An extra weekend notwithstanding, Pennsylvania casinos were down 16% last month. They grossed $218 million, with $155 million of that coming from the slots (-17%). Table games held their ground better, off 13% for $63 million. Sports betting chipped in $37 million worth of revenue, a sixfold improvement from the month previous. Add $11 million of promotions back and one has an implied net revenue of $48 million at the betting windows, virtual and otherwise. September’s $463 million handle improved to $526 million. Internet gambling generated another $59 million in lucre. The road ahead got a bit rockier when Covid-19 lockdowns in Philadelphia forced next Friday’s closure of Rivers Philadelphia (pictured), unlikely to reopen until New Year’s Day “at the earliest” says JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff, hardly a prophet of doom and gloom.
