PokerStars will be offering a full suite of online gambling products in Pennsylvania — including online poker and sports betting — by partnering with Mount Airy Casino Resort, parent company The Stars Group has announced.

Here comes PokerStars

The news means PokerStars is officially going to offer its products legally in a second state; it already runs online poker and online casino games in New Jersey.

“We’re excited to take this next step as The Stars Group looks to broaden its presence in the United States,” said Matt Primeaux, senior vice president of strategy and operations, USA at The Stars Group. “In partnership with Mount Airy Casino Resort, we believe we’re well positioned to capitalize on opportunities in the Commonwealth by bringing our world leading offerings to Pennsylvania players.”

The news was somewhat expected, as Mount Airy had already petitioned state regulators to be able to offer online casino and poker. The casino’s intent on sports betting was not yet known.

“As one of Pennsylvania’s leaders in entertainment, offering internet sports wagering and gaming and partnering with The Stars Group is the obvious next step for us to continue diversifying our casino offerings,” said Vincent Jordan, vice president of marketing and gaming operations for Mount Airy.

“Introducing internet gaming through The Stars Group will provide compelling opportunities for our customers, particularly our younger customers, who are ready to experience the next gaming challenge.”

Mount Airy is also expected to work with established European and NJ online casino operator 888.

Good news for PA online poker?

This could mean good things for the spread of online poker in the US.

New Jersey, Delaware and Nevada all share player pools thanks to a multistate poker deal among the states. Pennsylvania does not currently belong to that agreement, but that could change.

A PokerStars product that would be available in both PA and NJ would undoubtedly be popular.

Sports betting too

It marks the second announcement of a PA casino’s intent to enter the sports betting market, joining Parx Casino.

State regulators have not yet confirmed any casino has petitioned to offer sports betting. More regulations from the PA Gaming Control Board are due out on Wednesday.

Sports wagering is open to any PA casino — both in physical casinos and online — willing to pay the $10 million licensing fee.

There had been some thought that casinos and operators would balk at the high cost of entry — the fee plus a hefty 36 percent tax rate on revenue. But it certainly is not scaring everyone off.

It’s not clear what this means for 888 and Mount Airy on this front. Casinos are only allowed to have one skin/branded website for sports wagering. Obviously, there are other entry points for 888 sports betting, but Mount Airy had seemed like a seemed like it would make the most sense.

Stars Group upped its game for sports gambling with the acquisition of Sky Betting this summer, although that deal is on hold now. Presumably, the BetStars brand will be deployed in PA.

Rush Street Gaming — which owns both Sugarhouse Casino and Rivers Casino — has also signed a deal for sports betting but has not yet declared its intent for PA sports gambling.