SB840 will lower the required number of slots for category 1 and 2 casinos from 1,500 down to 1,000. For smaller, category 3 casinos, the number will stay at 250. 

The Senate voted narrowly in favor of the legislation in a 26-24 vote. The proposal will now go to the House, and if approved there will be left to Gov. Josh Shapiro to sign off. 

Bill Aims To Help Casinos Survive Amid State Competition

The reduction in the minimum number of slots is aimed to help land-based casinos compete with nearby states that have expanded their casino offerings. 

New York is currently considering proposals to expand casinos in the state, with huge billion dollar projects. That could add to the competition for Pennsylvania’s 17 land-based casinos. 

Sen. Daniel Laughlin introduced the bill earlier this month and commented, “When Pennsylvania first legalized gaming, surrounding states like Ohio and New York didn’t have casinos. That’s no longer the case. 

“Facilities like Presque Isle Downs & Casino in Erie are facing growing competition from out-of-state casinos and online gaming platforms. Reducing the slot machine requirement gives these businesses the flexibility to adapt while preserving jobs and tax revenue.

“This bill is about modernization and sustainability. It’s a commonsense reform that protects jobs, strengthens our local economy and allows our gaming industry to remain competitive in a changing market.”

Presque Isle was fined $50,000 for going under the slot machines minimum earlier this year.

Skill Games Also Threatening Casinos

Gary Hendricks, General Manager of Presque Isle, highlighted the threat of out-of-state casinos, as well as unregulated skill games. Hendricks stated, “The proliferation of untaxed skill‑game machines across the state—and growing out‑of‑state competition—makes us question the long‑term sustainability of the property.”

Lawmakers have been debating the amount to tax skill games in the state. Shapiro has proposed a 52% tax rate, similar to the 54% tax placed on slots. Other active bills propose more modest rates ranging from 16% to 35%.

Skill game machines have operated across gas stations, convenience stores, and bars in the state in a gray area without oversight until now. 

The Senate will vote on the proposals as part of a new budget to be approved this week. 

Online Casinos Growing Closer To Retail Revenue Totals

Land-based casinos have also faced increased competition since Pennsylvania launched online casinos in 2019. 

Online casinos generated just under $2.2 billion in revenue in 2024. That is compared to just under $3.4 billion at land-based casinos. 

In a COVID-hit 2020, retail casinos were affected and generated $1.8 billion, compared to $565.8 million generated from online casinos. 

In 2021, retail casinos recovered to generate $3.2 billion, while online casinos posted $1.1 billion. Since then, land-based casino revenue has been relatively unchanged, with $3.3 billion in 2022, $3.4 billion in 2023, and most recently, $3.3 billion in 2024. 

Online casinos have enjoyed rapid growth, with revenue increasing year upon year. In 2022, revenue hit $1.4 billion, increasing to $1.7 billion in 2023 and $2.2 billion in 2024. 

In April this year, online revenue grew a further 31% from April 2024 suggesting this year will produce more growth. 

The reduction of the minimum number of slots may slightly adjust the balance. However, it is unlikely to alter the trend of players moving increasingly online.

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The latest proposal, House Bill 1619, introduced by Rep. Kerry Benninghoff, has drawn attention as it calls for no tax on skill games at all.

House Bill 1619 stands out as a notable contrast to other active bills, which propose taxes ranging from 16% to 35%. Meanwhile, Governor Josh Shapiro has proposed a 52% tax rate, similar to the one on slots.

With one week left, the lack of consensus threatens to undermine the state’s chances of finally regulating skill game terminals.

What Are Skill Games?

Skill game machines visually resemble slots, but manufacturers argue they don’t qualify as “gambling” because they include a skill element.

As the legal definitions of the term in Pennsylvania include the phrase “games of chance”, incorporating an element of “skill” allows the machines to operate outside gambling regulations.

For years, these machines have operated across gas stations, convenience stores, and bars in a gray area without oversight. Multiple organizations, such as Pennsylvania Against Gaming Expansion, have come out in support of regulation.

While lawmakers were previously split between banning and regulating them, the current trend is towards regulation, but it remains unclear how.

HB1619 Looks to Regulate But Not Tax Skill Games

The central talking point of HB 1619 is that it won’t tax the machines. While it acknowledges existing obligations such as sales and personal income tax, it adds,

“No additional taxes or fees, including amusement taxes, shall be imposed on the placement or operation of a skill game or on the revenue generated by a skill game terminal unless specifically authorized under this act.”

