Pennsylvania Casinos Can Now Submit Petitions For Online Gambling Licenses
Published April 30, 2018 by Elana K
Pennsylvania land-based casinos have 90 days to submit petitions to purchase online gambling licenses.
The 90-day window for Pennsylvania’s 13 land-based casinos to submit petitions for online gambling licenses is now open. Over the course of the next 3 months, the casinos can apply for full licenses only, which includes the ability to offer tables games, slot machines, and poker. Full licenses cost $10 million apiece.
While applying for a license sounds easy enough, Doug Harbach, director of communications for the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB), confirmed that there’s more paperwork involved than a regular application.
It’s a little different than just an application, they have to send in a legal petition that we’re to receive. We were just talking about that today, as a matter of fact, because there’s a litany of things from the act that they have to supply in that petition.
Despite the heavy paperwork involved, casinos will undoubtedly undertake it since this is the only way they can receive online gambling licenses.
What Happens Once the Window Closes?
After the 90-day window for full license petitions closes, a new 30-day window will begin. This time period will be for casinos that don’t want a full online gambling license, but rather, they just want the ability to offer 1 or 2 of the 3 parts of the license: Online poker, slots, or table games. These licenses cost $4 million each.
After the 30-day window, if there are any licenses that haven’t been bought yet, “qualified gaming entities” will be allowed to place their bids.
Who’s Applying?
As of now, there is no word on whether any casinos have applied for licenses or which ones plan on applying in the 90-day window. It may even take up to 6 months to find out which casinos applied and received licenses. But at least the ball has started to roll.
