Raising the Stakes: Online Poker Revenue Surges in Legal US Market to Start New Year

It may be winter, but online poker in the US is staying hot. Industry revenue posted month-over-month growth in most legal states.

Overall, online gaming in general is growing monthly. PokerStars, partypoker US Network, and WSOP.com continue to expand and create new promotions monthly. In the US, real money online poker is currently up and running in the following states: 

• New Jersey
• Pennsylvania
• Michigan
• Nevada
• Delaware

New Jersey players show up in January 

Garden State online poker sites hit $2.5 million in January, a nice start to the year. According to the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (NJDGE), that total is up 25% from $2  million in December. There are currently three online poker operators in the state including:

• WSOP.com/888poker
• partypoker US Network (including Borgata Poker and BetMGM skins)
• PokerStars

WSOP.com  showed month-over-month growth in January and remains the top online poker site in New Jersey for three straight months. The operator started the year with revenue of $961,931, up from December’s $848,882.

The platform remains the only operator offering shared liquidity, with Nevada and 888poker in Delaware. Each month WSOP.com offers a chance to win WSOP Circuit rings.

Partypoker and Pokerstars both saw month-over-month growth for the second month in a row.  Party remained in second place and reported $848,788 in revenue.

PokerStars showed the biggest monthly gain yet again. The site reported $747,070, up from the $685,575 posted in December.

In the New Jersey live poker scene, only three rooms are open in Atlantic City including:

• Borgata (offers weekly tournaments)
• Harrahs 
• Tropicana

Borgata recently held its first multi-day tournament since before the pandemic. Over President’s Day Weekend, the casino hosted a $200,000 guaranteed event. 

NJ online gaming up again

For the month of January, Internet gaming win reported by casinos and their partners reached $137.8 million. That number reflects growth of 32.8% compared to $103.8 million for the prior period. 

January set more records as iGaming partners reached $137.8 million in January. This was up from $133.2 in the previous month.

The Borgata/BetMGM brand remains king of the Garden State for 11 straight months BetMGM grabbed $39.1 million in revenue to start the year.

Golden Nugget online casino stayed close behind with $36.4 million and Resorts finished in third with $33 million.

According to a NJDGE, total gaming revenue reported by casinos, racetracks, and their partners was $381.7 million for January. That’s a 10.3% increase from $346.2 million reported in January 2021.

Gaming taxes represent 8% of taxable casino gross revenue and 15% of Internet gaming gross revenue.

Pennsylvania online poker hits $3 million mark again

Online poker revenue in the Keystone State was up yet again in January. Pennsylvania topped December’s $3 million by posting $3.3 million in poker revenue.

The commonwealth currently has three online poker choices in Pennsylvania:

• PokerStars 
• partypoker US Network via the Borgata Poker and BetMGM skins
• WSOP.com

PokerStars ranked number one in the state by finishing the month with over $2.2 million for the month.

WSOP.com was also up month over month, bringing in $806,692. Partypoker US Network (BetMGM/Borgata Poker) was the only operator that saw a downswing, finishing third with $345,390. 

Internet gaming set another record in January. The state showed gross internet revenue of $108.3 million in January. 

As reported by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, total January gaming revenue was $393.1 million. The state reported annual growth of 26%. According to the PGCB, iGaming taxes alone accounted for $44.6 million.

Live poker rooms in PA

In live poker news, Philadelphia casinos have lifted their vaccination requirement. Masks are still required in casinos in the city limits however.

Here’s a look at open Pennsylvania poker rooms:

• Parx Casino
• Mohegan Sun Pocono
• Mount Airy Casino Resort
• Rivers Casino Philadelphia 
• Rivers Casino Pittsburgh
• Meadows Racetrack and Casino
• Philadelphia Live Casino 
• Wind Creek Bethlehem 
• Pittsburgh Live Casino 

Here is a look at all the poker action happening in February in live Pennsylvania casinos.

Michigan produces strong month

The Wolverine State stayed flat month over month, but still put up some impressive totals. According to the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB), online casinos and poker brought in $121.2 million in revenue.

Michigan combines poker and online casino gambling in the state’s revenue report. There are two online poker operators including:

• PokerStars
• BetMGM (part of the partypoker US Network)

MGM continues to roll out monthly poker promotions. The platform has highlighted its monthly online series as a way to get players to gravitate toward the site. PokerStars also remains active in rolling out tournament series. 

Both BetMGM and FanDuel casino reported good online gaming numbers again for January. BetMGM was slightly down month over month and posted $43.8 million.

FanDuel saw a slight gain, bringing in $17.6 million up from the $17.3 million the month before. Online gaming operators produced $20.5 million in tax revenue and local share to the state including:

• Internet gaming taxes and payments – $19.1 million
• Internet sports betting taxes and payments – $596,001

“As much as sports betting continues to grow, casino gambling remains the bedrock of the online gaming industry,” PlayUSA analyst Eric Ramsey said. “With no competition imminent from neighboring states, online casinos in Michigan will continue to grow and drive millions in tax revenue for the state.”

Six Michigan brick and mortar live poker rooms have reopened including:

• MGM Grand Detroit
• Motor City Casino Hotel 
• Greektown Casino-Hotel
• Odawa Casino Petoskey 
• Firekeepers Casino Hotel
• Island Resort & Casino

Michigan casinos are continuing to look for poker dealers and employees as rooms reopen after the pandemic. That seems a nice sign for the return of live poker.

Delaware revenue slides for first time in three months

The First State saw an online poker decrease for the first time since September. The state reported $41,468 for January, down about 4% month over month. 

According to the Delaware Lottery, iGaming in total hit the million-dollar mark in the state yet again. The state showed a net of $1.1 million for online casino results.

Registrations were also up month over month by about 5%. Delaware reported 869 new player registrations in January.

In Delaware, 888poker operates three different skins in partnership with Delaware’s racetrack casinos including:

• Delaware Park
• Bally’s Dover
• Harrington Casino and Raceway

Delaware Park continues to hold the top spot in the state for online poker, reporting $26,860 for the month. Delaware Park is the only live poker room open in the state.