The proposal tasks the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue with governing the machines, including licensing and law enforcement. All existing terminals will be grandfathered.

Each license will be for 10 years, with costs varying depending on the entity:

• Distributor: $50,000
• Operator: $5,000
• Establishment: $250

Renewal fees will remain the same for establishments, but drop to $25,000 for distributors and $1,000 for operators.

Other provisions include a limit on the machines. However, the exact language is left for the Department of Revenue (DOR) to determine after all current terminals are grandfathered and licensed.

Tax Proposals: 16% to 52% Skill Game Tax

While Rep. Benninghoff believes that skill games don’t require additional tax, other lawmakers disagree.

Sen. Gene Yaw, a long-time pro-regulation advocate, reintroduced a bill in April. His plan calls for a 16% tax on skill games. Yaw cited that a higher tax would threaten small businesses, which heavily rely on revenue from skill terminals.

The legislation tasks the DOR with licensing and distribution, but the Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement will enforce the rules. Yaw introduced a similar bill in the 2023-2024 legislative session, but it failed to move past committee.

On the other spectrum is Gov. Shapiro. He’s been calling for a 52% tax, closer to the 54% tax currently levied on casino slot machines. The casino industry has also opposed the lack of regulation and has even requested that its taxes be lowered as a result.

Shapiro included skill game machines in his 2025/2026 budget address. Provisions of his plan include a limit of 5 terminals per location and a cap on the total number of machines. He also calls for the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, which oversees legal gambling in the state, to regulate them.

In between is Senator Chris Gebhard’s proposal, which includes a 35% tax. It calls for similar licensing terms and costs to Rep. Benninghoff’s proposal. At the same time, it tasks the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board with regulation, similar to Gov. Shapiro’s plan.

Could PA Finally Clarify the Legal Status of Skill Games?

Pennsylvania is home to thousands of unregulated skill game machines. With legislative efforts to address this loophole failing, the machines are fouind in gas stations, bars, and convenience stores statewide.

Skill game manufacturers, particularly Pace-O-Matic, have secured some notable legal victories that have strengthened their position.

In February 2023, a county judge ruled that the company’s machines, which state authorities had previously seized, did not qualify as gambling devices.

In December 2023, an appellate court upheld the decision, but that decision did not clarify the terminals’ status; it simply determined that they’re not games of chance.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court could finally provide that clarity. After initially declining to weigh in, the Court agreed in June 2024 to hear the state authorities’ request to appeal the appellate Court’s decision from the previous December.

A year later, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has yet to issue a decision. However, if the machines do not make it into the next budget, a court decision could ultimately determine their status in Pennsylvania.

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Caesars Palace Online Casino in Pennsylvania advertises a welcome bonus for new customers. It states that after they sign up and make their first deposit, the platform will match that sum 100%, up to $2,500 in the form of bonus bets.

Caesars Palace Bonus “False and Misleading”

PHAI, a nonprofit legal research center based at Northeastern University School of Law in Massachusetts, claims that Caesars Palace lures new customers with a false and misleading promise of a “$2,500 deposit match.”

The plaintiff alleges that only in the fine-print terms and conditions does the platform disclose that a new customer who plays blackjack must gamble at least $375,000 within their first seven days to unlock the reward.

PHAI highlights that Caesars and Harrah’s Casino keep all the money lost by new customers during the first seven days. It adds that a blackjack player cannot withdraw any funds or winnings unless they’ve gambled the $375,000.

The lawsuit alleged that Caesars and its partners have “effectively rewritten” Pennsylvania laws by requiring customers to gamble up to $375,000 before being able to withdraw any winnings. It adds,

“The public is not told that the promotion is designed to snare new customers in a ‘wild chase of action,’ where the bonus is unattainable and therefore impossible to win.”

The lawsuit seeks an injunction to stop the promotion and similar playthrough bonuses. It also seeks statutory damages and attorneys’ fees.

How did PHAI arrive at the $375,000 figure based on the $2,500 bonus?

At the heart of the lawsuit is a concept familiar to many online gamblers: playthrough requirements. The term is also known as wagering or rollover requirements.

Playthrough requirements mean how much a player must bet before they can unlock bonus funds and associated winnings.

For example, a 1x wagering requirement on a $10 bonus means you must bet $10 to unlock that bonus. At the same time, a 20x requirement on that same $10 bonus means you must bet $200 ($10 x 20) to unlock it.

