Last week, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) issued the first three sets of interactive gaming licenses in the state to Parx Casino, Harrah’s Philadelphia, and Mount Airy Resort Casino. Each spent $10 million to apply for all three available license types: online poker, online casino games, and online slots. In a recent press release, Caesars Interactive Entertainment (CIE) and Harrah’s Philadelphia (both are subsidiaries of Caesars Entertainment) celebrated the moment and gave some insight into what they plan on doing once Pennsylania’s online gaming industry launches.
“We’re very bullish on the offering online gaming provides our guests and are excited for the opportunity Pennsylvania presents,” said CIE’s vice president of online casino Melanie Gross. “We have a wealth of knowledge and experience from our six years in the online gaming space in the US and believe we’ll be able to hit the ground running in Pennsylvania when online gaming commences in the state.”
Something For Everyone
Caesars’s big internet gaming brand is WSOP.com, which – and this should come as absolutely zero surprise – it plans to launch with the Harrah’s Philadelphia branding. Games will be offered on PC and mobile devices and will include the following, per the company’s statement:
• Cash games, Sit & Go’s, Satellites and Multi-table Tournaments
• Buy-ins for cash games that start as low as 1¢-2¢ and tournaments that start at $1.10
• Freeroll tournaments for players of all levels
• Limit and No-Limit Hold’em with full table and short-handed games, plus the popular Omaha variant including Omaha Hi-Lo, as well as Seven Card Stud.
Pennsylvania’s online gambling law permits interstate compacts, so expect Caesars/Harrah’s Philadelphia to link up WSOP.com to its network in other states at some point. WSOP.com has sites in both Nevada and New Jersey (using 888’s software) and players from both states sit at the tables together. Players from Delaware are also in the pool, though they play at three racetrack-based online poker rooms, all powered by 888.
The WSOP.com/888 network is easily the largest of the United States poker rooms with a seven-day average of 190 cash players, according to PokerScout.com. PokerStars New Jersey is the second-largest, with 100 fewer players.
On the table games and slots side, Harrah’s Philadelphia will operate CaesarsCasino.com in Pennsylvania. Games included are the usual array, like blackjack, roulette, video poker, video slots, and baccarat.
“We thank the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board and look forward to continuing to work together on the next steps in bringing online gaming to Harrah’s Philadelphia,” said Chris Albrecht, senior vice president and general manager of Harrah’s Philadelphia. “We see this as a great opportunity to bring new customers into our Total Rewards network and for all customers to play with us both online and at the property.”
Six other Pennsylvania casinos filed applications for all three types of online gaming licenses: Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem, Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course, Valley Forge Casino Resort, Live! Hotel and Casino Philadelphia, Rivers Casino, and Sugarhouse Casino. Their applications will be considered within the next couple months.
