New Gaming Study Shows 10% of PA Adults Are Gambling Online

Penn State researchers recently finished up a study involving the online gaming industry in the state, revealing 10% take part in the activity.

When a state begins to offer a new gambling element, there are usually studies conducted to see how things are going. In Pennsylvania, the state began offering online casino gaming in 2019, so it was high time to complete a new review of the industry. Penn State polled over 1,100 adults in the state over the past two years to see how the online gambling industry is progressing. In the findings, researchers stated that one in 10 residents are actively taking part in some type of online gambling activity. In the state, iGaming refers to mobile sports betting, online slots, table games, daily fantasy sports, and lottery games.

Findings of the Study

According to the study details, the one in ten adults that are gambling equals around one million adults taking part in the services. In general, the majority of bettors are sticking with sports betting instead of casino gaming online. Almost half of the participants of the study prefers sports betting.

It was back in 2017 that lawmakers decided to allow the legalization of online gambling. It then took two years for the state to get the industry up and running with licensing and regulations in place. Last year, the gross gaming revenue totals for slots and table games, plus rake from poker came in at over $1.12 billion. Add in fantasy sports and you have an additional $29.3 million.

Unfortunately, the state does not separate online and retail sports betting. Last year, the industry brought in over $340 million, and most bets were taken online. The exact amount though is unknown due to available information.

Interestingly, the study revealed that of the group of adults betting in the state, most are male. A total of 67.8% of those polled were male. The majority were white and only a small percentage were black bettors.

On average, gamblers say they spend around 5.8 hours a week gambling. Around $219 is lost weekly and almost seven out of 10 people surveyed said that they take part in retail gambling as well, be it visiting a casino or buying a lottery ticket at a local store.

Gambling Addiction Behavior

The researchers also concluded that of the online gambling players, over 44% have shown as least one sign of a gambling behavior issue. However, only around 2% have tried to seek help to limit or stop their behavior.

Fees and taxes paid by online gaming operators helped to fund the study, which will determine how the industry proceeds from here based on positive and negative findings. The report states that gambling is a problem when it affects relationships, creates a high feeling, work is missed, or other obligations are ignored so the individual can gamble.

Such behavior has a major impact on the financial, physical, and mental health of an individual. The researchers also revealed that the online gaming sector is subject to higher rates of addiction. The industry offers private gaming and because people do not have to interact with others, the secretive nature makes the option more appealing and addicting.

Of those surveyed, over 12% stated they felt they should gamble larger amounts within the past year, like a need to do so. The reason behind the feeling was to get a high or the feeling they achieved by winning a smaller bet.

30% of those surveyed said they are gambling more often while just under 4% say they have borrowed money or sold something to have the funds to gamble.