Three Additional Interactive Gaming Certificates Available for Qualified Gaming Entities

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board announced that three additional interactive gaming certificates have become available following the withdrawal of an application for these games by a qualified Commonwealth casino.

The withdrawal, by the Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh, included requests to offer all three types of interactive gaming: peer-to-peer (poker games in which patrons play directly against each other); non-peer-to-peer simulating slot machines; and non-peer-to-peer simulating banked table games (wherein the patron plays against the house – e.g. blackjack). This results in a total of 10 certificates now available for Qualified Gaming Entities that wish to offer interactive gaming in the Commonwealth.

In an earlier process provided in Act 42 of 2017, the Commonwealth’s 13 slot machine licensees had the first opportunity to apply for and obtain the 39 available interactive gaming certificates (13 in each of the three types). That process ended with 32 of the certificates claimed with seven remaining for Qualified Gaming Entities. The withdrawal now leaves 10 available in a process in which Qualified Gaming Entities seeking these available certificates can file a petition with the Board beginning October 15, 2018 and ending October 31, 2018.

The number of now available certificates in each game type are:
4 – peer-to-peer simulating poker
3 – non-peer-to-peer simulating slot machines
3 – non-peer-to-peer simulating banked table games

The process and key dates for Qualified Gaming Entities to petition the Board remain the same and is outlined in a document that can be accessed in the Quick Links section of the agency’s website homepage, www.gamingcontrolboard.pa.gov, under the link “Notice: Interactive Gaming Qualified Gaming Entity Licensing Process.”

Statement from Rivers Casino Pittsburgh:

“Rivers Casino Pittsburgh intends to provide iGaming to Western Pennsylvania and the Commonwealth; however, we’re taking additional time to explore the various options for doing so. Rivers is actively pursuing a sports wagering certificate to offer both land-based and mobile sports betting.” – stated Jack Horner for Rivers Casino Pittsburgh.

About the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board:

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board is tasked to oversee all aspects of the state’s casino industry, along with oversight of new gaming initiatives created through amendments to the Race Horse Development and Gaming Act recently approved by the signing of Act 42 of 2017.

The Commonwealth’s casino industry currently consists of 10 stand-alone and racetrack casinos in operation, along with the two smaller resort casinos.  These facilities collectively employ 17,000 people and annually generate approximately $1.4 billion in tax revenue from slot machine and table games play. The largest portion of that money is used for property tax reduction to all Pennsylvania homeowners.

Additional information about both the PGCB’s gaming regulatory efforts and Pennsylvania’s gaming industry can be found at gamingcontrolboard.pa.gov. You can also follow the agency on Twitter by choosing @PAGamingControl.

Source: Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board