The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board issued a statement this week where it announced that it would be accepting applications from gambling operators and suppliers for online gaming licenses from the beginning of April this year.
The press release, titled rather long-windedly as Manufacturer and Supplier License Applications for Interactive Gaming and Video Gaming Terminals to be Accepted Beginning on April 2nd, noted that the applications are available on the authority’s website (gamingcontrolboard.pa.gov).
According to the statement, license applications for igaming manufacturers and suppliers, as well as truck stop video gaming terminals would be accepted. Those manufacturers who are already licensed by the PGCB will be allowed to submit an abbreviated application for a video gaming manufacturer license.
“The acceptance date of applications of iGaming Operators (platform providers) will be announced at a later date,” said the authority.
Under Act 42 that was signed in 2017, relating to the new Race Horse Development and Gaming Act, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board has been tasked to oversee all aspects of the state’s casino industry, including the newly opened online gambling market.
At present, Pennsylvania’s casino industry consists of 10 stand alone and race track casinos, as well as two smaller resort casinos. The Commonwealth collects over $1.4 billion in tax revenue from slot machines and table games each year, while 18,000 people are employed by the industry.
In October last year, Governor Tom Wolf signed the new gambling expansion bill that opened the door to legal and regulated online casino games and poker in the state.
According to The Washington Post, Wolf was not a huge fan of the expansion of gambling in Pennsylvania, however he is also a realist and understood that budget deficits had to be covered somehow.
At a press conference after signing the bill, Wolf said: “There’s been a lot of pressure from a lot of places in the commonwealth to actually expand this, and we do need some recurring revenue. Again, the goal has been all along to do what’s prudent, not cannibalize existing gambling revenue coming to the state, and I think what we’re settling on will actually do that.”
