Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board Introduces Self-Exclusion Program

It was reported by The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) that now customers that engage in the new internet-based gaming, activities regarding sports betting and other casino games are now able to willingly exclude themselves from participating in them.

It was modeled by the Self-Exclusion Program that has helped thousands of people by giving them permission to freely forbid themselves from gaming in Pennsylvania’s casinos…

…iGaming's Self-Exclusion Program will, in a similar way, allow individuals to voluntarily select one year, five years, or even lifetime prohibitions of online gambling activities.

The Program

A task of supervising of all aspects that are dealing with the state’s casino industry, sports wagering that is currently offered at eight locations included, has been given to The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. They would also need to pay attention to other new gaming leads, which were produced through Act 42 (amendment to the Gaming and Race Horse Development Act) from 2017, and are expected to be released in the coming month.

All of the online gaming sites must decline stakes and refuse gaming privileges to all individuals on the iGaming Self-Exclusion list. They would also have to reject any player club membership, complimentary goods and services and other similar advantages…

…That way they would ensure that people on the list do not receive telemarketing promotions, player club materials, solicitation, targeted mailings or any other advertising materials related to iGaming activities.

"It is important to note that the PGCB’s iGaming Self-Exclusion Program is separate from the existing casino Self-Exclusion Program."

Tax and Revenue

The Commonwealth’s casino industry is currently made out of 10 stand-alone and racetrack casinos as well as two minor resort casinos.

Over 16 000 people are employed in these facilities and they produce roughly around $1.4 billion in tax income annually from table and slot games. The biggest share of those earnings is used for lowering the property tax for PA homeowners.

It was revealed that, earlier this month, the state’s sportsbooks noted solid earnings in April gathering $36.8m in bets across the month.

One who has stayed in the position of the market leader is Rivers Casino and it is the only sportsbook in the Pittsburgh market. They brought $11.9m of earnings in March while in April it was $8.2m. When compared, it is $871,753 in revenue to the previous month of $1.3m.

On the other hand, SugarHouse Casino took $7.9m in April while in March $9.2m compared to $871,753 of April revenue to $1.2m in March.

Parx Casino earnings have also dropped having grossed $6.9m in April and $7.96m in March. Income would be $907,298 for April compared to $984,339 from March.

Monthly Rises for Two Companies

The first one would be Valley Forge Casino https://lcb.org/casinos/land/united-states/king-of-prussia/valley-forge-casino-resort Resort’s FanDuel who saw an increase in handle to $3.1m in April compared to March where it was $2m. Revenue was counterbalanced to $379,731 from $449,597.

The second one is the lowest earner, the Valley Forge Race and Sportsbook, whose income has increased from $706,089 from March to $1.5m in April and $195,856 revenue to March’s $120,836.

Source:

“PA Gaming Control Board Launches Self-Exclusion Program for Online Gambling”, George Miller, europeangaming.eu, May 30, 2019.

“Pennsylvania igaming gains self-exclusion tool”, casinobeats.com, May 29, 2019.