There are rare instances of bonuses at online casinos and sportsbooks that do not have playthrough requirements.

At online casinos, the wagering requirements usually depend on the type of game. Slots typically have the lowest requirements, while table games, such as blackjack, have the highest requirements.

So, looking into the terms and conditions of the Caesars Palace Online Casino welcome bonus, the fine print says:

• Playthrough requirements on slots are 15x.
• The playthrough requirements for video poker are 30 times the bet amount.
• Wagering requirements on all other casino games are 75x.

To receive the maximum $2,500 bonus, a customer must wager $37,500 on slots ($2,500 times 15). That increases to $75,000 for video poker ($2,500 times 30). For games such as blackjack and roulette, that amount is $375,000 ($2,500 times 75).

Additionally, the terms stipulate that the player must wager the required amount within seven days of making the deposit. If the customer does not meet the requirement, they do not receive the bonus or any partial amounts.

It’s essential to note that claiming the welcome bonus is not mandatory for new players joining an online casino or sportsbook.

PHAI Has an Ongoing Lawsuit Against DraftKings

PHAI’s lawsuit against Caesars Palace Online Casino is not the first instance where the organization has taken legal action over bonus marketing practices in online gambling

In December 2023, it filed a class-action lawsuit in Massachusetts against DraftKings on behalf of two state bettors.

The lawsuit challenged the platform’s widely advertised “$1,000 signup bonus” as deceptive and unfair. The fine print of that offer included an initial deposit of $5,000. Also, players must wager $25,000 over 90 days to unlock the bonus (essentially a 25x playthrough requirement).

The plaintiffs alleged that they would need to wager $276 per day for 90 days to get $1,000. The case is still ongoing, with a judge denying DraftKings’ motion to dismiss in August 2024.

The Massachusetts case is one of several against DraftKings regarding allegedly deceptive practices related to bonuses and the language used in them. The platform’s use of phrases like “free bets” and “no sweat” has resulted in lawsuits in several states. Those include Maryland, New York, Illinois, and most recently, Pennsylvania.

Massachusetts Gaming Commission Also Under Fire

Operators are not the only ones facing legal action by PHAI.

In October 2024, it sued the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC). In that lawsuit, it asked the court to compel the regulator to adhere to state law and turn over data that casinos gather to track player behavior.

Under Section 97 of the Expanded Gaming Act, casino operators are required to submit anonymized data on player behavior to the commission. MGC must then share it with researchers.

The lawsuit alleged that the regulator had never collected the data.

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DraftKings 

DraftKings has expanded its executive team with the appointment of Brian Angiolet in the newly created position of chief media officer, a role that will see him direct and optimise content creation and media strategy, effective April 26.

Most recently, Angiolet served as SVP and chief business officer at Verizon Communications, where he spearheaded a number of high-profile, multi-billion-dollar content and advertising initiatives.

Jason Robins, DraftKings’ co-founder, CEO and chairman of the board, said: “Brian brings invaluable experience to this new chief media officer position and deeply understands how the virtuous circle among sports, gaming, and content has the potential to boost engagement.

“As our media presence grows with the acquisition of VSiN, among other strategic moves, Brian’s creative ideas and insightful perspectives will further propel the possibilities of DraftKings content. Our warmest welcome to Brian, and we’re thrilled to have him aboard.”

Crown Resorts

Bruce Carter, the former deputy chair of SkyCity Entertainment Group, has been appointed as a non-executive director of Crown Resorts, subject to the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals.

In his former SkyCity role, Carter, who is currently chair of the Australian Submarine Corporation and Aventus Capital, oversaw the expansion development at SkyCity Adelaide.

Carter says that his is “excited” to be joining the company during its current transformative period, as well as hoping to drive “important changes” amid an “ambitious timetable to complete tough and wide-ranging reforms”.

“Bruce brings to the Crown board the ideal blend of commercial, governance and gaming sector expertise and is respected across Australia for his contribution to corporate and government roles,” noted Helen Coonan, Crown’s executive chairman.

“Attracting someone of Bruce’s calibre to the board is an endorsement of our strategy, ambition and commitment to reform. With a track record of building stronger businesses and extensive experience in advisory and board roles, Bruce’s appointment will enhance our governance as we work to implement our ambitious reform program.

“I am determined to maintain the pace of change right across the business and remain committed to further board renewal.”

Greenwood Racing

Greenwood Racing, the owner and operator of Parx Casino in Pennsylvania, has announced the appointment of David Grissen to its board of directors.

