The waiting is over. Pennsylvania has soft-launched online lottery as part of its expanded gambling platform.
Pennsylvania Lottery unveiled its iLottery Tuesday, nearly a month after implementing Keno at authorized retailers. The 46th anniversary year of PA Lottery has been one for the annals. Since 1972, it has been paying out cash prizes while donating a cut of the revenue toward various programs focused on senior citizens.
Yet the Keystone State has not seen a year such as 2018. And the online lottery is the latest, and most noteworthy, example.
Lengthy wait is over for PA iLottery
In 2017, Pennsylvania introduced a gambling expansion bill to diversify its offered games, including online gambling.
“As we reflect on 46 great years, we’re hard at work to build the Pennsylvania Lottery of the future,” said Drew Svitko, executive director of PA Lottery. “In coming months, we’ll launch an iLottery online gaming platform and new types of draw games that will help us to modernize our business and generate new funds to benefit older Pennsylvanians.”
For some time, there was uncertainty surrounding the timeline of the new gaming platform. Even as recently as the end of March. Yet excitement built as time wore on. Then, Tuesday came.
Lo, iLottery was bestowed upon the Keystone State. Though it is a soft launch, allowing PA Lottery to turn the games loose without promoting them. This also provides the lottery to work out any bugs before the masses attack the PA iLottery.
PA iLottery games offered
As part of its soft launch, PA iLottery has limited its game selections for the time being.
On its website are 11 instant win games:
- Foxin’ Wins Reveal
- Super CashBuster
- Big Money Slingo
- Big Foot Reveal
- Crossword Cash
- Cash in the Lamp
- Super Gems
- Robin Hood Reveal
- Volcano Reveal
- Monster Wins Reveal
- CashBuster Towers
Essentially, these games are digital scratch-offs. Though instant wins offer bonus rounds and other user customization features. Minimum real-money bets begin at $0.01 per round. Players must be at least 18 years old to play.
Several platforms are available for players, including PC or Mac and via the Pennsylvania Lottery app on iOS.
Just the beginning of PA Lottery expansion
A soft launch is typically a teaser. Think of it as an extended trailer to a big-budget movie.
When Pennsylvania passed its gambling bill in 2017, the intended goal of iLottery was to attract a younger audience and generate another $30 million for the PA Lottery.
A more expansive list of iLottery games will surely be rolled out. Keno, it is hoped, will continue to gain in popularity. Even sports betting is on the way after the US Supreme Court cleared the path for legalization by striking down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act just a few weeks ago.
Pennsylvania continues to work toward modernizing its lottery gaming. And iLottery could be its biggest step yet.
