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Penn State study shows that most survey respondents gamble offline and online
A new report out of Pennsylvania State University suggests that online gaming is not cannibalizing in-person play among study participants.
While the debate over the impact of legalized online casino play continues in several state houses across the United States, there is new scholarship from researchers at Penn State University that suggests people in Pennsylvania haven't abandoned physical gaming venues to play online exclusively. According to the results of the survey, the largest plurality of participants report playing both offline and online in PA.
Demographic report reveals mixed play is most common
The Pennsylvania Interactive Gaming Assessment for 2025 from Penn State is a deep dive into the survey responses of thousands of people in Pennsylvania who took part via mail, online, and telephone polling. Overall, the study suggests that the prevalence of gaming among PA residents is on the rise.
The data suggest that between 17% and 30% of adults in PA took part in online gaming in some form over the past year. While that includes licensed PA online casino apps, the study does not segment out any specific gaming vertical in that regard.
That is a significant rise from previous years, which showed online gaming participation between 16% and 20%. However, other data suggest that this increase is not due to players choosing the best online casino platforms in PA over land-based gaming venues in the state.
For example, over 41% of respondents who said they play slots and nearly 40% of participants who claimed they participate in table online casino games for real money said they do so both online and offline, compared to only 12.5% and fewer than 10% who reported only doing so online. Additionally, the greatest plurality of survey respondents reported playing exclusively offline at over 43%.
Meanwhile, just under 4% of participants claimed that their gaming over the past year was done exclusively online. There are other findings from the study pertaining to online casino play in PA, where residents have access to megaways slots and other unique games.
Mixed and online play correlating to problem gaming in survey
The report proclaims that respondents who play exclusively online along with both offline and online "were more likely to be classified as problem gamblers than" people who reported playing exclusively offline. Moreover, the study identified that participants who stated that they play exclusively offline or exclusively online shared that their primary motivation for playing is "to win money" at a higher rate than people who played in both modes.
The report clarifies that the strongest points of correlation between classification as a problem gambler and activity deal with the variety of gaming formats accessed, time spent playing, money wagered, and value of losses. Comparatively, limiting correlation to mode of play (mixed, offline, online) was weak in all regards.
Overall, the report assesses people who gamble online as "in the middle" in terms of risk for experiencing harms from gaming. The study recommends that clearer and more frequent online messaging about gaming risks become a regular part of advertisements for offers like the Borgata Casino promo code.
The 2025 Pennsylvania Interactive Gaming Assessment shows that among respondents, offline gaming is as popular as ever amid a general rise in online play. It also suggests that more effective educational programs are necessary to divert problematic attitudes about gaming in the commonwealth.
Written by Derek Helling
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