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The South Philadelphia Turf Club (SPTC) Harrah’s Philadelphia took its sports betting live after the mandatory two-day testing period.
SPTC is owned by the same people who run the Parx Casino. It run on Kambi technology, and customers will find exactly the same odds in both casinos.
An ideal Pennsylvania sports betting location for SPTC
SPTC is in a fantastic PA sports betting location. As Parx explained:
“The South Philadelphia Turf Club is situated next to Citizens Bank Field, home of the Phillies, Lincoln Financial Field and Stadium, where the Eagles play, and just blocks from the Wachovia Complex, home of the Flyers and the 76ers.”
Naturally, as a Turf Club, horse racing is the staple gambling activity. Horse racing punters can now find nine sports betting windows alongside the existing horse race betting options.
Sports betting is a boon for horse tracks
At the ICE conference in November 2018, New Jersey Meadowlands Racetrack operator Jeff Gural explained that sports betting was a financial lifeline for horse racing:
“If anyone wants to be honest about it, the only reason horse racing exists these days is because it is subsidized by casino gambling. So it’s very hard to operate a racetrack in New Jersey year-round with no subsidy.”
Gural added: “But the Supreme Court really saved me, like a convicted murderer who got a stay of execution. We were drowning in red ink at the Meadowlands, but at least now we have a fighting chance.”
The SPTC might not have been suffering in the same way as Meadowlands, but there is no doubt that the arrival of sports betting is providing a much brighter future for the club.
Betting hours are:
- Mondays-Thursdays: noon-12 a.m.
- Fridays: noon-2 a.m.
- Saturdays: 10 a.m.-2 a.m.
- Sundays: 10 a.m.-12 a.m.
Harrah’s opens in time for the 2019 Super Bowl
Harrah’s Philadelphia is owned by gaming giant Nevada.
Chris Albrecht, vice president and general manager of Harrah’s Philadelphia, explained that Harrah’s is a full-service entertainment destination:
“We are excited to bring sports betting to Delaware County and allow our guests from the tri-state area to experience our property in a whole new way. With our gaming offering, live harness racing, our event center, award-winning restaurants and now the sportsbook, Harrah’s Philadelphia remains a must visit destination in the Philadelphia region.”
Super Bowl weekend is a revenue highlight for the sports betting industry. Punters will wager a huge amount of money and the new sportsbooks have a great opportunity to attract the recreational bettors they value so much.
Harrah’s and SPTC are both taking advantage of this first Super Bowl where legal sports betting is available in Pennsylvania. Harrah’s website is promising a premier environment for watching the game:
“The Book at Harrah’s Philly is equipped with better-than-stadium lounge seats, high-top tables, custom bar seating, and over 45 large-screen TVs to watch the action live.
Food and beverages tailored specifically for gameday will also be available. It’s time to break up with your bookie, and step up your game at an all-new style of sportsbook!”
Opening hours at Harrah’s are:
- Mondays-Fridays: 11 a.m.-12 a.m.
- Saturdays-Sundays: 10 a.m.-12 a.m.
Pennsylvania now has six sportsbooks
Though more are in the works, there are currently a total of six legal sportsbooks open in Pennsylvania:
- Hollywood Casino
- Rivers Casino
- Parx Casino
- Sugarhouse Sportsbook
- South Philadelphia Turf Club
- Harrah’s Philadelphia
Online/mobile betting is expected in the first quarter of 2019.
