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Pennsylvania sports betting welcomes another sportsbook.
Our Sportsbook is ready for some bets! Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler pic.twitter.com/JMpXuvTJ3n
— Parx Casino (@parxcasino) January 8, 2019
Parx Sportsbook, in Bensalem, accepted its first sports bets on Tuesday, Jan. 8, as part of a two-day test.
If everything goes smoothly, the Greenwood Gaming property will be a fully licensed sportsbook tomorrow. Parx Sportsbook is waiting until then to hold its official opening.
Parx Sportsbook accepts first sports bets
Matthew Cullen, senior vice president of interactive gaming and sports, is “thrilled to launch legalized sports betting.” He talked about the expansion in offerings in a press release:
“Parx is expanding our portfolio of offerings and giving patrons the absolute best types of legalized gaming. Sports betting will first go live at our main property, and then roll out in the South Philadelphia Turf Club and then later at the Valley Forge Turf Club.”
Parx is investing $10 million in a new state-of-the-art sportsbook powered by the Kambi Group.
For now, though, sports bettors will head to its temporary sportsbook near the old 360 Bar & Lounge to put down their wagers. During the testing period, hours of operation are from 2 to 10 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Once the testing phase ends, the sportsbook will be open seven days a week:
- Sundays: 9 a.m. to 12 a.m.
- Mondays: 1 p.m. to 12 a.m.
- Tuesdays-Fridays: 1 p.m. to 1 a.m.
- Saturdays: 9 a.m. to 1 a.m.
Sports betting kiosks are also located throughout the casino floor. It is probably no surprise that Parx Sportsbook will accept bets on NFL playoff games and the Super Bowl.
“The market is insane for (the Eagles), as we’ve seen at the SugarHouse and at Rivers,” Cullen said. “But even if they’re out, people are still gonna want to bet (on football). But it would be great if they were playing.”
Of course, Parx will accept bets on more than football. It will take action on all the popular sports including:
- MLB betting
- NHL betting
- NBA betting
- NCAA betting
The state of Pennsylvania sports betting
Parx Sportsbook makes it four Pennsylvania sportsbooks in the Keystone State. In addition to Parx, sports bettors can place a bet at:
- Hollywood Casino
- Rivers Casino
The sports betting market is likely to get a bit more crowded soon. Once Parx Sportsbook is up and running, Greenwood will probably turn its attention to another of its properties, South Philadelphia Turf Club. It already has conditional approval and is ready to launch.
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) also conditionally approved Harrah’s Philadelphia and Valley Forge Casino to accept sports wagers. Presque Isle Downs has submitted its application to the PGCB and is awaiting its conditional approval.
So far, though, PA sports betting is limited to brick-and-mortar sportsbooks. The PGCB made it clear it wants to focus on launching retail sportsbooks before tackling online sports betting.
In neighboring New Jersey, mobile sports betting accounts for the majority of sports betting revenue in the state. Undoubtedly, Pennsylvania sportsbooks are anxious to take their mobile sports betting apps live.
PA online sports betting will likely launch in the first quarter of 2019. For now, though, Parx Sportsbook is rooting for the Philadelphia Eagles and the magic touch of Nick Foles to make it back to the Super Bowl.
The excitement around the Eagles will surely fill the sportsbook, making the Parx Sportsbook launch quite timely.
