News and Transparency Press Release Section

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tue, 05/12/2026 - 09:00

Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board Launches New Podcast and YouTube Series: “Behind the Bets in PA”

SHARE :
Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board
Commonwealth Tower, Strawberry Square
303 Walnut Street, 5th Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17101
CONTACT :
Doug Harbach or Richard McGarvey
(717) 346-8321

HARRISBURG: The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) today announced the launch of “Behind the Bets in PA”, a new podcast and YouTube video series designed to give the public a deeper look into the regulation, operations, and impact of the Commonwealth’s gaming industry.

 

“Behind the Bets in PA” will feature conversations with PGCB staff and industry professionals to explore a range of topics, including how gaming regulations are developed and enforced, emerging trends in gambling, responsible gambling, and the financial and workforce impacts in the Commonwealth.

 

“The goal of this series is to increase transparency and provide Pennsylvanians with an inside look at how gaming is responsibly regulated in the Commonwealth,” said PGCB Director of Communications Doug Harbach who will host the shows. “As the gaming landscape continues to evolve, this podcast and video series will serve as an accessible way for the public to stay informed.”

 

The PGCB, launched by the passage of the Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming Act in 2004, oversees casinos, online casino games, retail and online sports wagering, Video Gaming Terminals (VGTs) at qualified truck stops, and online fantasy sports contests.

 

Audio episodes of “Behind the Bets in PA” will be available on major podcast platforms and the video version on the PGCB’s YouTube channel. New content will be released regularly.

 

The first episode dropped on May 12, 2026, featuring PGCB’s Executive Director Kevin O’Toole as the show’s initial guest.

 

ATTACHMENTS: Behind the Best in PA logo and photo of first show of Harbach (left) and O’Toole.

 

###

About the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board is tasked to oversee all aspects of gambling involving 18 land-based casinos, online casino games, retail and online sports wagering, and Video Gaming Terminals (VGTs) at qualified truck stops, along with the regulation of online fantasy sports contests.


The land-based casino industry in Pennsylvania consists of six racetrack (Category 1) casinos, five stand-alone (Category 2) casinos, two resort (Category 3) casinos and five mini-casinos (Category 4). A significant job generator in the Commonwealth, casinos and the other types of Board-regulated gaming generated $2.98 billion in tax revenue and fees in 2025.

Additional information about both the PGCB’s gaming regulatory efforts and Pennsylvania’s gaming industry can be found at gamingcontrolboard.pa.gov.