Grissen joined Marriott International in 1986, and most recently served as group president until his retirement in April 2021. For the past 11 years, he led the company’s Americas business, overseeing all of the territory’s lodging business, comprising more than 5,500 properties and a vast workforce of 160,000 people.

We are pleased to welcome David to our Greenwood Racing board of directors,” said Eric Hausler, CEO of Greenwood Racing. “David’s impressive 36 year career with Marriott and his wealth of knowledge about all aspects of the hospitality industry and guest service will be invaluable as our company continues to evolve and grow.”

Casino Association of New Jersey

The Casino Association of New Jersey has named its first female president, with Terry Glebocki to be succeed Steve Callender who retired in March.

Glebocki has served as CEO of Ocean Casino Resort since 2019. She has three decades of financial management experience, including serving as chief financial officer of Ocean Casino Resort and Tropicana Entertainment.

“I am privileged and honoured to succeed Steve Callender as the next president of the Casino Association of New Jersey. Steve successfully led our organisation during the COVID-19 pandemic, and we are grateful for the strength and leadership he has shown in these unprecedented times,” said Glebocki.

“I am thrilled to lead the CANJ forward as we work to help Atlantic City and the region recover from this devastating pandemic and continue the ongoing revitalization of this world-class destination resort.”

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April saw online casinos earn more than $227.7 million—a 31.3% year-on-year (YoY) increase, making it the second highest-ever monthly total for the sector in the Keystone State. 

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) findings declared that slots dominated the iGaming field, collecting $169.5 million, with online table games earning $55.9 million—up 34.5% and 24.2%, respectively.

Hollywood Casino at Penn National Leads Pennsylvania in April

Of the iGaming operators in the state, Hollywood Casino at Penn National benefited most, generating $83.2 million, a 33.5% YoY increase. Valley Forge Casino Resort also saw substantial returns, posting 38.8% from the previous year by pulling in $66.7 million over April.

In addition, Rivers Casino Philadelphia also increased revenues to $35.9 million, equivalent to a 17.1% increase. However, Golden Nugget secured the most significant profit jump, amassing $7.7 million in digital revenues, marking a 116.4% uptick.

In January, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board revealed its 2024 iGaming sector revenue topped $2.18 billion, a substantial 25.25% increase from 2023. Now, with April’s online gaming figures reflecting impressive YoY results, there is continued optimism that 2025 will eclipse last year’s totals.

In contrast, online poker revenues continued their multi-month decline, slipping by 2.8% to just $2.3 million. The regression could soon be reversed following Pennsylvania’s entry into the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement last month, boosting interstate play with five other member states.

Mixed Results for Retail and Sports Betting Sectors

Retail slots again remained the single largest gaming vertical, producing over $203.1 million in monthly revenue. 

However, that tally marked a 1.2% decline from April 2024, possibly due to the total number of operating machines dropping by more than 500 units year-over-year to just 24,363.

Pennsylvania did see marginal gains in the table games sector at in-person casino venues, which posted $80.6 million in revenue, up 2.8% from last April. 

The biggest winners here were Wind Creek Bethlehem, which led all state-based venues in this category, delivering $24 million, a 9.6% increase YoY.

Rivers Pittsburgh was second, producing $13.4 million in table game income for the month.

The Keystone State’s sports betting market saw negligible gains, plateauing at $42.5 million in gross revenue, positing just a 0.2% annual increase. Yet, despite the minimal growth, the total handle rose by 10.1% to $711.6 million, with $677.9 million of that wagered online.

Valley Forge’s good fortunes continued with its partnership with FanDuel, which again topped the online sports betting rankings, collecting $20.1 million from its $269.8 million handle in bets. 

Second was DraftKings, which operates via Hollywood Casino and generated $12.1 million from its $185.6 million in total wagers.

Other sectors included in the PGCB results saw fantasy sports contests realize $1.3 million in revenues, up 2.3% from the previous year. In comparison, video gaming terminals (VGTs) collected just $3.4 million in April revenue, a 3.6% decline.

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The Chicago-based legal firm Loevy & Loevy filed the case at the District Court of Pennsylvania’s Eastern District on April 18. The firm wrote that it was filed on behalf of five plaintiffs.

DraftKings Pennsylvania Lawsuit Comes After Baltimore Complaint

The lawsuit seeks class action status. This means that not only the five plaintiffs but also any other individuals who share similar grievances could claim restitution and financial damages.

