Pennsylvania to allow unlimited skins
Rule will open the market up to international operators but comes with several restrictions
Pennsylvania will allow operators to run an unlimited number of skins, according to temporary regulations released yesterday.
The document from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board did however stipulate that a skin must display which license holder it represents and must also be accessed through that license holder’s main site.
How that would work in practice is still unclear, but it could mean 888 has to operate under the domain 888.harrahs.com, for instance.
The news of unlimited skins will be welcome news to international operators who have been adamant that more brands and more competition will benefit consumers and the state coffers.
888 said as much in a letter to the PGCB, while iDEA chairman Jeff Ifrah said a limit on skins would be “anti-competitive,” and amount to effectively picking winners and losers in the market.
Pennsylvania’s existing casino licence holders had argued for a skins restrictions, with Penn National saying multiple skins provided would “inevitably cannibalize the land-based casino businesses”.
Elsewhere, the PGCB temporary regulations also established guidelines for player account registration, funding, and closure, and addresses responsible gaming protocols for the first time with guidelines for self-exclusion for instance.
The PGCB will begin accepting applications for online gaming licenses on April 16.