Rutter’s Wins First C-Store Gambling License
Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board OKs in-store digital gambling.
Jun 20, 2019
YORK, Penn.—A Rutter’s outlet in Juniata County, Pennsylvania, has become the first convenience store in the state to be granted a video gambling license, according to YDR.com.
As reported earlier in NACS Daily, the 73-store chain applied for a digital gambling machine license in 2018, and the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board recently gave the OK. Licenses also have been requested for 18 additional Rutter’s locations, including those in the York and Wrightsville areas.
The store’s new video gaming machine only accepts cash, with a maximum bet of $5 and a maximum payout of $1,000. The return-to-player rate is mandated at 85%, the same as for slot machines in the state.
Gambling has put more than $385 million into Pennsylvania coffers in the first year that the state expanded gaming. Revenue is coming in at about $1 million per day, which is greater than state budget estimates. More than half of the gross revenue goes into the state’s General Fund (42%) or is spent on grants awarded to counties by the Commonwealth Finance Agency (10%), YDR.com reports.
Not everyone supports the growth of gambling in Pennsylvania. Two Lancaster County state senators are working to pass legislation that would allow municipalities to approve a resolution that would nix video gaming terminals in their respective areas.