The lawyers allege that DraftKings is earning “enormous amounts of revenue by misleading and addicting its users” with a business model that involves pushing the boundaries of the law.

The suit follows a complaint filed in Baltimore City earlier this month. The Baltimore lawsuit accused the operator of deceptive and abusive practices.

The latest document contains several assertions regarding DraftKings’ “risk-free betting” and deposit-match bonus promotions.

The lawyers argue that DraftKings lures new users with large-print offers. These include “risk-free” and deposit-matching deals, including an offering named No Sweat.

However, the lawyers say that the operator “contradicts the large-print offers by inserting difficult to read, legally opaque fine print terms hidden behind hyperlinks that are only available when a user is about to opt-in to the promotions and, thereafter, by enforcing complicated rules that DraftKings knows will be overlooked and misunderstood.”

The lawyers added that these allegedly false promises lure consumers into opening new DraftKings accounts and placing larger and more frequent bets.

The legal team gave the example of a DraftKings app user interface for placing a “No Sweat” bet. They noted that the terms and conditions for the offering were not displayed clearly on the app. The lawyers wrote: “A user need not […] ever see the full terms before opting in to the promotion on the basis of DraftKings’s advertising that led them to believe they could place a bet with no risk.”

The lawyers said the app developers instead included an “easy-to-miss” and “almost imperceptible” hyperlink icon.

Bonus Credit Promos Under the Spotlight

The attorneys also drew attention to DraftKings’ bonus credit offerings. They purport that users found it hard to withdraw these credits. Users also allegedly found that credits had unexpected expiration dates and were subject to deductions.

The attorneys claimed many users have complained about DraftKings to the marketplace trust watchdog Better Business Bureau. Some also made complaints to state gambling regulators.

And the document goes on to assert that DraftKings intentionally targets vulnerable young men. It argues that the DraftKings platform is designed to maximize the likelihood that customers develop gambling habits.

DraftKings has also recently been hit with lawsuits in Massachusetts and Illinois. Earlier this year, the firm posted 2024 revenues of $4.77 billion.

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Gov. Josh Shapiro still needs to give final approval. However, the state’s Gaming Control Board (PGCB) told PlayPennsylvania that networked poker under the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA) would launch “within the next couple of weeks.”

“We continue to work internally and with online poker operators to get the shared liquidity market up sometime in April,” Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board Communications Director Doug Harbach said. “The agreement would, of course, be signed prior to that launch.”

For Pennsylvania — the United States’ fifth-most populous state — joining MSIGA would ostensibly mean higher player and prize pools for participants.

Keystone State a Big Player in iGaming

Five operators currently offer online poker in Pennsylvania: BetMGM, BetRivers, Borgata, Pokerstars, and WSOP.com.

With a population of approximately 13 million people, Pennsylvania has separated itself as one of the most lucrative markets in the US for regulated iGaming. The Keystone State generated $2.1 billion in revenue in 2024, a 25.25% increase from 2023’s total of $1.7 billion.

That is nearly on par with New Jersey and Michigan, which reported revenue of $2.39 billion and $2.2 billion last year, respectively. Only four other states have legal iGaming: Connecticut, Delaware, Rhode Island, and West Virginia. 

Poker Could Be Key Economic Driver in Pennsylvania

Shapiro’s stance on the MSIGA is no secret. The Pennsylvania governor expressed his support last October in a letter to the PGCB, requesting that they “begin the process of negotiating the Commonwealth’s entrance into the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement.”

Unsurprisingly, Shapiro cited finances as a key factor.

“Pennsylvania should capitalize on our status as a leader in legalized gaming, and join this compact, which would bring in additional revenue for the Commonwealth and allow players more gaming options,” he said. “My administration is prepared to do our part to help Pennsylvania compete in the gaming sector and continue to build a strong economy that works for everyone.”

For now, Pennsylvanians can only play online poker against other state residents. This has been the case since online poker was legalized statewide in 2017.

With larger player pools, tournament prize money will also likely increase. 

The post Pennsylvania Nears Approval to Join Multi-State Online Poker Network appeared first on CasinoBeats.

This expansion in Pennsylvania and West Virginia represents a significant escalation for GAN and FanDuel – which is 61 per cent owned by Paddy Power Betfair – who already work together in New Jersey.

The population of New Jersey is around nine million, while the two additional states combine to a population of nearly 15 million more US residents.

