It looks like any further delays to the introduction of online gambling in Pennsylvania have been averted. This observation comes on the heels of a very exciting announcement from Caesars Interactive Entertainment (CIE). Just last week, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) issued the state’s very first three online gaming licenses in favor of Harrah’s Casino Philadelphia (CIE Affiliate), Parx Casino, operated by Greenwood Gaming & Entertainment, Inc., and Mount Airy Resort Casinos, operated by Mount Airy #1, LLC.
All online casinos in PA are licensed and under the jurisdiction of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. Players are protected by know your customer (KYC) guidelines and responsible gaming laws. The games are tested for integrity and fairness. A complaint and dispute process is available if necessary. When it comes to Pennsylvania online casinos, you really can’t get any safer. Dec 30, 2019 Pennsylvania is by far the most populous state with legal, regulated online gambling in the US.The omnibus expansion Gov. Tom Wolf signed into law in 2017 authorized interactive gaming across multiple verticals — including lottery, casino, fantasy sports, sports betting, and poker. The online lottery is live, several sportsbooks are open for business, and the.
In a press release, Harrah’s Philadelphia Senior Vice President and General Manager Chris Albrecht stated, “We thank the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board and look forward to continuing to work together on the next steps in bringing online gaming to Harrah’s Philadelphia, We see this as a great opportunity to bring new customers into our Total Rewards network and for all customers to play with us both online and at the property.”
Melanie Gross, CIE’s vice president of online casino added, “We’re very bullish on the offering online gaming provides our guests and are excited for the opportunity Pennsylvania presents. We have a wealth of knowledge and experience from our six years in the online gaming space in the US and believe we’ll be able to hit the ground running in Pennsylvania when online gaming commences in the state.”
Under the terms of the licensing agreements, each operator will be allowed to offer poker, table games and online slots. The next step in the process will be implementing software platforms. All eyes will be focused on the selection process because of it might affect future software package negotiations with other online casinos in other states.
While nothing has yet be set into concrete, here’s how things seem to be heading. It’s highly likely Harrah’s will sign with 888’s WSOP.com website for its poker product and perhaps NYX for its online casino. It’s noteworthy Caesar’s already has a strong relationship with these providers. Early indications have Parx Casino leaning towards GAN. As for Mount Airy, things could swing one of two ways. The early favorite would have been 888 based on the strong relationship these two entities already share. However, reports are coming in that PokerStars.com has completed a deal to provide the software platform for Mount Airy’s poker, casino and sports betting products.
In all, nine casinos submitted applications for online gaming licenses in Pennsylvania. The other casinos, all of which are still under consideration, include Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem, Hollywood Casino at Penn National Racecourse, Valley Fore Casino resort, Live! Hotel and Casino, Rivers Casino and Sugarhouse Casino. Based on licensing requirements, each casino was required to pay an application fee of $10 million for all three licenses (poker, casino, table games) combined. Future applications will require a payment of $12 million.
Each casino will be required to pay the state a 54% tax on slot revenues, which is inline with the tax rate for land-based casinos. The applicable tax rate for slots and table games will be 14%.
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On Oct. 30, 2017, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf signed into law a gambling expansion package that legalized and regulated online casino games, plus daily fantasy sports and sports betting.
The first three online casinos in Pennsylvania launched on July 15, 2019, and five more are expected before the end of the year. Five online sportsbooks and sports betting apps are also already live with more to come.
Online poker is still to come, although it’s on the near horizon with PokerStars Pennsylvania due to launch imminently.
The new legislation legalizes a diverse range of online gaming activity, including:
Online casinos in Pennsylvania
Video gambling terminals (VGTs)
Daily fantasy sports (DFS)
Satellite casinos
Sports betting (dependent on the Supreme Court ruling)
Pennsylvania online casinos
Casinos first became legal in Pennsylvania in 2004. Today, Pennsylvania boasts the sixth largest population in the U.S., and it generates more gaming tax revenue for the state than Nevada.
The gambling industry is heavily taxed in Pennsylvania which means a casino must consider its impact before it enters the online casino market. Even so, most, if not all of the land-based casinos are expected to join the online gaming market.
Pennsylvania online casinos were estimated to earn approximately $154 million in revenue during Year 1. The projection is consistent with New Jersey’s online casino performance.
Evidence suggests the revenue will come from new customers, not necessarily existing ones, as online casinos have a far greater reach.
Pennsylvania Casinos Online Poker
At least seven Pennsylvania online casinos have applied for licenses with partners to provide online poker along with their casino games. They are:
Mount Airy (PokerStars)
Harrah’s (888/WSOP)
Valley Forge (partypoker)
SugarHouse
Hollywood Casino
Parx
Wind Creek
Pennsylvania casino partnerships
In anticipation of legalized online gambling, retail casinos several years ago began forging partnerships with software platforms and online casinos operating in New Jersey. As mentioned seven are licensed for online poker so far; here’s a look at a few of the partnerships.
Mount Airy Casino (PokerStars)
Hollywood Online Casino Pennsylvania
Mount Airy Casino surprised many in Pennsylvania when it signed a deal with PokerStars in August 2018. It will launch the first online poker site in Pennsylvania in the Fall of 2019.
Harrah’s
As part of Caesars Entertainment, Harrah’s operates as WSOP.com in a partnership with 888. It is the only company currently offering online gambling products in both Nevada and New Jersey.
Valley Forge (partypoker)
Once the most trafficked poker site in the world, partypoker has surged back into international prominence in recent years. Massive online tournament guarantees, drastically improved software and a burgeoning partypoker Live tour have also had a big impact. It’s expected Valley Forge and partypoker will launch their co-branded online poker site in 2020.
Mohegan Sun Pocono
The tribal operator manages the operations of Resorts Casino in Atlantic City. Resorts online casino teamed up with software provider NYX to offer a suite of online casino games. Additionally, PokerStars operates under Resorts’ license in New Jersey. Of note: Scientific Games acquired NYX in January 2018.
Parx
Even though Parx had some reservations about online gaming, they signed a multi-year agreement with software provider GAN back in 2014. Parx is already building a potential customer base with a social casino using GAN’s software.
Rivers and Sugarhouse
Rivers in Pittsburgh and SugarHouse Casino in Philadelphia are both owned by Rush Street Gaming. PlaySugarHouse.com operates under Golden Nugget’s online casino license in New Jersey. There is some speculation that Rush Street is eyeing NYX/Scientific Games for its Pennsylvania online casino.
Pennsylvania online casino FAQ
How old does a player need to be to gamble online in Pennsylvania?
Players must be 21 years of age or older to play online casino games or online poker in Pennsylvania. Fantasy sports enthusiasts must be 18 to participate in daily fantasy sports contests.
Do players need to live in Pennsylvania to play online casino games?
Players do not need to be a resident of Pennsylvania to play online casino games or online poker. However, players must physically be located in the state to participate.
When will online casino games go live in Pennsylvania?
There is speculation the first online casino will go live toward the end of 2018. The application for online casino licenses is currently underway, and there are no firm dates at this time.
How will online casinos know if a player is in Pennsylvania?
Regulated online casino sites use geolocation services to determine a player’s location. A player whose location cannot be verified will not be able to access online casino games.