Pennsylvania regulator talks up online gaming launch in 2018

Kevin O’Toole, executive director of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, has said he is confident the US state will launch regulated online gaming this year.

In October of last year, Pennsylvania became the fourth state to officially legalise online gaming when Governor Tim Wolf signed an expansive gambling package into law.

House Bill 271 allows for the regulation and legalisation of online poker, slots and table games within the state’s boundaries.

Although Pennsylvania is yet to move forward from this approval, according to the Onlinepokerreport.com website, O’Toole told lawmakers at a recent House budget hearing that a launch is not far away.

O’Toole said that the Gaming Control Board is drafting temporary regulations for online gaming, with the initial application process for licences due to open next month.

Pennsylvania plans to issue one master gambling licence to each existing land-based casino active in the state, making a total of 13 licences.

These licences will be priced at $10m (€8.1m) each, although if some of these are not claimed after the initial roll-out, they will then be offered at a lower price of $4m for certain market segments.

Online slots are set to be taxed at a rate of 54%, while internet table games and poker face a rate of 16%.

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