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Two more Pennsylvania online sportsbooks launched this week, bringing the state’s total to three. Parx and BetRivers are now conducting live testing in Pennsylvania.
Parx began its testing period at 4 p.m. EST on Monday, June 24. BetRivers commenced testing operations today.
The testing period came after the companies received approvals for live testing from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB).
BetRivers s Pennsylvania sister site PlaySugarHouse in the second offering from parent company Rush Street Interactive. It’s also the online offering of Rivers Casino, located in Pittsburgh.
Parx, BetRivers, and PlaySugarHouse are all designed by Kambi.
When and where can players in PA bet online at Parx and BetRivers?
Technically, now. A testing period usually takes only a few days; PlaySugarHouse was up and running during the same week. Accordingly, the initial testing time at Parx will only go through Wednesday. BetRivers will probably go one day beyond that, so if the PGCB then signs off, they can begin full operations this Thursday.
Pennsylvania sports betting apps are only reliably available for Android s. However, a browser version will be available for Mac and PC. One important note is that neither Parx nor BetRivers will be available for iOS s. This is due to an ongoing dispute over recent rule changes in Apple’s App Store.
Is Pennsylvania online sports betting going to overtake retail? Ask NJ
This week’s two new additions add even more sports betting outlets for residents and visitors to the Keystone State. Aside from online, the eight retail locations are mostly clustered around Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
For right now, the online sports betting activities will probably pale in comparison to their live cousins. However, if neighboring New Jersey is any guide, this balance of power is only temporary.
New Jersey was the first state Borgata.
Since then, online sportsbooks have grown to outnumber their retail counterparts in the state. In New Jersey, there are 14 online sites and 10 retail ones.
However, online sportsbooks are vastly outrunning retail books in of activity and revenue. According to New Jersey’s most recent numbers, 82.6% of all dollars bet at New Jersey sportsbooks occurred online. That’s quite the majority.
It makes sense, given that anyone with a smartphone can place a wager there. Online sportsbooks can also offer more detailed and granular wagering options to their clients, which may provide opportunities that are impossible for retail providers to replicate.
So, it stands to reason that Pennsylvania will follow a similar trend. Given that demographics are shifting to a more technologically friendly customer base, online sportsbook almost certainly point the way to the future.
Who is next for Pennsylvania online sports betting?
With so many different operators in Pennsylvania, these three sportsbooks will not hold sway in the state for very long. Four other companies have already indicated that they plan to launch their sites during this summer. They are:
- FanDuel at Valley Forge Casino
- Harrah’s Philadelphia
- Hollywood Casino at Penn National Racecourse
- Presque Isle Downs
The next PGCB board meeting will occur on July 10, and any number of these companies could emerge with a start date. PlayUSA will keep you updated as events occur.
