Seven Pennsylvania casinos have asked a court to block the state’s new iLottery system from offering online games that are similar to online casino games.
The complaint was filed against the state Revenue Department, which includes the Pennsylvania Lottery.
“All of the iLottery games feature the same user interface as a slot machine, and have the same interactive appearance, feel and play experience that a player would expect from land-based and online slot machines,” the complaint filed in Commonwealth Court read. “These features include graphics, animation, suspenseful music, flashing lights, bells or sounds played when combinations are hit, and similar visual and auditory features.”
The owners of the seven casinos, including Penn National Gaming Inc. and Caesars Entertainment Corp., said the state Gaming Act limits casino games to those who hold a slot machine license and table games certificate. The casinos argue the iLottery program “is a direct incursion by the state into the exclusive market of the licensed gaming operators.”
The other casinos filing the complaint are Parx Casino; The Meadows Casino Racetrack Hotel; Stadium Casino; Valley Forge Casino Resort; and Mohegan Sun Pocono.
A Pennsylvania Lottery spokesman told the Associated Press that officials had not reviewed the lawsuit.
“It is important to note that Act 42 authorized the lottery’s new games, which are part of an effort to continue delivering to our customers games that they want and where they want while generating the additional funds to stabilize the Lottery Fund and provide vital services to older Pennsylvanians,” lottery spokesman Gary Miller told the wire service.
The state began iLottery games in May, with prizes up to $250,000.
