Licenses are only approved after public hearings are held, where everybody concerned is given the opportunity to have a say in the matter. The final decision, however, rests with the Gaming Control Board.
Two casinos in the state are already allowed to offer poker at their casinos, in line with the state’s new legislation recently passed. On Wednesday, Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course, Mounty Airy Casino Resort and the Sands Resort in Bethlehem were all granted licenses.
Analysts believe that it will not be long before casinos in the state surpass New Jersey casino’s as the number one gaming destinations in the Northeast area of the United States.
All these casinos have been granted permission to operation up to 250 table games each, effective later this year.
The price tag on a poker license does not come cheaply. Pennsylvania casinos are expected to come up with us$ 16.5 million each, and – in addition – the state will get 14% of table game revenue. If that wasn’t enough, local governments will also claim 2% of the pie.
The Sands Casino has already outlined its plans, which it hopes to make official as early as July this year. The establishment said that it would add 89 new games including over 40 blackjack tables, four Texas Hold ‘em Bonus tables and 12 poker tables.
Mount Airy expects to see a 30% increase in revenue due to the introduction of poker, the casino said. It plans to introduce 34 blackjack tables, 12 poker tables and other table games such as Let it Ride, Pai Gow and Three Card Poker.