Pa. Gaming Control Board Awards Rivers Casino, 2 Others With Sports Betting Licenses
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HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP/KDKA) -- Pennsylvania is approving sports betting at three more casinos as it gets closer to becoming the sixth state with sports betting.
Regulators on Wednesday awarded sports betting licenses to SugarHouse Casino in Philadelphia, Harrah's Philadelphia Casino in Chester and Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh.
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board earlier this month awarded licenses to Hollywood Casino near Hershey and suburban Philadelphia's Parx Casino, which also received approval for an off-track betting parlor it owns in Philadelphia.
Sports betting could start as early as November if a casino meets other requirements, such as training personnel and passing equipment tests. Owners of Pennsylvania's 12 casinos can pay a $10 million fee to operate sports betting.
The Rivers Casino hopes to have a temporary sports betting parlor open Dec. 1. A permanent sports betting lounge is expected to be complete by spring of 2019.
Sports will include baseball, football, hockey, basketball and international sports betting.
Gaming expansion initiatives move forward. Approvals from today's PGCB meeting include: 3 casinos for sports wagering (total now of 5) plus a sportsbook operator, 2 casinos for iGaming (total now of 9), 4 VGT establishments (total now of 20) plus 3 VGT operators (total now 9).
— PGCB (@PAGamingControl) October 31, 2018
The U.S. Supreme Court in May cleared the way for states to legalize sports betting.
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