{"id":18248,"date":"2018-11-30T15:41:59","date_gmt":"2018-11-30T16:41:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pokerscout.com\/?p=18248"},"modified":"2018-12-03T21:52:47","modified_gmt":"2018-12-03T21:52:47","slug":"pokerstars-pa-set-for-early-2019-launch-as-competition-backs-off","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pokerscout.com\/pokerstars-pa-set-for-early-2019-launch-as-competition-backs-off\/","title":{"rendered":"PokerStars PA Set For Early 2019 Launch As Competition Backs Off"},"content":{"rendered":"

The world\u2019s largest online poker site will launch in Pennsylvania<\/strong> in 2019 and its only other US casino partner has decided not to even try to compete with it.<\/p>\n

At its Nov. 28 meeting, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB)<\/strong> approved the PokerStars<\/strong> interactive gaming petition, opening the door for PokerStars to launch in PA in the first quarter of 2019.<\/p>\n

PokerStars announced in August it had struck a deal to operate in PA under the license of Mount Airy Casino Resort<\/strong>. The pair also unveiled a plan to offer sports betting under the BetStars<\/strong> brand. However, neither has applied for a PA sports betting license to date.<\/p>\n

Clearing the final PGCB hurdle this week means PokerStars will finally launch in a second US state in early 2019. PokerStars returned to the US in New Jersey in the spring of 2016. It had been five years after the US Department of Justice<\/strong> kicked PokerStars out of the country and charged its principals with various money laundering and illegal gambling offenses.<\/p>\n

PokerStars has since changed ownership, restructured, and settled the case.<\/p>\n

PokerStars and Mohegan Gaming<\/span><\/h2>\n

The company returned to the US operating its PokerStars NJ<\/strong> site under the Resorts Casino Hotel<\/strong> NJ online gambling license. Resorts Casino Hotel is managed by Connecticut\u2019s\u00a0Mohegan Tribe<\/strong> and Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment<\/strong>. Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment also owns and operates Mohegan Sun Pocono<\/strong> in PA.<\/p>\n

At its Nov. 28 meeting, the PGCB also approved Mohegan Sun Pocono\u2019s interactive gaming petition, but not before a change was made. Mohegan Sun Pocono decided to withdraw the online poker portion of its application. The PGCB approved the withdrawal, giving the casino a $2 million rebate on its $10 million licensing fee. Mohegan Sun Pocono will now move forward with an online slots and online table games operation. It is also expected to launch in early 2019.<\/p>\n

In the meantime, PokerStars is set to begin what it hopes will quickly become an even larger expansion<\/strong> across the US.<\/p>\n

The PokerStars Mount Airy online poker and casino site will begin operations in a fenced in PA market. However, operators are hopeful PA will sign the multi-state agreement<\/strong> with New Jersey, Nevada, and Delaware within about a year. Of course, that will allow PokerStars to share player pools between its NJ and PA sites.<\/p>\n

PokerStars\u2019 Further US expansion<\/span><\/h2>\n

However, it is already making plans for even further US expansion.<\/p>\n

On Nov. 26, PokerStars\u2019 parent company The Stars Group<\/strong> announced it has entered into an agreement<\/a> with growing US casino operator Eldorado Resorts, Inc<\/strong>. The deal gives The Stars Group the option to operate online sports betting and online gambling with Eldorado in 11 states where Eldorado operates.<\/p>\n

The 11 states covered in the agreement are:<\/p>\n