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Its been a long, hard-fought road but Pennsylvania online sports betting has arrived.
By way of SugarHouse Sportsbook PA in partnership with Kambi and parent company Rush Street Interactive, the company becomes the first mobile operator to begin live testing in the Keystone State. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board gave the approval to begin this soft launch period, which normally takes a few days.
What we know so far
While eight retail sportsbooks are up and running, less than a handful will be the first to launch mobile apps.
As reported last week, customers should not expect the SugarHouse sports betting app to be available for on Apple’s App store.
Currently, bettors must use a computer or Android device or web browser on desktop or mobile. It’s unclear when it will be available for iOS in the App Store.
This is likely the rollout for the first online operators:
- SugarHouse Sportsbook – May 28, 2019 (soft launch)
- Parx Sportsbook – TBA
- Rivers Sportsbook – TBA
PA residents can expect to place wagers on both professional and collegiate sports. Sportsbooks accept bets on all sports and leagues including, NCAA, NBA, NHL, NFL, MLB.
What this means for Pennsylvania
Retail sports betting in Pennsylvania took quite a while to get off the ground, most in part due to its monstrous 36 percent tax rate. But despite this small hurdle, the state was able to generate $44 million in wagers for March.
With the addition of mobile betting, its high population across the state, and proximity to other larger metropolitan areas that lack sports betting, Pennsylvania could instantly become a major player in the evolving gaming landscape.
Who’s next for PA online sports betting?
There are a handful of operators waiting to dive into the online sports betting market, especially after watching how well things are going in New Jersey.
Here is a small list of PA sports betting providers and their casino:
- Kambi + Rivers Casino
- Kambi + Parx Casino and Racing
- Kambi + South Philadelphia Turf Club
- Kambi + Valley Forge Race and Sportsbook
- FanDuel Sportsbook + Valley Forge Casino
- William Hill + Hollywood Casino
- BetStars + Mount Airy
- Scientific Games + Harrah’s Philidelphia
- Churchill Downs + Presque Isle Downs
Regulation in the 2017 law also permits OTBs and satellite casinos to offer sports betting.
