In Pennsylvania, online casino gaming has been in operation since last summer. Players have enjoyed taking part in slot and table game play as well as online poker. There are already a few operators offering services and plenty more are interested. Just this week, it was made known that DraftKings is working towards an Interactive Gaming Operator License from the state Gaming Control Board. If all goes well, we should see a new online casino launching in the future.
Obtaining Licensing
Reportedly, DraftKings will be considered during today’s meeting within the Gaming Control Board. If approved, the brand would be able to provide an online casino site alongside their online sportsbook. The brand already operates an online casino in New Jersey that has been quite successful. They know what to do and how to create a good product, so their offering in the Keystone State should be just as great.
DraftKings will need a land-based partner to offer online casino gaming in the state. They are partnered with the Meadows Racetrack & Casino for their sportsbook, but the venue does not have licensing for online casino gaming.
It could be that DraftKings decides to team up with Penn National. They are the owner of the Meadows and they also operate the Hollywood Casino. Hollywood does have an online casino and gaming law of the state allows for multiple skins under one license. Penn already has one and they have a market-access agreement with DraftKings. It makes sense that they would partner up to launch a new online casino site.
Strong Brand Recognition
If DraftKings is approved for online casino gaming, they already have strong brand recognition in the state. They would most likely see a strong turnout of traffic as they launched and if they offer the same great products and promotions that they offer in New Jersey, the site is sure to be a hit.
If the PA casino is anything like NJ, it will offer a strong selection of slot games along with video poker and table games. In New Jersey, they also offer live dealer games which are quite popular. It would not be unheard of for the PA site to also offer live dealer as well.
It seems that DraftKings is also vying for a Sports Wagering Operator License. This may seem odd as they have been offering sports betting in the state since November of last year. However, they were only given conditional approval initially and they need something more. If the Board approves them today, they would be free to offer sports betting services for a minimum of five years.
It will be interesting to see what the future holds for DraftKings in Pennsylvania. The brand has certainly come a long way since their daily fantasy sports days. They now offer a long list of gaming services, from DFS to sports betting and online casino sites. They are sure to see the same great success in Pennsylvania as they do in other states.
