PA Sportsbooks: Locations & Online Sports Betting Status
PA Sports Betting is now legal and about to explode across the Keystone state. PA now has 4 active sportsbooks:
1. Parx Casino in Bensalem, PA
2. SugarHouse Casino in Philly
3. Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh
4. Hollywood Sportsbook by Harrisburg
Online PA Sportsbooks are expected to launch late in 1Q of 2019 as Parx Casino will open their sportsbook and mobile sports betting app. SugarHouse will be quick to launch their PlaySugarHouse sports betting app as well in Pennsylvania.
PENNSYLVANIA SPORTS BETTING UPDATES
Live Parx Sportsbook Betting Lines Available Via BetSlip Tool
There are currently 5 active retail sportsbooks in the state of Pennsylvania with 4 of the 5 working with Kambi's betting software. If you are new to this discussion, all this means is the following PA Sportsbooks will have the same betting odds available: 1. Parx...
read more
Parx Sportsbook Review 2019
Parx Casino began their mandatory 48 hour sportsbook testing period today at 2pm EST. The temporary sportsbook location is inside the old 360 Lounge and in all honesty, it gets the job done. It is obviously not a big area, so do not go to the sportsbook with the...
read more
Parx Sportsbook Ready To Launch, What About Online Sports Betting?
Philadelphia sports bettors now have 2 sportsbooks available as PA sports betting expands. Parx Casino has announced they will begin taking legal sports wagers on Tuesday. Joining SugarHouse Casino as the best sportsbook options in or around the city of Philadelphia....
read more
PA Sports Betting Expands With SugarHouse & Rivers Sportsbooks
The rumors surrounding the opening of more sportsbooks in Pennsylvania continues on a daily basis. As of today, the rumors are over for SugarHouse and Rivers casino, as they officially open their PA Sportsbooks. The big question now turns to when should we expect to...
read more
Your First PA Sportsbook is Now Taking Bets at HollyWood Casino
This past Saturday, the Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course in Grantville, Pennsylvania became the first casino to accept a sports bet in the Keystone state. Assisted by William Hill US, the casino had testing days this past Thursday to ensure everything was...
read more
Parx Sportsbook Teams With Kambi For Sports Betting Operations
With a partner in tow, Parx Casino is now set to get going on their Pennsylvania sports betting operations. Set to partner with Kambi, a European-based company, we can expect them to be running the sportsbook at Parx and the South Philly Turf Club. While this is an...
read morePA SPORTS BETTING 2019
Table of Contents
The process of legalized sports betting in Pennsylvania has been a bit of an uphill climb. Sports bettors have watched neighboring states like Delaware and New Jersey quickly move on sports betting regulation once the Supreme Court ruled in favor of NJ this past Spring. A heavy tax burden and limiting sports betting skins to one per operator, is not making the process easy for the launch of legal sports wagering in PA.
PA Sports Betting Hurdles
Let’s look at some of the hurdles that regulators have placed in front of a company who would like to operate in PA. How does a 36 percent tax on gross betting revenue sound? How about a $10 million dollar licensing fee? Lets compare this to some other states with legalized sports betting and online gambling.
– West Virginia: Licensing fee of $100K, plus a 10% tax on revenue.
– New Jersey: Annual $100K licensing fee + a one time charge of $250K for regulatory costs. Sports betting is subject to an 8.5% tax, with gross revenue from online gambling taxed at 13%.
– Nevada: the state tax for sports betting, which is a sliding scale, is roughly six percent of monthly revenue, which amounts to roughly 11 percent total (including federal taxes)
Just to clarify, a company like DraftKings, who recently launched the first mobile sports betting in New Jersey, would have to pay $10 million dollars, plus be taxed at 36%, just to operate in the state. One would assume that PA has created a scenario where sports betting operators may wait for the market to mature before applying for PA sports gambling license.
As of November 15, sports betting in the state of Pennsylvania is up and running. Hollywood
Casino at Penn National Race Course had the privilege of being the first venue to take a legal bet in the state. From here, more venues will be able to take live bets and citizens can expect online options in 2019.
