The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) has approved Golden Nugget’s applications for online table game and slots licenses. As a result, Pennsylvania gamblers could be seeing a new online casino brand within a matter of weeks or months.
Golden Nugget will become the second operator to launch as a qualified gaming entity (QGE) in Pennsylvania this year, following Bally’s launch in June.
QGEs are “casino operators primarily operating in jurisdictions outside of Pennsylvania.”
The QGE licenses allow such companies to operate without a partnership. Otherwise, out-of-state companies wishing to offer online casino games in Pennsylvania must partner with a land-based license holder.
Last year, PGCB announced it would approve 12 additional QGE licenses:
- Three online slots license
- Three table games licenses
- Six licenses for “non-banking” table games (i.e., poker)
Golden Nugget’s road to gaining a license took about two years. The company received a QGE status in March 2021. Once live, the casino will be able to compete in the state with the highest online gaming revenue.
The downside to QGE licensing is that Golden Nugget won’t be able to offer sports betting unless it finds a partner. However, it may not want to do so since it is owned by DraftKings, which is already a top brand in that space. Since the acquisition, Golden Nugget has focused even more narrowly on the casino vertical than before.
There are still some regulatory steps required before launch. Golden Nugget will have to wait for the PGCB to review the final details of the application at an upcoming meeting.
What Should PA Players Expect from Golden Nugget?
Golden Nugget is a storied name in the casino industry. Many Pennsylvania players, especially those in and around Philadelphia, will be familiar with the brand and its Atlantic City casino. Unfortunately, the splitting of Golden Nugget Online Gaming from the parent company and subsequent sale to DraftKings means the online casino uses a different rewards program from the retail locations.
What players will find, however, is a massive array of slots. In New Jersey, Golden Nugget has the most extensive slots catalog of any operator, with over 1000 games on offer. It may take some time for the Pennsylvania site to host that many, but variety is still likely to be the name of the game.
Some popular slot titles likely to be found at Golden Nugget include:
- 88 Fortunes
- Divine Fortune
- Mercy of the Gods
- Cleopatra
For those interested in table games, the online casino at Golden Nugget offers many varieties, including live dealer of options like blackjack, roulette, and baccarat.
Golden Nugget: Leader in NJ, Middle-of-the-Pack in MI
Golden Nugget is among the pioneers in the casino industry. The company’s Las Vegas location is one of the oldest casinos in Las Vegas. Meanwhile, Golden Nugget was among the first to launch its online casino in NJ in 2014.
The early launch made Golden Nugget a top earner among NJ online casinos. While NJ’s Division of Gaming Enforcement does not release numbers by each online casino, it shares revenue for retail license holders.
Golden Nugget Atlantic City’s partners have generated over $1.7 billion in lifetime revenue, taking the number one spot. Aside from the brand’s online casino, the Golden Nugget Atlantic City partners with Sugar House (BetRivers in some markets) and BetFair.
However, the company’s influence in the state is diminishing. While it holds the number one spot in lifetime earnings, Golden Nugget currently ranks third in the latest monthly revenue figures. The brand has fallen behind Borgata and Resorts, the retail partners of BetMGM Casino and DraftKings Casino, among others.
While successful in New Jersey, Golden Nugget ranks in the middle of the pack in Michigan. Since launching in 2021, the online casino at Golden Nugget has earned $157 million in lifetime revenue, ranking fifth. BetMGM has earned over $1.2 billion, while FanDuel and DraftKings have generated over half a billion in lifetime revenue.
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