Author: John Mehaffey

John Mehaffey, the man behind the popular Online Poker Payment Processing Report, is a writer for multiple online gambling publications and is a go-to source for all things Las Vegas. Keep up with John by following @John_Mehaffey on Twitter.

The Lowdown On PA’s First Sportsbook: The Sportsbook At Hollywood Casino

The first-ever Pennsylvania sportsbook will officially open its doors at Hollywood Casino at Penn National on Saturday, Nov. 17.

Hollywood Casino, at Penn National Race Course, announced a test launch Thursday for its new sportsbook, a first of its kind in Pennsylvania.

Starting at 2 p.m. Friday, the book will have another day of testing. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) will oversee the new operations during the testing phase, expected to last only one day. The sportsbook at Hollywood Casino anticipates operating regular business hours and a full launch effective Saturday, Nov. 17.

It will open at 11 a.m. on weekdays and an hour earlier on weekends. It will close at midnight daily.

The sportsbook will be in the simulcast theater next to the Skybox Sports Bar on the second floor of the casino. The area was recently renovated in anticipation of legalized sports betting, which included the addition of dozens of televisions.

William Hill to operate Hollywood sportsbook

William Hill operates the sportsbook at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course. Penn National is the parent company of Hollywood Casino.

The two also partnered for West Virginia sports betting. It opened days before the start of this year’s football season. William Hill also operates sportsbooks in Delaware, Mississippi, Nevada and New Jersey, as well as the United Kingdom.

In a press release, Penn National CEO Timothy Wilmott said:

“Penn National is excited to be the first casino to offer sports wagering in Pennsylvania. The enthusiasm around sports betting has been growing since the federal ban was repealed in May, and we look forward to providing our patrons with another great amenity to enjoy at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course.”

In the same release, Hollywood Casino General Manager Dan Ihm stated:

“We are extremely appreciative for the tireless effort and support of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. They moved heaven and earth to get us to this point and we couldn’t be more excited to be Pennsylvania’s first sportsbook.”

More PA sportsbooks on the way

The sportsbook at Hollywood Casino is one of many expected to open in Pennsylvania in the coming months. Five other casinos in the state are in the licensing process. Three think they will open retail sportsbooks by year’s end. These are:

Pennsylvania will be the seventh state to launch sports betting in the United States. It is the fifth to do so since the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) was thrown out by the U.S. Supreme Court earlier this year.

The states that already have licensed sports betting are:

  • Delaware
  • Mississippi
  • Nevada
  • New Jersey
  • New Mexico
  • West Virginia

William Hill operates in all those states, except New Mexico, which only offers betting at one tribal casino.

Pennsylvania Online Gaming Bill Has New Life, Passes Committee Vote

A Pennsylvania House committee passed a bill that would allow casinos to operate online casino games and poker rooms.

Pennsylvania could be on its way to becoming the fourth state to legalize online gaming.

A bill that would permit the state’s casinos to operate poker and casino games over the Internet passed out of a house committee this morning. The bill, HB 649, is sponsored by Rep. John Payne, chairman of the Pennsylvania Gaming Oversight Committee.

HB 649 passed the committee by an 18-8 margin.  It now heads to the full Pennsylvania House for a vote.  If it passes, it would then head to the state Senate.

The bill may also be attached to a state budget, which is 130 days past due.

What HB 649 permits

HB 649 would permit online poker and casinos games in the state. Pennsylvania casinos would operate regulated online games. Outside companies could provide software to Pennsylvania casino licensees.

Casinos would pay $5 million in licensing fees under HB 649. Software providers would pay $1 million to get licensed. The tax rate would be 14 percent of gross revenues.

In addition to online poker, any casino game legal at Pennsylvania casinos would be permitted over the Internet at licensed sites. This includes slots, video poker, blackjack, roulette, craps and a variety of proprietary table games.

Three states already permit licensed online gaming. Nevada became the first state to regulated online poker in April 2013. Delaware and New Jersey launched online poker and casinos games in November 2013.

Poker Players Alliance reaction

John Pappas, executive director of the Poker Players Alliance, released this statement:

“With the passage of H.B. 649, the House Gaming Oversight Committee has proven their commitment to providing Pennsylvania residents with a safe and regulated place to play online poker within their own borders. The PPA thanks Chairman John Payne and the Committee for their leadership. Now this bill needs to become law. The safety of consumers and the fiscal health of Pennsylvania will be vastly improved when Internet gaming is appropriately licensed, regulated and taxed. It is our hope that the legislation will be enacted on its own or as part of the state’s 2016 budget by the end of this year.”