Sports Betting, iGaming Boost PA Revenues

Sports betting and online gaming shored up Pennsylvania’s revenue numbers last month, as a full sports calendar saw sports wagering handle hit a record $365 million in August. That’s a 234.7 percent increase over August 2019, and a 121.5 percent jump over July 2020. It also is 4.8 percent higher than the state’s previous all-time record of $348.4 million, bet in January.

Mobile sports betting in Pennsylvania remained the primary wagering method, with more than 88 percent of all bets coming from the internet.

Online casino games and poker reached another all-time high for August with $56 million in revenue, topping the $54.4 million generated a month earlier. This resulted in a $15.8 million tax into state coffers and another $6.3 million in local share assessments.

Overall, sports betting and iGaming revenue pushed total August revenue for Pennsylvania’s 12 casinos to $310.7 million, an almost 6 percent increase over the same month last year—this despite brick-and-mortar casinos operating at 50 percent capacity.

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On This Day In Sports History

On August 23, 2017, Dodgers starter Rich Hill lost both a no-hitter and the game on a single pitch in a 1-0 loss to the Pirates at PNC Park. Hill carried a perfect game into the 9th inning before an error broke it up, though he retired the next three batters to keep the no-hitter intact. Returning for the 10th inning in a scoreless tie, Hill surrendered a walk-off home run on a 2-1 pitch to Pittsburgh leadoff hitter Josh Harrison.

On This Day In Sports History

On August 22, 1951, St. Louis Browns pitcher Tommy Byrne tied a major league record by issuing 16 walks in a 3-1, 13-inning loss to the Boston Red Sox at Sportsman's Park. Byrne faced 63 batters, struck out five, left 22 men on base, and even drove in St. Louis's only run with a fifth-inning double. Boston secured the victory in the top of the 13th behind a Ted Williams single and four two-out walks, including a bases-loaded pass to opposing pitcher Leo Kiely, who pitched 12 1/3 innings for the win.