The Keystone State is poised to introduce internet gambling in July, with online wagering commencing in a few weeks.
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) has declared that internet gambling will become operational in Pennsylvania on July 15th, with the state’s initial online sports betting offerings launching within a three-week timeframe.
The PGCB’s chief executive, Kevin O’Toole, verified the online gambling launch date at a gathering yesterday (March 17th). O’Toole stated that the date was established after regulatory personnel examined the estimated duration required for the PGCB and operators to finalize all essential pre-launch prerequisites, and they concluded that 90 days was adequate.
Consequently, the state’s 10 internet gambling certificate holders and three online gambling operators have been notified that the synchronized launch will commence on July 15th.
The launch will introduce online poker, slots, and table games to Pennsylvania, with seven casinos authorized to provide all three products and 10 licensed to offer slots and table games. The licensing fee for each product is $4 million (£3.1 million/€3.6 million), but entities applying for all three products can benefit from a reduced price of $10 million.
Just two states, out of thirteen with gambling venues, have not yet requested permits.
Pennsylvania will initiate online betting in a matter of weeks, and a representative for the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board has stated that a licensed casino operator is anticipated to commence live trials within the next two to three weeks.
It is uncertain which operator is on the verge of launching its online venture, and whether any of the remaining seven operators that have established physical gambling operations will follow suit.
The state’s physical gambling market achieved its highest monthly performance to date in March, with earnings rising by 183.5% from the previous month to $5.5 million (£4.2 million/€4.9 million), and betting activity increasing by 41% to $44.5 million. Eight operators have commenced operations thus far, with Boyd Gaming’s Valley Forge Casino Resort (March 13) and Greenwood Gaming’s Valley Forge Racing & Sportsbook (March 14) being the most recent additions.
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