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SugarHouse Becomes The First PA Online Casino on iOS
By Kyle Scott
Published:
SugarHouse became the first and only PA online casino to offer an option to play on iOS. Thus far, legal gambling sites and apps in Pennsylvania, including PA sports betting sites, have not been available to play on iPhones or iPads.
[INSERT_ELEMENTOR id=”97588″]SugarHouse Online Casino partnered with the GeoGuard location app to allow users in Pennsylvania to play through the mobile web on iPhones and iPads.
Here’s how it works.
Users who sign up here can register and then they will be prompted to download a geo location app from the App Store. This is a pretty simple process. Once the app is on the phone, users can return to their browser, visit the SugarHouse site, and begin to play their online slot games.
This first mover advantage is significant for SugarHouse in PA.
With iOS users making up roughly half of the mobile market, this presents a significant opportunity. What’s more, SugarHouse been the leader in online betting in PA already. They took in nearly $20 million in bets in June, pacing the market. The addition of iOS should add fuel to the early dominance of both SugarHouse Sportsbook and their online casino.
The Apple question has been a two-fold issue.
A recent Apple App Store policy update dictates that developers must code any new gambling apps submitted to the App Store specifically for iOS. Most online casinos use web (HTML) code to power their online casinos. This meant that many of them now have to scramble to re-code their apps for the most popular mobile operating system.
In addition, state regulators in New Jersey and Pennsylvania require an added level of verification on geo location checks, something more than just pinging a phone’s GPS. So this prevented online casino games from being available on the mobile web through iOS.
With SugarHouse, users can play online slots with games like Blackjack and Poker to soon follow. Other casinos expected to enter the market consist of Unibet and potentially even DraftKings Sportsbook PA. But for right now, SugarHouse is the lone online casino option available to play on iOS in PA.
Kyle Scott is the founder and editor of CrossingBroad.com. He has written for CBS Philly and Philly Voice, and been a panelist or contributor on NBC Sports Philly, FOX 29 and SNY TV, as well as a recurring guest on 97.5 The Fanatic, 94 WIP, 106.7 The Fan and other stations. He has more than 10 years experience running digital media properties and in online advertising and marketing.