Pennsylvania

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Partnership/sponsorship deals with professional sports teams

The NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers signed a partnership agreement with casino giant Caesars Entertainment in October 2018.

What type of licenses are available?

As well as sports betting licenses, which cost $10m, land-based casinos were given a 90-day window in 2018 to apply for an online license covering slots, table games and peer-to-play games (poker). Licenses for slots, table games and peer-to-peer games cost $4m each, or operators could pay $10m to acquire licenses for all three verticals. A DFS license costs $50,000 and lasts five years.

How many skins are permitted per license?

The PGCB has said there will be no limit on the number of skins permitted for online casino licensees, although skins must be a subdomain of the primary licensee and must include the host company’s branding. However, it appears to be a different set of rules for sports betting, with the regulator stating that only one skin that “prominently displays the name of the sports wagering certificate holder” will be allowed.

How do you apply for a license?

Operators and suppliers can apply for a license on the PGCB website: https://gamingcontrolboard.pa.gov/?p=296

What are the integrity fees?
There are currently no plans for integrity fees in Pennsylvania.

What is the current tax rate?
Sports betting comes with an effective tax rate of 36% GGR (34% state tax and a 2% Local Share Assessment). Online slots are taxed at 54% GGR, while table games and peer-to-peer games are taxed at 16% GGR. For DFS, it’s 15% of revenue.

Is there a self-exclusion register in the state?

Yes. More information on Pennsylvania’s self-exclusion register is available here: https://gamingcontrolboard.pa.gov/?p=67

Is sports betting legal?

Yes

Pennsylvania signed a sports betting bill into law in October 2017, ahead of the repeal of PASPA, as part of broader regulation that also included online casino, poker and DFS. Online sports betting went live at the end of May 2019 while online casino has been available since July 15, 2019.

Regulator details

Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board

PO Box 69060

Harrisburg, PA 17106-9060

Phone: (717) 346-8300

pgcb@pa.gov

https://gamingcontrolboard.pa.gov

Chairwoman: Denise J. Smyler

Is sports betting permitted online?
Pennsylvania’s 12 licensed land-based casinos had the opportunity to apply for a sports betting license that will permit them to accept wagers on-site, online and, in some instances, at off-track betting facilities in the state. Other new casinos include The Live! Casino and Hotel Philadelphia in Philadelphia’s Stadium District which opened in January 2021 and Bally’s will start construction of its new $120m mini-casino near Penn State University in the first half of 2021.

Is online registration required in person?
No.

Is there any specific legislation for daily fantasy sports?
Daily fantasy sports regulation became active in 2018, with operators able to apply for a five-year license costing $50,000. Licensees are taxed at 15% of gross revenue. In December 2018, the state’s nine licensed DFS brands generated revenue of $2,860,503, the vast majority split between DraftKings and FanDuel.