Finally, in 2017, Pennsylvania succeeded in passing a broad gambling expansion bill that included regulation for iGaming. Both online casino games and poker were allowed under the legislation, with the state gaming control board given broad license to approve other types of games as well.
- In order to legally provide gaming services associated with sports betting, lotto, poker and bingo, an online casino owner must obtain a license. Its absence challenges the successful work of an online platform, due to the fact that the operator is unable to open a bank account or even put any games on their site.
- The new Illinois Gambling Act of 2019 allows online sports betting in Illinois, although it does not legalize other types of online casino games or online poker. Since 2012, the Illinois Lottery has provided residents and visitors to play Powerball, Mega Millions and other games from their computers or mobile devices.
Panama is one of the smaller licensing jurisdictions for
online gambling, but there are a few recognizable brands that
call it home. It’s an attractive place to launch an operation
due to minimal governmental interference and a gambling-friendly
banking industry. Additionally, the country’s infrastructure is
modern and well-maintained in urban areas.
Panama became a licensing jurisdiction in 2002 with the
passage of the Online Gaming Act of 2002. The first license was
issued in 2003 and Panama has remained in the business ever
since. The Junta de Control de Juegos (Gaming Control Board) is
responsible for issuing licenses and monitoring the operations
of all licensed gambling sites.
Licensing Process and Fees
Anyone interested in hosting a gaming company in Panama must
submit an application and open the business for inspection for
as long as it remains in business. The initial inspection
includes a criminal background check, business processes
analysis, and testing of the “fairness” of all games of chance.
Once approved, the operator is given a “master’s license.”
Master license holders may grant sub-licenses to other operators
in certain circumstances. License holders must also keep enough
cash on hand to honor all obligations. All financial
transactions must be recorded and available for review at any
time.
- Application and first year: $40,000
- Yearly fee after first year: $20,000
- Sublicense yearly fee: $20,000
Is a Gambling License From Panama a Reliable Indicator of
Quality?
So you have an online casino in mind and you see it’s
licensed in Panama. Does that mean anything? Based on past
events, we would have to say no. There are both good and bad
sites licensed by the local authority. You would be
better-served judging any operators by their individual track
records rather than their licensing status in Panama.
For example, one of our favorite all-around gambling sites
(BetOnline) is based out of Panama. However, the reason we like
BetOnline has nothing to do with the fact that they have a
license from Panama. We like them because they take care of
players, process withdrawals, and run an ethical business.
On the other hand, the Gaming Control Board still lists
UltimateBet.com as an active licensee. If you’re not familiar
with Ultimate Bet, they collapsed several years ago after
suffering from a major cheating scandal perpetrated by employees
of the site. This all went down in 2011 so it’s kind of sad to
see UB still listed as a licensed poker room.
We would say that a license from Panama simply means the
gambling site chose to base its operations there. They have the
blessing of the government to host real money games and were
able to pass the initial licensing process. The license itself
offers no guarantee beyond that.
If you are interested in learning more about the online
gambling license in Panama you can visit their website or
contact them through phone or email. Below we have listed out
all of this information for your convenience in case you are
looking for more information.
- Website: http://www.mef.gob.pa/
- E-Mail:[email protected]
- Phone: (+507) 507-7600
As Michigan inches toward the launch of online casinos later this year, there will be a slow drip of licenses handed out by the Michigan Gaming Control Board.
Online Casino Gaming Commission
Licenses for operators are in the works, but other entities related to the business of an online gambling site are making headway. Among the first recipients is Ainsworth Game Technology Limited, one of the industry’s leading online casino slot suppliers.
The Australian company was listed on Oct. 20 as being provisionally licensed by the board as a sports betting and online casino supplier.
The name Ainsworth may not mean as much to future MI online casino players. But the fact that interim licenses are being delivered is a good sign.
MGCB starting to issue supplier licenses
Ainsworth is one of six companies listed as provisionally licensed in the Great Lakes State, where a late 2020 launch of online gambling is expected.
The others include Konami Gaming Inc., another online game supplier, and Sportradar Solutions LLC, a big name in sports data and sports betting.
In all, 47 companies have applied for supplier licenses, according to the MGCB website as of Oct. 20.
What is Ainsworth and why do they matter?
Let’s step away from Michigan for a bit, and take a look at New Jersey, a state that has had legal online gambling for going on seven years. Ainsworth is one of many game suppliers in New Jersey.
Several of those NJ game suppliers will make their way to Michigan’s servers, but Ainsworth has been in the news lately.
Last week, the company and Rush Street Interactive announced a partnership in New Jersey. There, Ainsworth will bring high-performing slot machine titles to Rush Street’s PlaySugarHouse brand.
At NJ online casinos, Ainsworth features exclusive slot titles such as Big Prize Bubblegum, Money Heat, and Winning Wolf.
The partnership is one of a handful for Ainsworth in the Garden State, including deals with Golden Nuggetand BetMGM.
Those are some of the biggest brands in NJ, which pocketed more than $85 million in online casino revenue in September.
Michigan on the horizon for Ainsworth online games
Online Casino Gambling License
In an interview with Fantini Research last week, Ainsworth CEO Lawrence Levy said the company has Michigan in its sights.
Levy said some of the same companies Ainsworth partnered with in NJ will be the same as Michigan.
That means RSI brand BetRivers, BetMGM, and Golden Nugget very likely will have Ainsworth titles.
“It’s a great opportunity for us to not just be part of that market but to grow in it and take good revenues from it,” Levy said.
Online Gaming Casino License Application
Though Michigan was the only state Levy mentioned specifically, he said several states will follow.
Those companies mentioned may not be the only ones though. Levy said more partnerships will follow in November.
MI online casinos launch coming soon
The forms for online gaming supplier licenses became available in May, and MGCB executive director Richard Kalm expressed a need for companies to move quickly.
Indeed, it appears the licensing process will be the final piece needed for online gambling to launch in Michigan.
Legislatively, the Internet Gaming and Internet Sports Betting rules are in front of the Joint Committee for Administrative Rules. The MGCB submitted the rules on Oct. 8.
Online Gaming Casino License Plate
The committee has 15 session days to act on them, though a waiver could hasten that process.
Online Gaming Casino License California
Even so, launch could occur in November but could also drag into early 2021.
Ainsworth and other vendors and suppliers are in the same boat as operators. They all want to have a license in hand before launch.