Sports betting in the Keystone State dipped a slight 3.3% in August compared to the same month in 2025, but year-over-year revenue declined a more significant 24%.
Key Takeaways
- Pennsylvania felt the impact of a fall calendar change more in revenue than handle.
- The state’s online and retail operators still combined for a double-digit hold.
- FanDuel and Fanatics produced the best online win rates in August.
The high handles produced during the World Cup in June and July dried up in August, which was highlighted by the NFL preseason, college football’s limited Week Zero games, and MLB.
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board reported on Thursday that $498.5 million was bet during the slowest month of the summer.
A handle drop was expected with college football starting a week later than in the previous August, when the final weekend included a full slate. It was the first monthly handle under $500 million since July 2025.
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Double-digit win rate
Despite Pennsylvania revenue falling, online and retail operators still produced a 10.1% hold. Still, August’s win rate was down from 12.9% as sportsbooks hauled in $50.5 million, the second-lowest monthly revenue total produced in 2026.
Online sportsbooks generated $476.9 million of the total handle and $48.7 million in gross revenue. Taxable revenue from online and retail combined to reach $39.4 million, generating $13.4 million in tax revenue for the Keystone State in August.
FanDuel takes top spot
| Online Operator | August Handle | Revenue |
|---|---|---|
| FanDuel | $167.7 million | $19.1 million |
| DraftKings | $158.4 million | $14.6 million |
| Fanatics | $35.7 million | $4.4 million |
| BetMGM | $31.9 million | $3.5 million |
| bet365 | $26.3 million | $2.6 million |
FanDuel topped all online Pennsylvania sports betting operators with a $167.7-million handle and produced an 11.4% hold, well above the state average for August. DraftKings wasn’t far behind with a handle of $158.4 million, but its win rate fell below double digits.
Those two online operators accounted for 68.4% of the total online handle. Fanatics finished third in the Keystone State with a $35.7-million handle and won back an impressive 12.3%.
BetMGM had an 11% hold on a $31.9-million handle, while bet365 just reached double digits on $26.3 million in wagers.
Total gaming revenue
Pennsylvania produced $569.7 million in total revenue from all forms of gaming during August, which was down 2.16% from the same month in 2025. Tax revenue reached $249 million.
Online casinos accounted for $245.7 million of the revenue total, a 6.25% year-over-year increase, and generated $113.5 million in tax revenue for the state. Retail table revenue was down 18% compared to August 2025, while slot revenue dipped a slight 1.3%.
