What has Pennsylvania gotten itself into with an extremely high tax rate for online casino games? We’re close to finding out. In October 2017, PA Gov. Tom Wolf signed massive gaming bill into law, effectively authorizing real money online poker and casino games which will form part of a large-scale statewide gambling expansion. As regulated US iGaming interests prepare to launch their offerings to the Keystone State market — perhaps as early as this year — here is a look at the 54 percent effective slot revenue tax rate that internet casino operators will be responsible for paying to various…

The American Gaming Association is a vocal supporter of legal, regulated sports betting, including mobile wagering, yet the group has been deafeningly silent on the topic of online gambling. That silence could be coming to an end. With the US Supreme Court paving the way for states to take sports betting matters into their own hands, the AGA’s focus has shifted to legislation and ensuring that the new legal sports betting markets are successful and capture the sports betting dollars currently heading offshore. The AGA’s support of mobile sports betting is at odds with its position of “no position” when…

The Gambling Commission is considering a credit card ban for online betting. The regulator’s report into how to make online gambling safer said consumers “should not gamble with money that they do not have”. Betting operators have suggested credit cards are used for between 10% and 20% of deposits online. Before taking action the regulator will explore whether a ban would instead force people to use “payday” loans. Other proposed changes include improving age verification processes, banning operators from providing “free-to-play” games to children and tackling “unacceptable marketing and advertising”. The latest suggestions come after a consultation by the Department…

The American Gaming Association (AGA) has announced the addition of six new companies as board-level members. GVC Holdings PLC, Paddy Power Betfair, Stars Group, BMM Testlabs, Golden Entertainment and Choctaw Casinos and Resorts will all be represented on the AGA board of directors. Confirmation of the new additions comes after the AGA last week entered into a strategic alliance with BMM, under which the latter will share its expertise on gaming and regulatory issues with the AGA and its members. Geoff Freeman, president and chief executive of the AGA, said: “More than ever before, AGA’s diverse membership reflects the broad…

A public hearing on expanded gaming opportunities took place in Connecticut on Thursday, and evidence that the state is a strong candidate to legalize online gambling continues to pile up. Everything from sports betting, to commercial casinos, to online casinos was discussed during the hearing by lawmakers, elected officials, members of the public and representatives from Connecticut’s tribal casinos. Written testimony submitted by Foxwoods Resort Casino not only supported online gaming and sports betting, it called online gaming the “strongest opportunity for the state.” You can read the full testimony here. It’s unequivocal verbal support for online gambling from a…

President Trump’s personal assistant was fired because of his high-rolling online gambling, betting tens of thousands of dollars online at a time, according to a report. John McEntee, who was unceremoniously booted from the White House this week, opened himself up to outside influence by frequently betting large sums of money online, two people familiar with the matter told the Washington Post. McEntee’s gambling was likely not illegal, but there was concern among White House personnel that he could pose a security risk by being vulnerable to blackmail. A background investigation found that McEntee’s gambling habits made him unsuitable for…