Pennsylvania Online Poker Launch
On September 30, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) approved global online gaming company 888 Holdings to offer its services in the state. However, there has been no indication that a launch of online poker is imminent. Oct 22, 2020 On September 30, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) approved global online gaming company 888 Holdings to offer its services in the state. However, there has been no indication that a launch of online poker is imminent. THUMBS UP: Partypoker/Roar Digital Approved in PA, No Launch Date Announced. Sean Chaffin October 28, 2020. After some stops and starts, Pennsylvania online poker players received good news on Wednesday. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) approved an interactive gaming license for BetMGM /Roar Digital. Nov 27, 2020 Now, exactly one year since the official launch of online poker in PA, the market is worth a substantial $35 million, according to official figures from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB). Not bad considering that same platform that was launched in November 2019 remains the sole online poker operator in the state.
Pennsylvaniaonline poker players will have to wait a little longer before they can play on WSOP.com. According to a Caesars representative, it will now be at least 2021 before WSOP.com PA will launch.
No timeline for WSOP.com PA launch until early next year
As of now, there remains no specific launch date for WSOP.com PA. A timeline may become available at the start of next year.
After months of anticipation, WSOP.com had moved one step closer to opening in PA following a Sept. 30 meeting of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB). At that meeting, the PGCB approved an interactive gaming manufacturer license for Caesars’ online poker partner 888 Holdings.
That news appeared to indicate a WSOP.com PA launch could be fast approaching. However, there are a couple PA-specific issues that could be causing a delay.
One concerns the need for WSOP to establish a separate server for the PA site per regulatory requirements. The other may involve the question of whether or not WSOP.com will be able to share player liquidity with its sites in other states.
It is not clear whether WSOP.com will necessarily want or need to have such an interstate compact already in place before launching WSOP.com in Pennsylvania. Having one would be favorable, of course, in that it would allow Pennsylvania players to play against larger fields including players from other states.
Such a compact allowed players on WSOP.com sites in Nevada and New Jersey to compete against one another for WSOP online bracelets over the summer.
PA players hopes raised by promotions, other indicators
News of the delay comes just as some Pennsylvania online poker players were starting to think WSOP.com PA was about deal its first virtual hands.
Over the past week some Pennsylvanians with Caesars accounts received promotional messages regarding the imminent launch of WSOP.com PA.
The promotions also appeared on the WSOP.com website for a time, though are not presently posted. Promotions included a 100% deposit match bonus up to $1,000 and entries to Welcome Week Freerolls for new sign-ups.
Pennsylvania Online Poker Launch Dates
Meanwhile WSOP.com banner does now include a Harrah’s Philadelphia logo. There is also a PA-specific “House Rules” page on the site, presumably in anticipation of the room’s launch.
The rules mostly concern game play, although do include that “players must be at least 21 years of age, and physically located in the State of Pennsylvania” to play on WSOP.com.
Meanwhile the WSOP-branded live poker room at Harrah’s Philadelphia now appears to be permanently closed. While other PA live rooms are just starting to reopen following COVID-related closures, in August employees of the Harrah’s Philadelphia poker room reported it had closed with no plans to reopen.
PokerStars PA online poker monopoly will extend into second year
Pa Online Gambling Launch
Pennsylvania is now approaching the one-year anniversary of the launch of the state’s first legal online room, PokerStars PA. PokerStars launched its Pennsylvania site during the first week of November 2019.
Along with WSOP.com, many have speculated that partypoker could also soon challenge PokerStars’ online poker monopoly in the Keystone State. While a summer or fall launch of partypoker once seemed possible, that, too, currently appears in limbo.
GVC Holdings owns the partypoker platform. Along with MGM, GVC also jointly owns ROAR Digital. For the last few months ROAR has been awaiting approval from the PGCB for its license to operate in Pennsylvania. However the regulators’ iGaming Operators Eligibility List still lists its application status as pending.
Lead image credit: AP Photo/John Locher