In a year that started out with more legal gambling than ever taking place in Pennsylvania — to the benefit of operators and state government alike — COVID-19 dealt the gaming industry an unprecedented blow in 2020.
Revenue plummeted. Thousands of employees lost jobs. Government tax income dwindled. New projects were postponed.
Within casinos — when they were open — the happy buzz they promoted in the past diminished, with large crowds and live entertainment banned, alcohol service curtailed, and customers’ and workers’ smiles hidden behind masks.
And now, the calendar year is ending with all of the state’s casinos once more closed by government order due to the pandemic, just as it occurred throughout the spring.