A lucky visitor of the Mohegan Pennsylvania casino resort has struck gold, winning a jackpot of more than $642,000. The life-changing prize was won thanks to a side bet that increased the player’s chance of hitting the jackpot.

The winner, casino officials said, was a man from Plains Township. According to the gambling property, he was playing the Blazing 7’s Blackjack progressive table game.

The casino further noted that the winner’s hand consisted of three diamond-suited 7’s, dealt to both the player and the dealer. This 100% Mega event instantly secured the player the top jackpot prize.

Following the win, the progressive jackpot has been reset to $160,000.

According to Mohegan Pennsylvania, the winner has opted to remain anonymous.

Other Players Win Significant Jackpots

This is only the latest significant jackpot won by a player in Pennsylvania. A woman from the Commonwealth recently purchased a $20 scratch-off lottery ticket from a local gas station, winning a million dollars. This significant sum came just in time to comfort the woman’s dying husband.

Mohegan, meanwhile, continued to crown victors in other states too. In May, a Mohegan Sun visitor won a $483,622 prize playing blackjack at the tribal venue. According to the gambling operator, the jackpot was won on a blackjack table located in Casino of the Earth, which sports some 180,000 square feet of gaming and entertainment space.

In more recent news, a winner from Ohio just made history, sweeping the $140 million Powerball jackpot. The player successfully matched all winning numbers, which, at the time of the drawing, were 2, 26, 33, 55, 57, along with the red Powerball 22.

This marked the fifth Powerball win for the year. The previous jackpot, standing at $222.6 million, was won in June by a player from New Jersey.

Following the Buckeye player’s monumental win, the Powerball jackpot has been reset to $20 million.

The post Mohegan Pennsylvania Player Scoops Up $642K Jackpot appeared first on Keno Wizard.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court is ready to make a big decision about whether electronic gaming terminals, commonly found in bars and convenience stores, should be considered illegal gambling machines. 

Pennsylvania Lottery and Casino Industry Blames Skill Games for Revenue Losses

The decision comes after an appeal by the attorney general’s office challenged a lower court ruling that said these “skill games” depend on a player’s ability rather than chance — making them different from traditional slot machines.

For years, the state has argued that these games operate illegally without a gambling license and can be seized by law enforcement. Manufacturers, distributors and operators of the games say they are legal under state law and do not fall under the definition of regulated gambling. This ruling could provide clarity on how those machines should be treated under the law for the first time, said Jeffrey Rosenthal, an attorney representing Parx Casino in Philadelphia, reported the Associated Press.

Courts and lawmakers have wrestled with their status or years. Texas, Virginia and Kentucky have had similar fights over them. 

The Pennsylvania Lottery and the state’s casino industry blame skill games for major revenue losses. Casinos pay out roughly 54% of slot machine revenues in taxes to the state government. Operators say skill games compete against slots tax-free. There are at least 67,000 such terminals in Pennsylvania — more than any other state, according to American Gaming Association estimates.

Pennsylvania Supreme Court to Decide Fate of Skill Games

Attorney General Michelle Henry’s office emphasized in its brief to the court that these devices are all over the place and need clear legal guidance. The justices will study whether these electronic devices with supposed “skill” components are gambling devices by definition under the law. 

Commonwealth Court Judge Lori Dumas noted previously that though they start off looking like slot machines, they include a memory game element that makes them different.

The case started off in Dauphin County in 2019 when state police confiscated Pennsylvania Skill-branded machines from Champions Sports Bar in Highspire.

No criminal charges were filed, but the bar was given an administrative citation. Champions and Capital Vending Company, which owns the machines, sued for their return and won in county court, a decision later upheld by the Commonwealth Court.Pending legislation would ban or regulate these terminals — with the industry pushing for regulation to prevent seizures of its machines.

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The Keystone State gambling regulator, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) has slapped Wind Creek Bethlehem with a $125,000 fine over the casino’s failure to prevent dozens of players from entering illegally on the casino floor.

A Few Bad Apples Spoil the Casino Basket

As a result, 11 underage guests aged 18-20 were able to participate in gambling on the casino floor in 10 instances. The PGCB had to go a long way back to discover the infringements, which attests to its capabilities as a watchdog, and also that no breaking of the state’s gambling laws is likely to go unnoticed.

