The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) said it has reopened the process for out-of-state operators — aka Qualified Gaming Entities (QGEs) — to apply for an online poker or casino gaming license that is not tethered to a land-based casino in the state.
The PGCB announced Tuesday that it has 12 certificates available, each of which costs $4 million. Six of the certificates are for online poker, three certificates are for online slots, and another three are for online table games. Online sports betting is not included in the offer.
Although there are currently 18 PA online casinos, each of them is tied to the license of a land-based casino property — none have a standalone license as a QGE. But the state’s gaming law also allows licenses not tied to a casino and authorizes the PGCB to consider applications for such by QGEs.
The regulator said it will begin accepting applications for the 12 certificates on January 3, 2023. The application window will close two months later — on March 3, 2023.
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Interest in Certificates is Unknown
At first blush, it’s unclear how much interest there will be in the certificates.
Pennsylvania’s gaming law requires online operators to partner with a land-based casino, but there is no limit on the number of skins a land-based casino may have.
It’s certainly possible that one or more of the 18 online operators that are currently live in the state could switch to a standalone license. Doing so would allow the operator to work under its own license.
Considering that Pennsylvania is not a member of the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA) — a gaming compact for online poker and some casino gaming that includes Delaware, Michigan, Nevada, and New Jersey — it seems highly unlikely that an online poker operator not currently in the state (e.g., 888) would be interested in launching there.
The PGCB has projected that an additional 10 online casinos could launch in the Keystone State by June 23, 2023. Six operators — Bally Bet, Fanatics, Fubo, Golden Nugget, PlayStar, and WynnBET — have already begun the licensure process, according to the regulator. WynnBET received a license earlier this month.
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Golden Nugget Already Deemed a QGE
The last time the PGCB accepted applications from QGEs was the second half of October 2018. The regulator had 10 interactive gaming licenses available — four for online poker, three for slots, and three for table games.
At the conclusion of the first round of applications, two companies — MGM Resorts International and Golden Nugget — had confirmed that they had applied. PGCB ultimately determined that Golden Nugget qualified as a QGE, but to date, a certificate has not been issued.
DraftKings has since acquired Golden Nugget Online Gaming (GNOG). Since DraftKings is already on the land-based license of the Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course, it would seem that Golden Nugget Casino PA would launch there. But it could decide to get its own standalone license.
Another possible applicant this time around is Betfred. The operator runs online and retail sportsbooks at Wind Creek Bethlehem Casino, but its online casino platform hasn’t launched there.
Adding any online casinos would boost a market that hit a record $126.1 million in revenue in November, according to data from the PGCB.
Learn more about real money online casinos in Pennsylvania.