Current PA Sportsbooks
Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course
– Opened on November 16, 2018
– Address: 777 Hollywood Blvd. Grantville, PA 17028
Parx Casino Sportsbook
– Parx Casino – Opened Tuesday Jan 8, 2019
– Address: 2999 Street Rd, Bensalem, PA 19020
SugarHouse Casino Sportsbook
– Opened Thursday, December 13, 2018
– Address: 1001 N Delaware Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19125
Rivers Casino Sportsbook
– Opened Thursday, December 13, 2018
– Address: 777 Casino Dr. Pittsburgh, PA 15212
Harrah’s Sportsbook
– Opening Late January 2019
– Address: 777 Harrah’s Blvd, Chester, PA 19013
Valley Forge Casino FanDuel Sportsbook
– Opening Mid January 2019
– Address: 1160 1st Ave, King of Prussia, PA 19406
Who can apply for a PA sports betting license?
Currently 12 facilities qualify:
Harrah’s Philadelphia, Chester
Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course, Grantville
Lady Luck Casino Nemacolin, Farmington
The Meadows Racetrack and Casino, North Strabane Twp.
Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, Wilkes-Barre
Mount Airy Casino Resort, Mt. Pocono
Parx Casino and Racing, Bensalem
Presque Isle Downs & Casino, Erie
Rivers Casino, Pittsburgh
Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem, Bethlehem
SugarHouse Casino, Philadelphia
Valley Forge Casino Resort, King of Prussia
PA Sports Betting Timeline
With betting becoming legalized, why don’t we look at a comprehensive guide for the state, starting with the timeline of how we got here, shall we? With PASPA being overturned in May of 2018, this obviously allowed for the sports gambling to become legal, but what was the state doing about the issue before that?
2015
We begin this tale in 2015, where the roots of legalized sports gambling in the state somewhat began.
Rep. Rick Kotik issued a memo about some upcoming legislature saying, In the near future, I plan to introduce legislation that will legalize sports betting in our Pennsylvania licensed casinos. Sports betting is exceptionally popular in our state and it is going unregulated. The intent of this legislation is to provide our casinos with an alternative form of entertainment, while also, regulating a popular market.
On October 14 of that year, Kotik introduced his bill to the House. In December of that year, Rep. Rob Matzie led a solution aimed at Congress, urging them to lift the country-wide ban on sports betting. States that already authorize, license and regulate casino gaming are uniquely positioned to oversee sports betting, in all its forms, if they so choose. The time has come for the federal government to allow the state’s to make their own decisions on sports betting.
2016
At the start of the New Year, the House Gaming Oversight Committee gave approval.
2017
Matzie then filed another bill similar to Kotik’s 2015 bill, but pushed the envelope even more. It had a caveat that included “establishing the rules and procedures for sports wagering.” It also included things like licensing fees and tax rates, which were $5 million and 18 percent, respectively at that time. The state was having some financial struggles, and sports betting was a potential way to help stop the bleeding.
Eventually, a final bill with numerous modifications was signed into law by Governor Tom Wolf, legalizing sports betting, pending the federal ban being lifted, which it ultimately was in May 2018.
Legal Basics Snapshot
Now that we know the history of how it came to fruition, what other legalities are involved?
Both professional and college sports can be bet on
Must be 21 years old
Must be in the state to make wagers
$10 million licensing fee
Revenue can be taxed up to 36 percent
Online Betting
Nothing is totally decided on besides the fact that there will indeed be online wagering available. Which casinos and sportsbooks is to be determined, though.
However, casino’s like SugarHouse have that functionality in New Jersey, so that’s a good place to starting looking toward.
FAQ
Who oversees sports betting in the state? The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board
How much revenue could sports betting generate?
Exact figures are obviously not yet known and the exact number of online sportsbooks in PA will have a major impact on revenue projections. There are pros and cons when it comes to the subject of betting in Pennsylvania specifically. PA is located close to other states in the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic region that already offer sports betting or soon will. However, PA is a huge sports state with 2 major cities in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh with rabid fan base support. Oh and that taxation at 36 percent should definitely help government revenue growth numbers.
Which States Will Legalize Sports Betting Next?
2019: NY, Ohio, Connecticut, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Missouri, Texas, Maryland, Virginia, Michigan
1-2 Years: Maine, Oklahoma, Kansas
Within 5 Years: Florida, Louisiana, Kentucky, North Dakota, Wyoming, Idaho, Washington, California, Arizona
quick view of the sportsbook area at 7th & packer ... sixers play at home tonight; flyers are home tomorrow..next eagles home game is in august https://t.co/YckKfMiyrS
This is quite the reach..... lets see how March goes before making claims like this https://t.co/ZER2vHaBPg