The period of the reported incidents ranges from November 2021 through September 2023. Yet, the onus is not entirely on the casino, and underage individuals have also faced ramifications over their actions. Some of the visitors were permanently banned from the venue, and others were warned by the state police.

In the meantime, the PGCB has itself been trying to raise awareness for underage gambling, trying to drive the message home that gambling when too young exposes players to an unnecessary risk that could grow into addiction down the road.

Although underage gamblers do happen to hit the floor successfully, which mandates constant improvement of the standards used by casinos to police floors. For the most part, Wind Creek Bethlehem checks the IDs of patrons who may look too young.

In the two years the violations were registered, members of staff were able to check 737,257 individual IDs, demonstrating a strong commitment by the casino to ensure that it does not allow underage gamblers to play.

Regardless, the ultimate fault is said to lie with the property, which will have to continue tightening measures to prevent further infringements in the future.

No Way Out for Casinos Who Allow Underage Gambling

At the same meeting discussing the Wind Creek Bethlehem cases, the board also discussed the case of a woman who had been put on the involuntary exclusion list in the state after she left her four-year-old child in the parking lot while she went inside to gamble. The case dates back to 2017.

“Adults are prohibited from leaving minors unattended in the parking lot or garage, a hotel, or other venues at a casino since it creates a potentially unsafe and dangerous environment for the children,” the regulator said, motivating its decision to not lift the suspension. The woman has not been formally identified either back when the accident occurred or in the latest PGCB transcript.

The PGCB has been busy this year, issuing six-figure penalties earlier in 2024 to two offending casino properties.

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Play’n GO, the well-known supplier of slot games for online casinos, has announced that its prospects of expanding in the United States have improved after having been awarded a license to operate in Pennsylvania.

Moreover, the company also secured a license in Delaware, allowing it to offer its vast portfolio of casino games to online casino operators which cater to players in that state. With Pennsylvania and Delaware, the total number of United States licenses held by Play’n GO went up to six, following New Jersey, Michigan, West Virginia, and Connecticut.

The Swedish gaming company has also recorded great success north of the border, in Canada, where it was one of the very first iGaming suppliers to secure a license in the province of Toronto, the only Canadian province with a competitive online casino and sports betting market.

The supplier’s presence on the American market has brought its games to the attention of the U.S. players and the reward came soon enough as Piggy Blitz, one of the supplier’s top games, has made regular appearances in the top 15 of the most popular titles in North America.

After having secured licenses in Pennsylvania and Delaware, Magnus Olsson, Chief Commercial Officer for Play’n GO, once again underlined that the company’s aim is to become the number one iGaming supplier in every regulated market in the world. So far the company has gained licenses in over 25 jurisdictions from all around the world.

A Prolific Supplier

Play’n GO has also announced that it will release over 50 new online casino games in 2024, giving a major boost to the already vast portfolio of slot games that the company currently offers to its online casino partners.

The company started out in 2005, and since then, it has built a strong reputation as one of the best suppliers of slot games in the industry. In fact, some of its games have become legendary, titles such as Book of Dead, Reactoonz, and Moon Princess are present in almost every major online casino in any corner of the world.

The supplier’s current portfolio contains over 300 premium titles. One of the most recent releases was Mötley Crüe, a slot game dedicated to the legendary 80s rock band and a title that continued the company’s series of music games following the success of titles such as Alice Cooper and the Tome of Madness and ZZ Top Roadside Riches.

Source: “Play’n GO awarded Pennsylvania license“. Play’n GO. March 27, 2024.

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The online gambling market in Pennsylvania is rapidly growing, which is proven by the fact that revenue smashed the records in February, even though other states recorded a year-on-year decrease in revenue.

Online gambling revenue

According to the report, Pennsylvania generated $184.9 million in online gambling revenue in February.

Overall, the revenue was $499.1 million. Compared to the same period the previous year, an increase of 9.3% is recorded, since in February 2023 the revenue was $456.8 million. However, in January 2024, the total revenue was $464.4 million, so February recorded a decrease of 1.6%.

The main source of revenue in Pennsylvania is still retail slots which generated $202,7 million. The revenue was slightly decreased, but the growth is recorded when considering the number of slot machines decreased from 25,708 to 24,962.