The deal includes FanDuel deploying GAN’s patented technology which allows land-based casino customers in on-property loyalty programs to link existing loyalty cards to online gambling accounts and receive loyalty points in exchange for online gambling.

FanDuel becomes GAN’s second Pennsylvania client after Parx Casino and takes FanDuel online in both new state markets.

The new agreement constitutes a five-year contract term extension on the partners existing deal, beginning in 2019 and ending in 2024.

Dermot Smurfit, CEO of GAN said in a statement: “The contract extension combined with US Patent licensing represents a significant milestone in GAN’s US evolution and reinforces our view that in the heavily regulated US online gambling market, effective and compliant ‘platforms’ are a premium component of the supply chain rather than a commodity.

“GAN is therefore very well placed to capitalise on the growth in US online gambling markets in terms of new operator clients, new states and underlying growth momentum.”

The GAN deal sees FanDuel continue to aggressively expand its interests in the US, capitalising not just on last year’s PASPA take-down but also on the online casino opportunity, so closely linked to the expansion of sports betting stateside.

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The licence for the Keystone State follows on from the company’s entry into the New Jersey market in April 2021. As a result, Enteractive will be able to roll out its (Re)Activation Cloud platform which enables sportsbook operators to target, and engage with, specific player segments.

Mikael Hansson, Enteractive CEO, said: “With this Pennsylvania licence in addition to our licence in New Jersey, we’re available to support player retention for sportsbooks in the two largest online gambling states of the US.  

“With some leading US brands already working with our stateside teams, our journey across the pond gets more exciting each day.”

In addition to player reactivation services, Enteractive will also carry out “one-to-one conversations with players”. This is something that the company believes will “act as a frontline protection against problem gambling”.

Andrew Foster, Chief Business Officer at Enteractive, added: “After the early success Enteractive has seen in the US market and the positive way players are responding to our one to one personal approach, we’re proud to announce that we are expanding our reach into Pennsylvania state. 

“It’s encouraging to see that the US audience is as appreciative of a personal, qualitative approach as the other global audiences we engage with on behalf of operator brands.”

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The operator has stated that BetRivers Poker offers a “unique player-first experience designed by poker players, for poker players” as the platform was developed by a senior leadership team which includes former professional poker players.

In addition, RSI noted that its partnership with Galfond for the platform has brought “invaluable insight” to make sure the service is “finely tuned to meet the needs of poker players at every level”.

Initially launching in Pennsylvania, RSI has plans to expand the BetRivers Poker platform into additional jurisdictions.

Galfond commented: “As poker players, we designed this platform from the ground up to be for the players – all players. From the amateur playing their very first hand to the sophisticated pro, everyone was kept in mind as we focused on fairness, excitement, and generous rewards that truly benefit the player. 

“I’ve been heavily involved in the game design, promotions, and policy decisions, and, more importantly, in building an incredible team that sees online poker the way I do.”

Features available on the BetRivers Poker platform include a comprehensive suite of game formats to cater for all players, including cash games, Sit & Go tournaments, and Multi-Table Tournaments (MTTs). 

Players can also have dynamic avatars to gain “real-time insights into their opponents’ play styles” as these avatars “dynamically adjust their expressions based on the opponent’s behaviour, offering an intuitive and engaging way to read the competition”.

Through RSI’s collaboration with poker rooms at Rivers Casinos in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, the operator says its poker experience is enhanced with an omnichannel approach, as additional rewards and promotions connect online and in-person play.

Richard Schwartz, CEO of Rush Street Interactive, said: “We are incredibly excited about the launch of this platform. Our goal is to create a seamless experience for players, bridging the gap between the BetRivers digital and Rivers Casino offerings.

“By aligning with Rush Street Gaming’s strong retail presence, we are able to leverage our combined strengths to offer a truly unique poker experience that benefits players and drives growth across our entire portfolio.”

Tim Drehkoff, CEO of Rush Street Gaming, added: “This launch reinforces our commitment to offering Rivers Casino’s guests a wide variety of gaming options. 

“By integrating online and in-person poker, we’re not only enhancing the player experience, but also providing a seamless loyalty and rewards program. We’re committed to continuing to innovate and provide value to our players.”

RSI stated that the BetRivers Poker platform will offer among the lowest rake in Pennsylvania, in addition to its iRush Rewards, allowing players to earn and redeem points across both digital and retail properties.

The BetRivers Poker brand will also be present on the Poker Night in America TV series, appearing on the show, as well as on its social media and streaming channels, helping to increase the online poker platform’s reach.

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