gambling revenues.
Pennsylvania has taken meaningful steps, but proportionate investment — in treatment access, early intervention, and targeted support for the highest-risk populations — has not followed. As online platforms grow more accessible and sophisticated, the window for proactive policy action is narrowing.
Sources:
- Online Gambling Participation Increased In Pennsylvania In 2025, Report Finds | Penn State University
- Nearly A Third Of Pennsylvania Gamblers Are At Risk Of Problem Gambling − But Few Seek Treatment
- Online Gambling Participation Increases In Pennsylvania Again, Report Finds | Penn State University
- Online Gambling Report
- Up To 6.4% Of Pennsylvania Adults Could Be Problem Gamblers, Study Finds
- PA Has Fourth Highest Gambling Addiction in U.S.
- Pennsylvania Among The “Most Gambling-Addicted States,” Report Finds – Cbs Pittsburgh
- Pa. Is One Of The Most Gambling-Addicted States – Pennlive.Com
- Online Gambling In Pennsylvania
- Executive Summary: Online Gambling Report 2022
- A Comparison Of Gambling Behaviors And Beliefs In Rural And Urban Populations In Pennsylvania – PubMed
- PA Problem Gambling Rate: Potentially 3.7 Million Impacted
- Pennsylvania Among States Trying To Balance Rise In Revenue With Gambling Issues
- Gambling Behaviors and Consequences
- Rural And Remote Health Article: 9077 – A Comparison Of Gambling Behaviors And Beliefs In Rural And Urban Populations In Pennsylvania
- Underage Gambling Awareness Raised In Pennsylvania
- One In Three Online Gamblers In Pa. Had A Problem In Last 12 Months | Friday Morning Coffee • Pennsylvania Capital-Star
- Penn State Research Finds Problem Gambling On The Rise In Pennsylvania