Pennsylvania Authorizes Bally's Online Gaming Software, Imposes $60,000 in Sanctions
Bally's operates no real-life casino in Pennsylvania. However, the state's gaming authorities approved applications from the Rhode Island-based gaming company to provide online casino games within the state on Wednesday.
Pennsylvania's laws permit 17 brick-and-mortar casinos. Last year, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) added an iGaming market, allowing firms that don't own a physical presence in the state to participate.
Bally's plans to create a Category 4 casino in State College, near Penn State University. They are seeking online gaming authorization while their State College project remains in the legal process.
The PGCB unveiled in 2022 that it would sell 12 iGaming licenses. Three of them permit online slots, three are for dealer table games, and six grants for interactive poker. Each vertical comes with a $4 million fee.
During the PGCB gathering this week, regulators endorsed Bally's bid for online slots and house-banked table games. With the state's support, Bally's must pay $8 million to enjoy online privileges.
No details were provided about when Bally's could potentially introduce its internet casino operations.
Since the process opened at year-end 2022, Bally's is the only company to purchase the PGCB's iGaming licenses. Brick-and-mortar gambling operators in Pennsylvania had to invest just $1 million for three online gaming verticals each.
State College Developments
In January, the PGCB approved Bally's Category 4 casino proposal. The company aims to transform the prior Macy's department store at the Nittany Mall into a casino, featuring up to 750 slot machines, 30 table games, and a sportsbook.
The Cordish Companies protested this decision. They didn't qualify for a Category 4 casino license but became outraged after witnessing Ira Lubert, a Pennsylvania businessman with 3% Rocasino Pittsburgh co-ownership, win the PGCB's Category 4 license auction. He offered $10 million, outbidding The Cordish Companies.
Then, The Cordish Companies claimed Lubert and Bally's partnered with outsiders who weren't permitted to bid in breach of PGCB regulations.
Cordish is contesting the PGCB's decision to award Bally's a Category 4 license. It's possible the case could stretch on for years, pushing Bally's into iGaming at a significant cost higher compared to a brick-and-mortar license holder.
Regulatory Fine Charges
On Wednesday, the PGCB also approved $60,000 in fines concerning iGaming.
Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course incurred $45,000 in fines for allowing people in Pennsylvania's iGaming Exclusion List to play on Penn Entertainment's Barstool Sportsbook online. The individuals shouldn't have been allowed to play.
Mohegan Pennsylvania and its iGaming partner, Unibet, were fined $7,500 for neglecting to block an account belonging to an individual who requested a 90-day "cooling off" period.
Lastly, Evolution, a business-to-business provider of online table games, was also fined $7,500 for not registering a new staff member with the PGCB.
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