Gaming Expansion Brings Newfound Opportunities for Virtual Vendors FRANK DONAGHUE AND JACK BYRNES McNEES WALLACE & NURICK LLC The PGCB requires licenses and certificates for various
As expanded gaming became legalized in Pennsylvania, video gaming terminals, iGaming and sports wagering saw incredible growth. Frank Donaghue and Jack Byrnes of McNees Wallace & Nurick provide their perspectives on the growth of these new areas.
forms of gaming, including slot machine licenses for casino land-based gaming, interactive gaming certificates for iGaming endeavors such as online slots and table games, sports waging certificates for land-based and online sports wagering, and terminal operator licenses for VGT operations. When entities with any of these various licenses and certificates engage third-party persons or
While it is common knowledge that the Pennsylvania
entities for goods and services, additional PGCB licensing
Gaming Control Board (the PGCB) regulates all legally
requirements may apply. These third-party vendors, also
operated casinos in Pennsylvania, it may come as a
known as gaming service providers, are natural persons
surprise that companies and individuals that are looking to provide goods and services to these casinos and licensed entities may also be subject to the same licensing requirements. The PGCB has a robust and heavily detailed application process and licensing system for entities and individuals
or entities that provide non-gaming goods or services to those entities that currently have, or are applying for, the above-mentioned licenses and certificates. Traditionally, the goods and services provided by these vendors were those typically associated with gaming establishments,
that wish to do business with PGCB licensed entities. For many years this was a forgone conclusion for traditional gaming vendors, who were aware of the detailed applications implemented by the PGCB. However, following the major expansion of gaming in 2017 in Pennsylvania, which saw the legalization of interactive gaming (iGaming), video gaming terminals at truck stops (VGTs), fantasy contests, and sports wagering, the pool of likely vendors who will end up conducting business with PGCB licensed entities grew significantly. Gone are the days of thinking of gaming entities solely as brick-and-mortar casinos serviced by the standard vendors – with the advent of new forms of gaming in the Commonwealth and beyond, more vendors and suppliers will need to ensure they have accurately completed the PGCB’s application process and are in compliance with all gaming licensing requirements. Therefore, the purpose of this article will be to outline these new areas of gaming and the likely new vendors who will be entering these new gaming frontiers – the new normal. CORPORATE COUNSEL BUSINESS JOURNAL
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