Behind The Bets in PA

About Behind The Bets in PA

This show is about legalized gambling and its regulation under the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB). Guests are professionals within the agency and outside in the industry.

Publisher

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board

Category

government

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

7 May 2026

Latest episode

20 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

7 of 14 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   20 Oct 2026TRANSCRIPT

   What It Takes to Get Licensed in Pennsylvania’s Gaming Industry

   Host Doug Harbach interviews Sean Hannon, Director of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board’s Bureau of Licensing, about navigating the gaming industry's licensing requirements and application process.

2. 

   29 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Behind the Spin: How Gaming Machines Really Work

   Host Doug Harbach interviews Charles Leister, a Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board manager, about the inner workings of gaming machines and regulatory oversight.

3. 

   22 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Responsible Gaming Education Month: Help, Resources and Support in PA

   Host [Host Name] interviews Josh Ercole, Executive Director of the Council on Compulsive Gambling of Pennsylvania, about problem gambling resources and support during Responsible Gaming Education Month.

4. 

   8 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Responsible Sports Wagering in the Football Season

   PGCB Sports Wagering Supervisor Wes Davenport discusses responsible sports wagering strategies and regulated site importance during football season in this interview.

5. 

   25 Aug 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Inside the role of a PGCB Board member with Commissioner George Dunbar

   Host Doug Harbach interviews PGCB Commissioner George Dunbar about his journey to the Gaming Control Board and his unique perspective as a former State Representative and poker player.

6. 

   11 Aug 2026TRANSCRIPT

   How the PGCB Handles Patron Complaints & Disputes | Tim Pappas, iGaming Compliance Supervisor

   iGaming Compliance Supervisor Tim Pappas explains how the PGCB addresses patron complaints and disputes to enhance consumer protections in Pennsylvania's gaming industry.

7. 

   28 Jul 2026TRANSCRIPT

   How the PGCB Protects Online Gaming Customers with Gaming Operations Director Paul Resch

   Gaming Operations Director Paul Resch explains how the PGCB's site verification protects Pennsylvania's online gaming customers in this interview.

8. 

   14 Jul 2026

   Protecting the Public through Gaming Equipment Testing: Inside the PGCB Gaming Lab with Claire Yantis, PGCB Administrative Director

   Go behind the scenes of a critical regulatory process as gaming devices, equipment and software are reviewed and approved in order to assure that games available for gambling in Pennsylvania are fair and compliant. Learn more about this unique oversight necessary to maintain the integrity of gaming with the PGCB's Claire Yantis.

9. 

   29 Jun 2026

   Inside the Legislative Response to Pennsylvania's Skill Games Ruling | PA Rep. Russ Diamond

   Following the Pennsylvania Supreme Court's ruling on skill games, State Rep. Russ Diamond, Minority Chair of the House Gaming Oversight Committee, joins host Doug Harbach to discuss the ruling and the legislative considerations surrounding skill games in the Commonwealth. The conversation also explores responsible gambling, gaming oversight, and other gaming-related issues currently under consideration.

10. 

    23 Jun 2026

    Pennsylvania Representative Pat Harkins on the Future of Skill Games in Pennsylvania

    Pennsylvania State Representative Pat Harkins, Majority Chair of the House Gaming Oversight Committee, joins host Doug Harbach to discuss the recent Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling on skill games, the future of skill games legislation, problem gambling, and the current landscape of the Pennsylvania's gaming industry.

11. 

    16 Jun 2026

    SPECIAL REPORT: PGCB Chief Counsel Discusses the PA Supreme Court Ruling on Skill Games.

    Less than 24 hours after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court issued its decision on skill games, host Doug Harbach sits down with PGCB Chief Counsel Steve Cook to discuss the ruling. The conversation also explores the growing role of prediction markets and the questions they raise for the gaming industry.

12. 

    9 Jun 2026

    Problem Gambling Prevention and Support in Pennsylvania: PGCB Director of the Office of Compulsive and Problem Gambling Liz Lanza

    Liz Lanza, Director of the Office of Compulsive and Problem Gambling at the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, discusses the difference between problem gambling and compulsive gambling, Pennsylvania's Self-Exclusion Program, and the responsible gaming tools, resources, and support services available to help individuals make informed decisions about their play.

13. 

    26 May 2026

    Inside Sports Wagering in PA: PGCB Director of Sports Wagering Operations Kevin Kile

    In this episode of Behind the Bets in PA, Kevin Kile, Director of Sports Wagering Operations at the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, discusses how sports wagering is regulated and overseen across the Commonwealth. From casino sportsbooks to online wagering platforms, the conversation explores the current sports wagering landscape in Pennsylvania, the role of regulation and compliance, and how the PGCB works to protect the public through oversight and consumer safeguards.

14. 

    7 May 2026

    A Career in Gaming and What's Next: PGCB Executive Director Kevin O'Toole

    In this episode of Behind the Bets in PA, PGCB Communications Director Doug Harbach sits down with Executive Director Kevin O'Toole to discuss his entry into the gaming industry, his time at the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, and what lies ahead for gaming in the Commonwealth.

Inside a recent episode

What It Takes to Get Licensed in Pennsylvania’s Gaming Industry

Published 20 Oct 2026 · Transcript excerpt

[…] Sure. So, I mean, we work with casinos, we work with manufacturers, suppliers, operators, So these applications are, again, they're extensive. So the way it usually starts is the companies reach out to the Bureau of Licensing and say, what do I need to do to be licensed? We ask them for an ownership chart. We ask them for an organizational chart, what contracts and agreements that they have. And then we analyze that to see what individuals we need to get licensed, what holding companies need to be licensed, what intermediaries need to be licensed. So it's a lot of companies and a lot of individuals that we call principals. […]

Who has been a guest on Behind The Bets in PA

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Sean Hannon
• Charles Leister
• Josh Ercole
• Wes Davenport
• George Dunbar

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Contact Behind The Bets in PA

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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