The Keystone State is set to commence its iGaming operation in July, with internet gambling becoming accessible in a matter of weeks.
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) has declared that online wagering will go live in Pennsylvania on the 15th of July, with the state’s initial online sports betting offerings launching within a three-week timeframe.
The launch date for internet gambling was confirmed by Executive Director Kevin O’Toole at yesterday’s (March 17th) PGCB meeting. O’Toole stated that the date was established after regulatory staff examined the projected time needed for the PGCB and operators to finalize all essential pre-launch prerequisites, and concluded that 90 days was adequate.
Consequently, the state’s 10 iGaming certificate holders and 3 online gambling operators have been notified that the synchronized launch will commence on July 15th.
The launch will introduce online poker, slot machines, and table games to Pennsylvania, with 7 casinos authorized to provide all 3 products, and 10 licensed to offer slots and table games. Each product license carries a cost of $4 million (£3.1 million/€3.6 million), but companies seeking all 3 can secure a discounted price of $10 million.
Just two gambling houses have yet to seek permits, while a total of thirteen gambling houses exist.
Pennsylvania will start online betting in a few weeks, and according to a PGCB representative, one approved gambling house operator is anticipated to begin live testing in the next two to three weeks.
It is presently unclear which operator will begin online services first, and whether any of the other seven operators that have started retail betting will follow suit.
In March, the state’s retail betting market achieved an all-time high, with income increasing 183.5% month-on-month to $5.5 million (£4.2 million/€4.9 million), and wagering increasing 41% to $44.5 million. So far, eight operators have started services, with Boyd Gaming’s Valley Forge Casino Resort (March 13) and Greenwood Gaming’s Valley Forge Racing & Sportsbook (March 14) being the most recent to start.
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