Gambling in the USA
No Bids Received at Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board’s Category 4 Casino Auction
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board received no bids at its auction to reserve the opportunity to apply for a Category 4 Satellite Casino license, thus concluding this auction process.
Per Act 20 of 2019 (“Act”), the Board was to conduct up to five auctions for the remaining Category 4 Slot Machine Licenses. Bidders could only be current holders of Pennsylvania casino licenses. The Act also further directed that no further auctions are to be conducted if an auction fails to generate a bid.
Under the Gaming Expansion Act of 2017, the Gaming Control Board was authorized to award up to 10 Category 4 (satellite) Slot Machine Operator Licenses through an auction process which was conducted from January to April 2018, resulting in five successful auctions garnering $127 million in bids to secure the right to obtain a Category 4 license. Two of the projects have thus far received approval by the Board to begin construction:
Mountainview Thoroughbred Racing Association, LLC, which operates Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course, was awarded a Category 4 license on June 12, 2019 to construct a satellite casino in Caernarvon Township, Berks County (bid price: $7,5000,003).
Stadium Casino, LLC, which is constructing a Category 2 casino in Philadelphia, was awarded a Category 4 license on August 14, 2019 to construct a satellite casino in Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County (bid price: $40,100,005);
Three Category 4 projects have submitted applications, after successfully winning an auction last year, with their final award still pending:
Mountainview Thoroughbred Racing Association, LLC, is seeking a second license in this category to construct a satellite casino in Springettsbury Township, York County (bid price: $50,100,000);
Mount Airy #1, LLC which operates the Mount Airy Casino Resort, is seeking a license to construct a satellite casino in Big Beaver Borough, Beaver County (bid price: $21,188,888.88);
Greenwood Gaming and Entertainment Inc., which operates the Parx Casino, is seeking a license to construct a satellite casino in Shippensburg Township, Cumberland County (bid price: $8,111,000).
A Category 4 Slot Machine License permits the entity to operate between 300 and 750 slot machines. The entity could also petition for permission to initially operate up to 30 table games for an additional fee of $2.5 million with the capability of adding an additional 10 tables games after its first year of operation.
About the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board:
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board is tasked to oversee all aspects of gambling legalized under 2004’s Race Horse Development and Gaming Act and the Gaming Expansion Act of 2017. In addition to slot machine and table games gambling at land-based casinos, the expansion includes online casino games available to date on three sites; sports wagering offered through sportsbooks at nine locations and through four online outlets; video gaming terminals (VGTs) offered thus far at three qualified truck stops; fantasy sports contests through eight providers; and, online games at airports expected to be launched in the coming months.
The mature casino industry in Pennsylvania currently consists of 10 stand-alone and racetrack casinos in operation, along with the two smaller resort casinos. These facilities collectively employ over 16,000 people and annually generate over $1.3 billion in tax revenue from slot machine and table games play. Construction of a 13th casino is currently underway along with a number of new “mini-casinos” that are expected to begin operation over the next couple of years.
Source: Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board
Spinomenal, the leading iGaming content provider, has made its US debut after launching an exciting collaboration with a leading operator in the state of New Jersey, and is anticipating many more valuable collaborations with top tier online casinos.
Following impressive growth rates, Spinomenal is making a major move into the New Jersey iGaming market, marking a key step in its global expansion. By entering this crucial U.S. region, Spinomenal will bring its innovative games to a new audience, strengthening its presence and leadership in the iGaming industry.
Spinomenal’s specially selected titles will be going live via Pariplay’s Fusion aggregation platform in the New Jersey market. Some of the outstanding titles being made available for NJ players are Demi Gods II, Majestic Wild Buffalo and Kitsune’s Scrolls.
This marks a major milestone in Spinomenal’s strategic expansion plan, as this debut establishes the company’s initial presence within the New Jersey market, with further growth anticipated across the US iGaming ecosystem. This move underscores Spinomenal’s commitment to expanding its global footprint and further solidifying its position as a leader in the online casino industry.
Lior Shvartz, CEO for Spinomenal commented: “After a decade of establishing and positioning Spinomenal as a leading provider in the iGaming industry, we have now taken a big leap and will provide our exciting content to the esteemed New Jersey audience. We are highly optimistic about entering this prominent market, following the process of obtaining approval from the DGE.”
The Mechoopda Indian Tribe has announced that the Mechoopda Economic Gaming Authority (MEGA) Board has made the decision to suspend operations at Mechoopda Casino. The final day of operations will be Friday, January 31, 2025.
The Mechoopda Casino says this decision comes after months of deliberation and efforts to address the various challenges affecting the casino’s operations.
Dennis Ramirez, Tribal Chairman of the Mechoopda Indian Tribe, said: “Suspending operations at the Casino is a heart-wrenching decision that affects not only our Tribe but also our valued employees, customers, and the surrounding community. While this chapter is closing, our commitment to the Casino’s long-term vision remains steadfast. For over 25 years, this project has been a cornerstone of our economic development goals, and we will continue to work toward its future reopening.”
The Tribe is taking steps to support both its employees and community partners during this transition period:
Employee Support: The Tribe is committed to offering resources and guidance to assist team members through this difficult time.
Remaining Open Until January 31: The Casino will remain open through its final day of operation, giving guests the opportunity to enjoy the remaining days of service.
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