Land-based table games also had a successful period, since the revenue generated from them was $76,6 million, representing an increase of 2.9%. In 2023, the Pennsylvania online gambling market reached a revenue of $131.6 million. Compared to that, total iGaming revenue grew by 40.5% to $184.9 million in 2024.

Online slots generated $125.9 million, 35.6% more than in the previous year, while online table games earned $56.6 million, which represents an increase of 56.7%. Online poker wasn’t as popular as it used to be in 2023, since it generated $2.4 million, 8.3% less than in the year before.

Industry leaders

The casino that saw the highest revenue is Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course. Its online gaming operations earned $77.3 million in February, 36.8% more than in the same month of 2023.

The second place took Valley Forge Casino Resort, which generated $44,8 million. The casino operations saw significant growth since the revenue increased by 63.0%. Rivers Casino Philadelphia took the third place, with $29.3 million and an increase of 11.4%.

Sports betting revenue

On the other hand, sports betting isn’t as popular as it used to be in 2023. When it comes to total revenue, it decreased by 30.0% annually, and in February 2024 it was $30.3 million. The online betting sector saw $28.2 million, and retail revenue was $2.1 million.

However, the total handle increased by 10.4%, and in February it was $661.7 million, while in 2023 that number was $599.5 million.

A leader in the sports betting industry was Valley Forge Casino Resort and its partner FanDuel that earned 17.7 million in revenue. The second was Hollywood Casino at the Meadows and DraftKings, with $7.7 million in revenue, and Hollywood Casino Morgantown and BetMGM were the third with $1.2 million. Video lottery terminals saw a decline of 2.4%, with a revenue of $3.2 million, and fantasy sports decreased by 5.2% to $1.3 million.

Source: Fletcher, Robert. “Pennsylvania iGaming revenue reaches record $184.9m in February”. iGaming Business. March 20, 2024.

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Authorities in Pennsylvania are on the hunt for a suspected baccarat cheater after an attempted scam at the Mohegan Pennsylvania casino in Wilkes-Barre. The individual in question, Jianchu Liu, a 47-year-old Chinese national, is believed to be part of a professional cheating ring known to have targeted various casinos across the United States.

Liu’s alleged modus operandi involved attempting to surreptitiously record the sequence of cards in the baccarat deck using a camera app on his cellphone. However, his actions did not go unnoticed, as the casino’s surveillance cameras caught him in the act, reported The Citizen’s Voice.

According to state police reports, Liu was identified through his casino rewards card. Investigators suspect that he is affiliated with a group of cheats known for employing sophisticated techniques to gain an advantage at the baccarat table. This group has previously operated at casinos such as the Golden Nugget and the Imperial Palace in Biloxi, Mississippi.

The cheating method employed by Liu and his associates typically involves the use of a cut card to momentarily expose the order of the cards in the deck. This information is then relayed to the cheater, allowing them to make strategic bets with an unfair advantage.

Baccarat Cheater Evades Arrest, Authorities Seek Public Assistance

During the incidents at Mohegan Pennsylvania, Liu’s actions aroused suspicion among casino security personnel. On one occasion, he was observed manipulating the dealer’s hands in an attempt to influence how the cards were handled, leading to a confrontation between Liu and the dealer.

Following a thorough investigation, state police obtained a warrant for Liu’s arrest on two misdemeanor charges related to fraud and trickery. Despite the warrant, Liu has not yet been apprehended or arraigned.

Baccarat is a popular card game where players aim to bet on the hand with the highest value, which is nine. However, Liu’s alleged cheating attempts disrupted the fair play of the game, prompting authorities to take swift action.

As the investigation continues, authorities are urging anyone with information regarding Jianchu Liu’s whereabouts to come forward. This is not the first time baccarat has been the subject of cheating. In January, a Mohegan Sun baccarat dealer, Yu Wen Fu, was accused of rigging games by arranging cards in a specific order, resulting in significant losses for the casino. Despite facing charges of larceny, Fu maintained his innocence, claiming accidental card exposure during shuffling.

The post Chinese National Wanted for Baccarat Cheating at Mohegan Pennsylvania appeared first on Keno Wizard.

