Rivers Casino, one of several Pennsylvania casinos that applied to offer online gambling, has withdrawn its application, according to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. The Pittsburgh-based casino gave no explanation for the fact that it is no longer seeking to offer online poker, online slots and online poker games in the state’s new igaming landscape. No changes were made to Rivers Casino’s application to offer sports betting.
A statement issued by Rivers Casino shows, however, that the casino is not ruling out online gambling products in the future.
“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,” said spokesperson, Jack Horner. “Rivers is actively pursuing a sports wagering certificate to offer both land-based and mobile sports betting.”
The owner of Rivers Casino, Rush Street Gaming, is no stranger to online gambling in the United States. The company, which owns another Pennsylvania property, SugarHouse Casino, is active in New Jersey’s online gambling market through its PlaySugarHouse brand. The decision could be based on financial considerations; a strong likelihood since the group has made no signs of withdrawing an online gambling application made by SugarHouse Casino.
At a cost of $10 million paid to operate under the three online gambling categories, Rush Street may have reconsidered the need to have both its Pennsylvania casinos as license holders.
The decision by Rush Street Gaming to halt its online gambling license application for now, means that there are now three more interactive gaming licenses up for grabs – a total now of ten. A breakdown shows that there are four online poker licenses and three each of online slot and online table game licenses now available.
Qualified gaming entities – not limited to Pennsylvania casinos – are now being invited to apply for these licenses until October 31st, 2018.
The state’s gambling authority gave the green light to two more online casino petitions last week – to Valley Forge Casino and Sands Bethlehem Casino.
