First Sports Bet Placed in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania has become the latest in the string of US states – seventh, to be exact - to process sports wagers.

Despite the sports betting market not going live quite yet (as there are certain obstacles of technical implementation nature to go over first), Penn National Gaming tested out their sportsbook systems last Thursday at Hollywood Casino at Penn national Race Course.

The Market With Enormous Potential

Sports betting began processing at 3 PM on Thursday, November 15th. The staff of the casino was using the occasion to learn using the system properly. This will prove useful with preventing any sort of early problems that were prevalent on certain occasions in some other states' venues.

The full implementation of sportsbook systems is expected in the coming days, with another test phase scheduled for this week at renovated Skybox Sports bar.

Sports betting market is eagerly anticipated in PA – this populous state, estimates a research by Eilers & Krejcik Gaming, could rake in $12 billion in sports wager per year by the time market peaks. This is three times more than what Nevada makes.

Dan Ihm, Hollywood Casino’s general manager, stated: “We are extremely appreciative for the tireless effort and support of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. They moved heaven and earth to get us to this point and we couldn’t be more excited to be Pennsylvania’s first sportsbook.”

The Thrill of Being First

Timothy Wilmott, Penn National CEO, expressed his delight fir the fact that the company was the first to roll out sports betting in Pennsylvania.

He said: “The enthusiasm around sports betting has been growing since the federal ban was repealed in May, and we look forward to providing our patrons with another great amenity to enjoy at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course.”

Penn National also said that the first online sports bets could arrive as early as Q1 of 2019.

At the beginning of October, The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board green-lighted the sportsbook business undertaken by Penn National Race Course and Parx Casino and Hollywood Casino. These were the first casinos to receive Pennsylvania's approval from state's official regulatory body.

Numerous other operators have applied for PA's license since then, including Harrah's Philadelphia, Rivers Casino Pittsburgh, Valley Forge etc. The licensing fee that casinos who wish to launch sportsbooks must pay is $10 million.

Delaware, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, New Jersey and West Virginia have all began offering sports betting on their premises since the nation-wide liberalization of this branch of gaming.

Recently, Metro-Goldwyn Mayer Resorts submitted an “urgent” request for Pennsylvania's online licenses – for online slots, online poker and online table games.

Source:

“First legal bets placed in Pennsylvania”, igamingbusiness.com, November 16, 2018.