Pennsylvania’s September Sports Betting Handle Makes a Huge Comeback After the Summer Slowdown Comes to an End
Pennsylvania is another state that rebounded in September after the summer slowdown took its toll on the market and the rest of the industry. Sportsbook operators in Pennsylvania combined for a monthly total of $645.2 million for September.
NFL Aids September’s Comeback in a Big Way
According to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board released report, September’s handle noted an increase of $282 million from August. When comparing the year-over-year numbers, September 2022’s handle was 12 percent higher than September 2021’s $578.8 million.
The solid handle numbers also led to strong revenue numbers as bookmakers in the Keystone State generated $75.3 million in revenue. Sportsbooks combined for $700 million and $75 million in revenue in the months of July and August combined, but there were not that many sporting events that caught the public’s eye.
NFL and college football certainly played their roles in regard to September’s monthly handle boost. The Penn State Nittany Lions are currently 6-1 and are ranked 13th in the AP Top 25 poll.
In the AFC North, the Pittsburgh Steelers have struggled with a 2-5 record and are in last place in the division. On the other hand, the Philadelphia Eagles are the only undefeated team in the league and nearly neck and neck with the 6-1 New York Giants.
With that being said, September had the third-highest monthly total for the state. That is likely to change as October is expected to bring in better numbers for the Keystone State. Looking at the yearly totals so far, the Keystone State ranks fifth nationally in handle, and fourth in regard to revenue.
Breaking Down the Numbers a Step Further
It should come as no surprise that Pennsylvania was a very popular state for NFL betting during September. According to Geocomply, 76,400 geolocation checks were conducted at Lincoln Financial Field during the Eagles’ September 19 home opener. Acrisure Stadium recorded 38,6000 geolocation checks during the Pittsburgh Steelers’ September 18 home opener.
October’s numbers could be stronger than expected as the Philadelphia Phillies have surprised the MLB and will face the Houston Astros for the World Series. The Phillies were the last team to clinch a Wildcard berth as they fought to the very end with a one-game lead over the Milwaukee Brewers.
The Phillies’ projected weakest weapon has certainly come through, as their pitching has been solid. They will certainly need every advantage they can get against the Houston Astros as they look to make up for last year’s loss to the Atlanta Braves.
What was the Market Share Among Bookmakers in Pennsylvania Like?
Without a doubt, FanDuel and DraftKings are the two most popular sportsbooks in the industry. In some jurisdictions, DraftKings has taken over as the top sportsbook for the month.
FanDuel had a handle of $212.9 million, and DraftKings followed slightly behind with $207.5 million. These books had 35.4 and 34.5 percent in market share, respectively. BetMGM was far behind in terms of handle but placed third over competitor Barstool.
