PokerStars aiming to be first to market in Pennsylvania
Operator confirms plans to enter market next year but says it is still evaluating partners and verticals
PokerStars aims to be one of the first operators live in Pennsylvania when the state opens its digital doors next year, the firm said last week.
Speaking on the Stars Group’s Q3 earnings call, CFO Brian Kyle said Pennsylvania was poised to become a “significant marketplace for iGaming and a potential boost to our US poker business” if it were to share liquidity with New Jersey as expected.
He added: “We aim to be among the first operators to launch in Pennsylvania when that state opens its door to online poker and casino.”
The exact timeline for launch is still unclear with most operators projecting to go live in Q2 or Q3 currently.
The firm also declined to clarify how it would be going live. Poker licences cost $4m each, but will be offered to the state’s land-based casinos first.
Another option could be going live as a skin on one of those casino’s licences.
When asked about partners, Stars’ chief legal officer Marlon Goldstein said: “We’re still evaluating our options in terms of who we may want to partner with and the landscape in Pennsylvania generally. But again, we are really excited to be competing in that market as soon as possible”.
When asked by EGR about plans, and whether Stars would launch poker and casino, or just one, a spokesperson said “everything is still being reviewed”.
The firm also said it was optimistic that Pennsylvania would be a “catalyst” for other US states to start regulating.