For years, a battle has been raging over the legality of skill games in Pennsylvania. While supporters of such form of entertainment said that it provides a different experience than gambling and helps local businesses, opponents warned about the impact of skill games on the brick-and-mortar casino sector. Currently, skill games operate within a grey area across Pennsylvania, but that may soon change with the state’s newly proposed budget.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro recently released his proposed budget for FY 2024/2025, which included estimates for proceeds from skill games tax. Per the proposed budget, the tax rate for such games would be 42% on gross gaming revenue. The Governor’s budget reveals that the regulation of skill games would be in the hands of the state’s gambling regulator, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB).

The collected tax on gross gaming revenue from such machines would be deposited into an administrative account. Subsequently, the collected taxes from skill games would be relocated to the state’s General Fund, under the proposed budget.

Assuming that the required legislation and rules would be in place with the budget’s effective date, July 1, 2024, an estimated $150.4 million in proceeds from skill games taxes are expected to be generated for FY 2024/2025. Gov. Shapiro’s proposed budget estimated the proceeds from skill games taxes to increase to $313.4 million for FY 2025/2026 and remain in a similar ballpark through FY 2028/2029.

“This budget proposes a tax to be levied on the daily gross gaming revenue from electronic gaming machines that involve an element of skill and are regulated by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. Estimates assume an effective date of July 1, 2024. This budget deposits tax revenues into a restricted account for administration, transferring the balance to the General Fund,“

reads Gov. Josh Shapiro’s proposed FY 2024/2025 budget

A Major Milestone for Skill Games

Undoubtedly, including tax revenue from skill games within the proposed budget marks an important milestone after years of dispute over the legality of such games. Yet, it is important to mention that the proposed budget may undergo changes. Still, the Governor’s intention to include skill games in the budget marks a clear signal for lawmakers about the future of skill games in Pennsylvania.

The recent development follows a court decision from late last year. At the time, skill games were designated as not illegal, a move that paved the way for the regulation of such games. The judgment came from the Commonwealth Court, approving a lower court’s decision that recognized winnings from skill games as legal.

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In November, residents of West Virginia gained access to Fanatics’ online casino. This marked the debut of the brand for the online casino vertical and its existing PointsBet users were given instructions on how to access their account with the operator. The launch was achieved after last year, Fanatics agreed to acquire PointsBet’s US-facing assets.

Now, as announced by Play Pennsylvania, Fanatics continues its online casino expansion with a planned launch in Pennsylvania for next week. Users who had PointsBet accounts were informed earlier this week by Fanatics that their accounts would be transitioned to Fanatics sportsbook and casino next week.

Additionally, Fanatics explained that users will receive further instructions in due time and are not required to do anything currently. Similar to other transitions for the sector, the company explained that the user’s information, including Rewards Points, Bonus Bets and outstanding balance will be automatically transferred to Fanatics sportsbook and casino.

Still, the operator explained that the Free Spins belonging to users with PointsBet Casino accounts are not going to be transferred to the new platform. Fanatics vowed to disclose additional details about the upcoming launch soon.

“PointsBet is becoming Fanatics Sportsbook and Casino, and your account is moving with you next week,“

reads an email sent to PointsBet users

Customers of the Operator Can Earn FanCash

Just like other betting and iGaming operators, Fanatics offers a loyalty program. The operator’s system allows punters who participate in online gambling and wager on sports to earn FanCash. This form of loyalty currency can then be exchanged for bonus wagers or can be used by sports fans to purchase sportswear of their favorite team.

Fanatics tapped into the established customer base of PointsBet by acquiring its US-facing assets in a deal for $225 million dating back to last year. While the company initially proposed $150 million for those assets, betting industry rival DraftKings made a $195 million proposal. This prompted Fanatics to upgrade its initial offer to $225 million, which was ultimately the cost of the acquisition.

The post Fanatics Hints at Launch of Online Casino in Pennsylvania Next Week appeared first on Keno Wizard.

In a determined effort to combat the recent ruling legalizing skill games in Pennsylvania, several casinos have appealed to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. 

Parx Casino and Others Lead Legal Battle Against Skill Games Ruling

Leading the charge, Parx Casino Bensalem and Shippensburg are among the establishments that have sought an appeal from the Supreme Court. 

