Gambler's Advocate George Dunbar Joins Pennsylvania Gaming Regulation Authority
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George Dunbar, a former Pennsylvania state rep known as a strong proponent of online poker, especially shared liquidity, has joined the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB). This comes at a time when Pennsylvania is inching closer to joining the interstate online poker compact.
Dunbar, a Pennsylvania native and avid online poker player himself, has been tapped as the newest commissioner of the state gaming regulator. His appointment, announced on April 2, is for a two-year term, making him part of the regulatory body responsible for overseeing all forms of gaming in the state.
During his seven terms as a State Representative for the 56th Legislative District, Dunbar made a significant impact in the legislative arena. In his final two terms, he was chosen by his peers as chairman of the House Republican Caucus.
Dunbar's Push for Shared Liquidity
Dunbar's involvement with online poker and his efforts to push Pennsylvania towards shared liquidity have made him a notable figure in the state's gaming environment. He is well-regarded in the PA online poker community for his introduction of HB 2078, a bill that aimed to champion the state's participation in the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA). This bill was a key part of the effort to grow online poker in the state, as it would allow for shared player pools across state borders, offering a larger player base and larger prize pools.
Pennsylvania currently stands as the only major state with regulated online poker that hasn't joined the MSIGA. Other regulated poker states like Nevada, Delaware, New Jersey, Michigan, and West Virginia are already part of the US poker compact, with smaller states like Connecticut and Rhode Island yet to join.
Though the bill didn't make it through the legislative process, it served to raise awareness about the issue, keeping the conversation alive in Harrisburg, and providing a crucial boost to the #GrowPAPoker campaign. The campaign's lasting impact, even though the bill didn't pass immediately, can be seen in Governor Josh Shapiro's later directive to the PGCB to explore joining the MSIGA.
Reflecting on the campaign's success, Dunbar credited the persistence of the PA poker community last year, highlighting their barrage of emails, tweets, and public outreach that successfully grabbed the attention of key decision-makers, including the chairmen of the House Gaming Oversight Committee and other legislative leaders.
PA's Shared Liquidity Expected Timeline
The details around Dunbar's exact role within the PGCB are still unclear, especially with Pennsylvania nearing its MSIGA membership. However, his appointment could signal potential actions to expand the compact, encouraging other jurisdictions like Connecticut, which recently introduced a bill to join the compact, to follow suit.
Pennsylvania is set to become the sixth member of the MSIGA later this spring, potentially as early as this month. Once the state officially joins the compact, operators will be able to connect Pennsylvania's player pool with their existing shared liquidity networks. The exact timeline for this process is still uncertain, but Pennsylvania's large market could pressure operators to expedite the process.
Major operators like PokerStars, WSOP, and BetMGM are likely to push for a quick merger, and it could even motivate BetRivers to expand its online poker presence in states like New Jersey, Michigan, Delaware, and West Virginia, debuting a shared liquidity network involving Pennsylvania.
- The recent appointment of George Dunbar, a former Pennsylvania state rep and advocate for online poker, to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) could potentially accelerate the state's entry into the interstate online poker compact.
- As a commissioner on the PGCB, Dunbar, an avid online poker player himself, may play a significant role in policy-and-legislation and the legalization of casino-and-gambling, including poker and sports-betting, in the state.
- In the past, Dunbar introduced HB 2078, a bill aimed at Pennsylvania's participation in the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA), which would allow shared player pools across state borders and contribute to the growth of online poker in the state.
- Despite the bill not passing immediately, it brought attention to the issue and served as a catalyst for the #GrowPAPoker campaign, highlighting the significant influence of the general-news and the PA poker community in driving policy changes.
- ThePending entry of Pennsylvania into the MSIGA could encourage other jurisdictions like Connecticut and others to follow suit, potentially increasing the number of players and prize pools available for casino-games like poker.
- Major operators like PokerStars, WSOP, and BetMGM, along with BetRivers, may seize the opportunity presented by Pennsylvania's expected entry into the MSIGA to expand their online poker operations and establish shared liquidity networks.
