Pennsylvania Online Gaming Licenses Still Up For Grabs

Pennsylvania Online Gaming Licenses Still Up For Grabs ( Click to Enlarge )

Ten online gambling licences available in Pennsylvania

10 Online Gaming Licenses

The state of Pennsylvania currently has 10 online gambling licences waiting to be claimed.

While the initial deadline for submitting applications to run an online casino from PA was pencilled in for July 17th, there remained little information as to whether any of the state’s current licencees would be willing to pay for the chance to provide online table games, virtual slots or poker.

Initial Bids

However, fears that the online gambling industry in Pennsylvania had died a death were put to rest when it was announced that no less than nine casinos had decided to submit petitions to offer all three gaming options. Each casino paid a staggering $10 million for the privilege.

After the initial deadline closed, operators were offered the chance to purchase licences in a piecemeal fashion, whereby two more casinos decided to get in on the action, albeit at an additional cost. Mohegan Sun, for example, paid $12 million in total for the right to offer all three formats (poker, table games and slots).

Another casino, Presque Isle Downs, got involved shortly afterwards, but opted out of the chance to offer peer-to-peer live poker, saving them $4 million (with a total bill of $8 million).

Only two casinos in Pennsylvania decided against purchasing an iGaming licence. Lady Luck Nemacolin and The Meadows both opted against implementing an online platform, and both companies declined to give a reason why.

Withdrawals

By October 4th, Rivers Casino, owned by Rush Street Gaming, had changed their mind.

The firm notified the gaming control board that it would be rescinding its application for interactive gaming. Instead, it will act as a sister casino of Pennsylvania’s SugarHouse, by simply advertising services to the market in Western Pennsylvania.

At the current state of play, four poker, three slots and three table games licences are still up for grabs.

Speculation is rife as to what this means next for the Pennsylvania gambling industry.

Will a major player come along and take more licences, or will an upstart enter the fray with an all-new online casino platform? Either way, it’s sure to be an exciting time for the industry over the forthcoming months.

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