Despite the Commonwealth Court’s decision, the battle appears far from its conclusion. The appeal filed by Parx Casino and others argues that skill games pose a significant threat to the licensed, regulated, and supervised casino industry in the state. 

The appeal contends that these games, exempt from gaming taxes and oversight, undermine the contributions of the casino industry, which employs thousands, supports tens of thousands of jobs, and generates substantial tax revenues for the state.

A majority of Pennsylvania casinos, including Mohegan Pennsylvania, Hollywood Casino, Penn National Race Course, and others, have joined the legal fray. 

The appeal to the Supreme Court emphasizes the potential repercussions of the Commonwealth Court’s decision, asserting that the ruling of the Commonwealth Court allows unlicensed, unregulated, and illegal slot machines to potentially dominate the gaming scene in Pennsylvania, contrary to the intentions of the General Assembly.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Joins Casinos in Legal Challenge Against Skill Games

The Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office, hinting at an appeal last month, has officially filed one this week, aligning itself with the casinos in challenging the legality of skill games. Both briefs argue that skill games should be treated as slot machines within the context of Pennsylvania’s legal framework.

The concerns highlighted in the briefs go beyond legal technicalities. They raise issues of social responsibility, noting that unregulated skill games lack the same restrictions and oversight as their regulated counterparts. 

Skill games in Pennsylvania have been a source of debate regarding regulation and taxation, gaining popularity and sparking controversy among businesses. The Commonwealth Court, which recognized the legality of wins from skill games, paved the way for potential regulation with its decision last month.

This week, Mike Barley, Chief of Public Relations at Pace-O-Matic, urged casino operators to reconsider their stance on skill games, emphasizing the need for regulation to benefit small businesses. The recent court victory has given hope to supporters of skill games, who anticipate effective regulation shortly. 

For example, Sen. Gene Yaw’s proposed bill, advocating for taxation and regulation, aims to generate an estimated $300 million for the state in its first year. 

However, casino operators remain opposed to such regulations, with Barley accusing them of hindering the process. Pace-O-Matic supports the regulation of skill games and calls for lawmakers to take necessary action.

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Digital Gaming Corporation (DGC), a premium provider of iGaming content, has reinforced its existing partnership with Caesars Entertainment’s online casino division, Caesars Digital. Under the expanded agreement, DGC will inject iGaming content into the operator’s Caesars Palace Online Casino brand in Pennsylvania.

The launch comes soon after DGC supplied premium online slots to Caesars Palace Online Casino in Michigan.

Under the Pennsylvania-facing agreement, Caesars Palace Online Casino players in the state will be able to try out some of the supplier’s best games. This includes iconic titles such as Assassin Moon, Blazin Mammoth and Thunderstruck Wild Lighting, among others.

DGC has cemented itself as a “must-have” content provider for American operators thanks to its chart-topping titles. Some of its most popular hits include games like Gold Blitz, Fire and Roses Joker and Squealin’ Riches, among others. All of the provider’s games are tailored to suit the needs of the US players and are designed to exceed gamblers’ expectations.

Pennsylvanian Customers Will Get Access to New Experiences

Neill Whyte, the chief commercial officer of DGC’s B2B iGaming Division, commented on the expanded agreement with Caesars, saying that it builds on the already successful partnership between the two companies.

According to Whyte, the launch in Pennsylvania will provide local players with access to a number of great games, including Gold Blitz and Bison Moon.

Each of our titles has been developed specifically to hit the mark with U.S. players, and this is why they are so sought-after across regulated states and it’s great to see Caesars Digital extending its partnership with us to ensure its players in Pennsylvania can fire up the reels on the most thrilling slots in the market.

Neill Whyte, CCO, DGC

Matthew Sunderland, Caesars Digital’s senior vice president and chief iGaming officer, also commented on the matter. He praised DGC’s content, saying that it has been well-received by Caesars’ players in Michigan. As a result, bringing the supplier’s highly-rated slots to Pennsylvania was a “logical move,” Sunderland said.

Providing the highest level of content to engage players remains a key area of focus for our platforms and DGC is a partner that knows exactly how to provide thrilling player experiences.

Matthew Sunderland, SVP and chief iGaming officer, Caesars Digital

A few days ago, Caesars Digital also signed a content partnership agreement with EveryMatrix.

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