After weeks of waiting, it finally happened. Pennsylvania has an applicant for an interactive gaming license.
PlayPennsylvania learned that Parx Casino parent company Greenwood Gaming and Entertainment filed an application with the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) on July 12. The company wants all three interactive gaming licenses.
For $10 million, the company will ostensibly get:
- A peer-to-peer online gaming license which allows them to offer things like online poker
- A license to offer online slot machines
- A license to offer online table games
Parx partnering with GAN to offer online casino site
As expected, casino software company GAN will work with Parx to build and offer online gambling. The two companies already launched a free-money online casino in 2015.
GAN also has experience offering real-money online casinos in the US. The company powers Betfair’s online casino in New Jersey. Additionally, the company recently launched the brand-new online casino site for Ocean Resort Casino. The property opened on June 28, then soft-launched its online casino site earlier this week.
GAN is already a registered with PGCB as a publicly traded public service provider. Moreover, it has a proven track record of success in the interactive gaming space.
After pushing to stop online gambling, Parx is all-in
What is particularly interesting about Parx being the first in line for online casinos is that this time last year the company was actively pushing to defeat the gambling expansion measure.
As the top-performing casino in the state, Parx lobbied to keep the status quo. Obviously, their efforts failed. Nonetheless, throughout the past eight months, Parx has frequently spoken up about new regulations.
For example, Parx was the company most actively seeking to limit the number of skins on a gaming license for both online gaming and mobile sports betting. Parx was more successful on this front. Online skins will need to feature the land-based casino’s brand prominently. Meanwhile, sports betting sites are also limited to sites branded with the company name.
Who might be next to apply with PGCB?
The assumption all along was that casino companies would apply before the initial 90-day window closed. That day is July 15. Once Sunday comes and goes, there are still options for those interested in licenses.
The initial window is solely for casino license holders to petition for all three licenses at the discounted rate of $10 million. Should casinos apply outside of the window, they can pay a la carte for each of the three available licenses. The cost for each will be $4 million.
The clock is ticking for other companies presumed to be interested in all three licenses, such as Caesars Entertainment, but the door is far from closed on getting in the game. In fact, this Parx application really just opened it up for the first time.
The post Pennsylvania Finally Has An Online Casino Applicant — Parx appeared first on Play Pennsylvania.