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First Batch of PA Casino Developers Thumbs Upped for Online Gaming, More to Come

Online gambling in Pennsylvania is well on its way to take over the gambling field thanks to the most recent news pointing out that the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board has given its official permission to three casino developers to enter the online gambling scene. For the time being, no specific date for the launch of online gambling has been appointed by the authority.

The first casino developers and operators to enter the field of online gambling would be the three leading one on a state level. Chester Downs and Marina, LLC is the developer behind Harrah’s Casino Philadelphia which has always been amid the avid supporters of online gaming offerings. Greenwood Gaming & Entertainment, Inc. is the second operator developing Parx Casino in Bensalem and striving to have a foothold at all gaming sectors of Pennsylvania. As for the third casino operator approved for online offerings, that was Mount Airy Casino Resort LP overseeing operation at the Mount Airy Casino Resort in Pocono.

This third developer has been amid the highly discussed companies in the past week, as it announced its partnership with The Stars Group for sports betting and poker offerings under the brand PokerStars. This would be the second state offering PokerStars’ wide array of offerings, following online operation in New Jersey in collaboration with Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City. In addition to the three Pennsylvanian casino developer, there was also a fourth one with an application filed in, Penn National, but this Wednesday did not witness its case review.

Wednesday was a special day for all nine of the casino companies which applied for iGaming licensing, as they had the chance to be approved for operation and launch it in the foreseeable future. The 10-million Interactive Gaming Certificates were anticipating action for as many as three months, through which casino developers preferred to play the waiting game and not do anything in order to acquire one of them. Each of the three casino venues in Pennsylvania would now have the freedom to manage online slot machines, online table games, as well as online poker activities thanks to the permits.

Online Gaming Braces for Sector Launch

This wide array of offerings has been perceived as one of the missing pieces in the gambling field of the state, having the potential to elevate the overall gaming experience and make it much more appealing to both players and companies. These three operators were among the first ones to submit their applications for online offerings and as such, they received the right to be reviewed this week.

As for the remaining six developers to the liking of Rush Street Gaming, Mountainview Thoroughbred Racing Association, Sands Bethworks Gaming and others would have their applications reviewed in the upcoming monthly meetings of the gaming regulator in the next couple of months. There are also casino developers such as tribal operator Mohegan Sun, developing Mohegan Sun Pocono and Eldorado Resorts, managing Presque Isle Downs that also filed in applications for iGaming permits that have yet to be reviewed.

The next step for the authorities would be the mandatory equipment tests ensuring the operation could commence smoothly and continue without hiccups, as it has been confirmed by R. Douglas Sherman, Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board Chief Counsel. Following this recent approval, leading casino venues across the state would have the right to expand their gaming offerings and bring more to the region. The first and already confirmed new offerings would be PokerStars launch across the field, which could happen at the beginning of next year.

Online poker provided by the company would be fact, but sports betting offerings would have to wait some more, as the developer has yet to apply for a sports wagering permit of $10 million. This could happen in the upcoming months, but experts in the field have already expressed their concerns with the highest tax rates on sports wagering across the states, established in the state’s framework. Applications are yet to be seen by the authorities, allowing the field to commence operation.

In the meantime, Harrah’s Casino announced its partnership with 888 Casino and Poker, aligning with Caesars Entertainment’s long-winded policy. The provider has been closely operating with WSOP across states allowing iGaming such as Nevada and New Jersey and its online offering of poker could bring the leading poker brand to the state. What should be taken into account is that the Greenwood Gaming & Entertainment has not yet announced its online poker partner.

The only company revealed as of now is GAN which would provide help for the online gambling and sports wagering platform. Pennsylvania is looking forward to the launch of online gaming which is appealing to players from all age groups, but especially to the younger generation and the millennials.

They find it much more convenient to gamble online on their phones or in the comfort of their homes just like with every other life aspect, instead of making their way to the actual brick-and-mortar venue.



 Author: Harrison Young

Harrison Young is an experienced writer, who started his career almost 8 years ago. Prior to joining our team at CasinoGamesPro, he worked as an editor for a small magazine.
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