Pennsylvania’s Only Casino Without Live Dealer Table Games Is Finally Adding Them

Live Tables Move From Approval to Launch

Parx Shippensburg has already entered the final phase of implementation.

The new live dealer tables underwent testing overseen by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board earlier this week, clearing the final regulatory hurdle ahead of public play. The casino is planning a soft launch of live table games beginning Jan. 30, pending final approval, with a formal grand opening weekend expected on Feb. 6.

The live dealer area will feature 12 traditional tables offering Blackjack, Roulette, Ultimate Texas Hold ’em, and Three Card Poker.

A Unique Position — and a Costly One

Since opening, Parx Shippensburg has operated electronic table games rather than conventional live-dealer tables. While those games use real cards and roulette wheels, wagering is conducted through terminals rather than at physical tables.

That model made Shippensburg an outlier in Pennsylvania’s casino market — and the 2025 revenue data suggests it has struggled to compete.

According to figures released by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, Parx Shippensburg generated $592,417 in table-game revenue in 2025, down 32.21% from $873,904 in 2024. No other casino in the state posted a larger percentage decline in table games revenue last year.

The property ranked last among Pennsylvania casinos by table-game revenue. The second-lowest facility was The Casino at Nemacolin, which generated nearly $2.7 million in 2025, a 10.85% yearly growth rate.

Table Games’ Declining Performance in PA

Across Pennsylvania, retail table-game revenue totaled $925.4 million in 2025. That represented a 1.25% decrease from $937.2 million in 2024, even as the state’s iGaming market continued to post record results.

Notably, the segment’s revenue has declined each year since its 2022 peak. Then, table games generated $990.6 million. In 2023, that number was $971.7 million.

While the 2025 figure reflects a continued statewide softening of the segment, the downturn was unevenly distributed.

Ten properties posted gains — including Parx Casino in Bensalem, Wind Creek Bethlehem, and Valley Forge Casino Resort — while others experienced moderate declines.

Parx Shippensburg, however, stood out both for the size of its drop and the absolute scale of its table-game business. The only other casino with a comparable drop was Hollywood Casino at the Meadows.

Electronic Tables vs. Live Tables: A Clear Performance Gap

The contrast becomes sharper when comparing Shippensburg to smaller, destination-style properties that offer live dealer games.

For example, The Casino at Nemacolin — with roughly 26 traditional table games on its floor — generated about $2.7 million in table-game revenue in 2025. That’s more than four times the revenue at Parx Shippensburg’s 48 all-electronic table games.

At the same time, Nemacolin produced roughly $25.5 million in slot revenue. That’s approximately 1.5 times less than Shippensburg’s $38.3 million, despite having approximately the same number of slot machines.

These figures highlight how live table games can materially outperform electronic formats on a per-property basis.

The comparison underscores a broader industry reality: while electronic tables offer operational efficiencies, they often fail to generate the same revenue density or player engagement as traditional live dealer games.

A Different Strategy Than Las Vegas

The move highlights a divergence between regional casino strategy and some recent decisions in Las Vegas.

Last year, Golden Gate Casino, downtown Las Vegas’ oldest operating casino, announced it would replace all its live dealer table games with electronic table games.

The property’s owner, Derek Stevens, said the decision was based on the success of another of his properties, Circa. He said that after Circa removed live dealer games from its second floor, the property has “exploded in popularity.”

The move reflects a belief among some operators that younger, more tech-savvy customers are increasingly comfortable with electronic table formats.

Pennsylvania’s data, however, suggests that regional markets may still depend on live tables as a competitive necessity, even if the segment is no longer a growth engine.

What It Signals for Parx Shippensburg

Parx Shippensburg’s addition of live dealer games marks a strategic reset after a year in which its electronic table model underperformed more sharply than any other casino in the state.

While live tables are unlikely to reverse broader statewide trends on their own, the 2025 revenue figures make clear that remaining without them carried a measurable cost. Once live dealer games go live, Shippensburg will no longer be an exception in Pennsylvania’s casino landscape — and will have a clearer opportunity to compete on equal footing with its peers.