PGCB Assures DFS Players Won’t Notice Much Difference With Regulated Sites

Written By Katie Callahan on March 12, 2018 - Last Updated on October 17, 2022
various sports equipment on grass

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) made license applications available for operators interested in hosting fantasy sports contests March 9.

These applications are now online on the PGCB website:

  • Enterprise Entity Application and Disclosure Information Form
  • Multi-Jurisdictional Personal History Disclosure Form (Multi-Jurisdictional PHD)
  • Principal/Key Employee Form – Pennsylvania Supplement to the Multi-Jurisdictional Personal History Disclosure Form (PA Supplement)
  • Principal Entity Form
  • Institutional Investor Notice of Ownership

The PGCB begins accepting those applications on March 19.

The DFS application package

These forms are required for:

  • Manufacturers
  • Suppliers
  • Designees
  • iGaming operators
  • Fantasy sports operators
  • Terminal operators

In addition to completing these forms as per the application package, the associated establishments must pay an application fee. Already, the PGCB posits that there could be additional costs related to processing and investigating applicants. These costs are the responsibility of the applicant.

The applicant can pay these by money order or check, but here’s the breakdown of fees:

  • Fantasy Sports Operator: $5,000
  • Affiliated Entities: $2,500
  • Principal/Key Employee: $2,500
  • Principal Entity: $2,500

The PGCB requires application and license fees be paid prior to receipt of the license. For fantasy sports licensed operators, the initial term of five years requires a payment of $50,000. The renewal term at five years is $10,000. Applicants, affiliated entities, principal/key employee qualifiers, employee permits and registration all equal about $14,010.

What does this mean for fantasy contests?

Those who provide fantasy sports can calculate revenue and taxes owed to Pennsylvania based upon entries made in the state by players. Pennsylvania will take in 15 percent of the adjusted revenue of fantasy contests for use in the General Fund.

As of March 7 of this year, the PGCB released temporary fantasy contest regulations. The PGCB expects to present the Temporary Fantasy Contest Regulations draft on March 21 for adoption. This could assist prospective applicants in completing the application process.

In other news, the PGCB also revealed the license application period, mid-April, which will be the first 90-day period where casinos can get an all-in-one license for $10 million. That includes online slots, online table games, and online peer-to-peer gaming.

What does it mean for players?

According to PGCB, Firms in the daily and season-long fantasy contest business will still offer normal sports games under this license. Those who already play fantasy sports will not see much of a difference.

The PGCB specifically states that these games are available to “beginners.” Thus, highly experienced players are excluded from these contests. Additionally, the PGCB prohibits those who use scripts as it unfairly impacts the field.

In order to play, players must be at least 18 years old. Players do not need to be in PA to participate in the fantasy contests. Players can also establish limits and self-exclude from participation in fantasy contests. This can relate to the amounts deposited, amount spent per day in fantasy contests entries, or number of entries per day.

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Katie Callahan

Katie Callahan is a freelance journalist, blogger and copywriter who covers everything from poker, business, education and politics to construction, startups and cybersecurity.

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