Sound the trumpets: BetMGM has officially announced its entry into the Pennsylvania online gambling market following a successful 3-day mock launch. This comes on the heels of the 28th October Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board meeting in which BetMGM was approved for a pair of operator licenses — one for sports betting, and the other for interactive gaming, including online casino gaming.
In a December 4th press release announcing the launch, BetMGM’s CEO Adam Greenblatt had this to say:
“We’re thrilled to bring BetMGM’s online casino offering to Pennsylvania … With more than 140 different games, including our own in-house progressive jackpot network, we’re delivering the widest range of content currently available in the state. Alongside MGM Resorts and its M life Rewards program, BetMGM will provide players with a truly unique entertainment experience.”
With BetMGM arrival, players in the Keystone State are thrilled to have access to its expansive online casino game library featuring an exciting array of table games, online slots, and live dealer games.
However, as a pre-condition to using the state-issued sports betting operator license, the digital gaming operator had to partner with a brick-and-mortar casino based in Pennsylvania. Accordingly, BetMGM and its parent company Roar Digital inked a partnership deal with Penny National-owned Hollywood Casino in Grantville.
Everyone operator wants a slice of PA’s fast-emerging iGambling market
The entry of BetMGM means it’s the 13th digital gambling operator to make a foray into the market after Keystone State legalized online gambling back in 2019. And it’s easy to understand why every key operator wants a slice of the lucrative Pennsylvania online gambling market.
Pennsylvania is ranked third best in terms of gaming revenue of the 25 states where commercial gambling is now legal. Boosted by sports betting, PA’s gambling operators collectively raked in well over $3.38 billion in revenue from gamblers in 2019 alone, only trailing New Jersey at $3.4 billion and Nevada at $12 billion.
It’s now home to some of the most respected and visited online casinos, including the big three that launched in July 2019, namely Hollywood Online Casino, PlaySugarHouse Casino (Rivers Philadelphia), and Parx Casino. The online poker powerhouse PokerStars and Unibet joined the market late that year.
In 2020, a record 8 legal online casinos launched in Pennsylvania, welcoming FanDuel in partnership with Presque Isle, BetRivers, Caesars Casino, DraftKings Casino in partnership with Hollywood Casino, Wind Creek Casino, PlayLive! Casino, and BetMGM Casino rounding out the list.
Evidently, Pennsylvania is one of the fastest growing online gambling markets in the US, and the latest revenue figures seem to concur. The state’s iGaming market has posted a steady increase in revenue from February through October, with the exception of June and September when there was a tiny drop.
In October, online casino operators in Pennsylvania collected record revenue of about $59.7 million amid the Covid-19 pandemic, marking an increase of a whopping 308 percent from February. This also indicates a humongous growth from October 2019 when state-licensed online casinos generated roughly $4.9 million in revenue.
The growth in the Keystone State’s online gambling market is showing no sign of slowing down. It’s expected that revenue and the number of online casinos in the market will more than double by the close of 2021.
With most land-based casinos either shutting down or scaling back operations due to the pandemic, investors are counting on online casinos and internet sports wagering to fill the gap.
Pennsylvania is quickly cementing its place in the global online gambling industry which is forecast to be worth more than $94.4 billion by 2024. If you wish to learn more about gambling in PA, be sure to check out newcasinoonline.com.
Looking to replicate online casino success in New Jersey
Standing on the shoulders of Roar Digital, a joint venture between GVC Holdings Plc. and MGM Resorts International, BetMGM packs enough punch to take on big rivals like DraftKings, FanDuel, Caesars, and Unibet. It has already built one of the most successful online casinos in New Jersey, where it’s one of the highest-earning internet betting platforms in the Garden State. BetMGM also operates notable legal online casinos in several other states, including Colorado, Indiana, Michigan, Nevada, Tennessee, and West Virginia.
BetMGM and its New Jersey land-based casino partner Borgata Atlantic City generated about $4.3 million in revenue for October 2020, according to initial stats released by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement. Will New Jersey’s best-earning online casino operator replicate the same success in Pennsylvania?
Betting on a wide variety of high-quality games
BetMGM runs an instant-play online casino that’s easy to play, loads fast, and accessible on practically any internet-connected device. BetMGM casino app is also available for download on both Android and iOS.
BetMGM online casino is the new kid on the block, that notwithstanding, it boasts the state’s most eclectic gaming library consisting of more than 120 slot titles. Most of these games are powered by Roar Digital’s own GVC Holding software, but it also partners with other well-known game providers like Scientific Games, Konami, IGT, Microgaming, Barcrest, and NetEnt.
What really makes BetMGM stand out from the pack is its collection of jackpot slots that include its in-house progressive jackpot network. The site also features two Blackjack variants, 8 versions of Roulette, Baccarat, Let It Ride, Video King Poker, Jacks or Better, and other major video poker hits.
A truly unique and rewarding gaming experience
Much to the excitement of players, BetMGM online casino integrates with the M-Life Rewards program offered at all MGM Resorts properties. This allows Pennsylvania gamblers to earn points for their gameplay and redeem them for best-in-class experiences at any MGM Resort properties, like MGM National Harbor, MD, Borgata Atlantic City, NJ, and MGM Grand in Vegas.
Poker and an online sportsbook on the horizon
BetMGM has already secured an operator license to offer legal online sports betting in Pennsylvania. It seems the operator has chosen to test waters with the casino before introducing online poker and sportsbook, as is the case in New Jersey and other states where it’s active.
The launch of a BetMGM sportsbook might come sooner rather than later. After all, BetMGM announced on November 24 that it has signed a partnership deal with Pittsburgh Steelers that would see it become the first gaming partner for the NFL outfit.
