Clicky

Pa. Starts Accepting Sports Betting License Applications - PennsylvaniaCasinos.com News : PennsylvaniaCasinos.com News
sports-betting-cash
Published on
Update on
Author

After deciding on temporary regulations for sports betting last Wednesday, the seven-member Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) followed through with more developments on Thursday when they begin accepting sports betting license applications from the state’s existing casino license holders. A product of a unanimous agreement among the members of the PGCB, the temporary regulations mark the first action the state is taking in light of the United States Supreme Court ruling that abolished PASPA.

“The actions taken by the board are the first in our efforts to launch sports wagering in Pennsylvania as soon as possible,” said Kevin O’Toole, executive director of the gaming control board in a statement released last week. “In the coming months, we expect to regularly ask the board for approval of additional temporary regulations that will move us toward a launch of this new gaming initiative.”

The Terms

According to the law that the regulations are based on, any entity holding a sports betting license will be expected to conduct the betting at a licensed facility or at a temporary facility for up to 18 months, or through the internet. Also, in case the facility is Category 1 racetrack casino, the wagering must take place in a non-primary location where it offers other forms of betting.

“There is myriad of regulations that have to be put together that’s going to control how this is done in Pennsylvania. And, understand, outside of Nevada and Europe, there’s not a lot of templates out there that tell the gaming control board in Pennsylvania how to structure this,” Doug Harbach said. “We understand that there are a lot of entities that would like to get this underway as soon as possible, but at the same time, our main function here is to protect the public. We’re going to make sure all regulations are tied up before (sports betting) gets launched.”

In the applications, the operators, among other things, will have to prove that they have appropriate financing to run a sports book,  they have experience or know-how to experience to do it as well as that appropriate security systems are in place. By law, the board will have 120 days after they receive an application to perform necessary background checks and system review before the licenses are issued.

In addition to the temporary regulations, the PGCB through its secretary is receiving public comments relating to sports wagering – interested parties or entities have until June 15 to submit these comments by either mail or email.

The board is yet to announce the official dates when sports betting will finally go live in the Keystone State, which means that while the casinos may get approved for the gaming certificates, they may not be able to begin offering sports wagering immediately since the PGCB still has to draft and approve permanent sports betting regulations.

Latest Headlines

Will Pennsylvania Be the Next Esports Betting Hotspot?

Pennsylvania could soon become the latest U.S. state to embrace esports betting, thanks to a newly proposed bill aimed at expanding the state’s regulated wagering market. State Representative Ed Neilson has introduced House Bill 1636, a legislative push that seeks to amend Pennsylvania’s 2017 Gaming Expansion Act to include esports betting. This is Neilson’s second […]

Pennsylvania Casinos Set for Modernization as Slot Machine Requirements Face Major Overhaul

Pennsylvania’s gaming industry is on the verge of a significant shift as Senate Bill 840 moves closer to becoming law. The bill, which recently passed in the state Senate, proposes reducing the mandatory minimum number of slot machines at Category 1 and 2 casinos from 1,500 to 1,000, offering operators much-needed flexibility to stay competitive […]

PA’s Skill Game Controversy Heats Up with Hundreds of Machines Removed

As it turns out, March was a big month for Pennsylvania’s gambling scene, but not for the usual reasons. Instead of new online casino launches or sportsbook promotions, the spotlight turned to a statewide crackdown on illegal gambling devices. Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday, in partnership with the Pennsylvania State Police, spearheaded a coordinated sweep […]

New Fanatics Casino App Now Live in Pennsylvania

Fanatics, best known for its sports merchandise empire, has officially launched its standalone online casino app for Pennsylvania players. The new platform allows direct access to casino games without needing to go through the Fanatics Sportsbook, marking a significant step in the company’s expansion into the Keystone State’s growing iGaming market. While the web version […]

WSOP Online Breaks New Ground with Four-State Network

The WSOP Online platform, operated by Caesars Entertainment, Inc., has broken new ground in the regulated US poker business by bringing together players from four different states. Now that Pennsylvania has joined Nevada, New Jersey, and Michigan in providing a common player pool across all four states, Caesars has positioned WSOP Online as the only site […]

Similar Stories in Gambling

Will Pennsylvania Be the Next Esports Betting Hotspot?

Pennsylvania could soon become the latest U.S. state to embrace esports betting, thanks to a newly proposed bill aimed at expanding the state’s regulated wagering market. State Representative Ed Neilson has introduced House Bill 1636, a legislative push that seeks to amend Pennsylvania’s 2017 Gaming Expansion Act to include esports betting. This is Neilson’s second […]

Pennsylvania Casinos Set for Modernization as Slot Machine Requirements Face Major Overhaul

Pennsylvania’s gaming industry is on the verge of a significant shift as Senate Bill 840 moves closer to becoming law. The bill, which recently passed in the state Senate, proposes reducing the mandatory minimum number of slot machines at Category 1 and 2 casinos from 1,500 to 1,000, offering operators much-needed flexibility to stay competitive […]

PA’s Skill Game Controversy Heats Up with Hundreds of Machines Removed

As it turns out, March was a big month for Pennsylvania’s gambling scene, but not for the usual reasons. Instead of new online casino launches or sportsbook promotions, the spotlight turned to a statewide crackdown on illegal gambling devices. Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday, in partnership with the Pennsylvania State Police, spearheaded a coordinated sweep […]

Pennsylvania iGaming Growth Outpaces Sports Betting in First 2025 Revenue Report

After a great 2024, Pennsylvania’s gaming industry has had a strong start in 2025, with total gaming revenue reaching $529.1 million in January, marking a 10.9% year-over-year increase. However, the month’s performance was a tale of two markets whose performance will certainly have a bearing on the future. While iGaming continued its rapid growth, sports […]