PointsBet nets Pennsylvania igaming and sports betting licence
Operators team up on joint application in Keystone State as part of revenue sharing market access agreement
PointsBet has been awarded sports betting and interactive gaming operator licenses by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board to offer igaming and sports betting in the Keystone State.
The licensure forms part of a long-standing agreement between PointsBet and Penn National Gaming (PNG) dating back to 2019, signed via PNG’s Penn Interactive Ventures (PIV) management subsidiary.
The agreement, which was extended in March 2021 to cover the Keystone State, includes arrangements to pay PNG an undisclosed proportion of the net gaming revenues derived from the new states, including Pennsylvania.
The agreement between the two US operators runs for a 20-year term.
Under this accord, PNG and PointsBet, operating through a wholly owned PointsBet Pennsylvania subsidiary, submitted a joint license application to the PGCB.
PointsBet’s licenses for online casino and sports betting will each run for a five-year period and are subject to renewal in the final year.
PointsBet USA CEO Johnny Aitken welcomed the partnership’s delivery of the license, suggesting the firm was “inching closer” to being able to appeal to Pennsylvania players.
“With Pennsylvania ranking among the top five sports betting states in the nation, PointsBet is thrilled to be able to soon establish its presence in this lucrative market, and we are appreciative of the support we’ve received from the state of Pennsylvania and the great people at the Gaming Control Board,” Aitken said.
“We ultimately seek to provide customers in Pennsylvania with the best-in-class sports betting and online casino experience,” he added.
PointsBet has said it will utilize existing assets available through its sports betting partnership with broadcaster NBC Sports, which includes exclusive multiplatform gameday integrations across NBC Sports Philadelphia, regional broadcast home to the Phillies, 76ers and Flyers.
“With NBC Philadelphia being a key asset in the NBC Sports portfolio, it will play a vital role in our ability to reach new customers and build brand recognition in this new market,” said PointsBet USA Chief Marketing Officer Kyle Christensen.
“We are excited to continue telling the PointsBet story and demonstrate to sports fans and bettors in Pennsylvania exactly what sets the brand apart among the rest,” he added.