The State of the PA Sports Betting Union is strong and about to get more diversified for sports bettors with DraftKings Sportsbook and UNIBET set to launch this week.
The year 2019 has changed the Keystone State forever, with the introduction of sports betting as a whole earlier in the year, and then of course mobile sports betting in May. Since then, numerous sportsbooks have entered the state, hundreds of millions of dollars has been wagered, and millions of dollars has been given to the state via taxes, helping the state government’s budget. There are nearly a dozen options for Pennsylvania residents to bet on, either in-person or online with more coming.
Let’s take a look at where Pennsylvania stands as far as the sports betting market is concerned, what is coming, and what options bettors have now.
DraftKings & Unibet PA Sportsbooks Set For Approval
Two of the more recognizable names in the world when it comes to online gaming and sports betting are finally expected to join the PA Sports Betting market.
October 30th, 2019 is a Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board board meeting, where they are expected to finalize and approve both DraftKings Sportsbook and Unibet Sportsbook into Pennsylvania’s stable of sportsbooks.
Specifically, DraftKings is seventh on the docket when the Bureau of Licensing is up in the meeting. Directly from the PGCB website:
“CROWN PA GAMING, INC. – Conditional Sports Wagering License d/b/a DraftKings; (Docket #117645)”
DraftKings Sportsbook PA
DraftKings has been waiting for what feels like forever to enter Pennsylvania, as top competitor FanDuel has dominated the market without much competition. DraftKings has been vastly successful in Pennsylvania in the DFS industry, and it is expected for them to have the same success in the sports betting market. It’s not “too late” for them to enter the market, but FanDuel Sportsbook has certainly taken the state of Pennsylvania by storm, and is far more recognizable at the moment.
Unibet Sportsbook (Launch Nov. 12)
Unibet, via the Kindred Group, is one of the more universally known betting brands across the world. It will now try its hand in the state of Pennsylvania with its partnership with Mohegan Sun at the Mohegan Sun Pocono. Unibet will offer online sports wagering to pair with already launched retail sports betting in PA. Unibet is uniquely qualified to handle sports bettors in the US, given its success and growth overseas. They have already taken a huge bet on the Astros to win the World Series ($1M), and is equipped to do so given the size of the company.
PA Sports Betting Revenue
In our latest PA Sports Betting Revenue report, you can see just how much the industry has grown since July.
Here is the chart shown in that report.
Month | July 2019 | August 2019 | September 2019 | Growth Since July | Growth Since August |
Sports Betting Handle | $59,331,959 | $109,038,051 | $194,504,622 | 227.82% | 78.38% |
Sports Betting Revenue | $5,074,431 | $9,887,738 | $19,370,816 | 281.73% | 95.91% |
State Tax Due | $969,727 | $2,079,106 | $5,062,216 | 422.02% | 143.48% |
Retail Sports Betting Handle | $20,333,311 | $25,828,734 | $36,350,260 | 78.77% | 40.74% |
Online Sports Betting Handle | $38,998,649 | $83,209,317 | $158,154,361 | 305.54% | 90.07% |
Overall, since July sports betting has brought in nearly $35M in revenue for the state, not including the month of October yet. As far as taxes raised, that number has eclipsed $8M.
As you can see, since July there has been a 422% growth in taxes generated, 281.73% growth in revenue, and the online betting handle has increased by over three times since the start of July.
Sports betting is, and will continue to be a moneymaker for the Keystone State, and that is all due to the mobile sports betting world, which took $158.15M in bets in September, compared to just $36.35M at retail sportsbooks. 81% of total bets have been on mobile devices, compared to in-person betting.
FanDuel Sportsbook has dominated thus far. In September, FanDuel accounted for 45% of the total handle for sports betting in the state. Here’s a quick look at the September sports betting site ranks:
Here are the handle ranks for September (book – handle):
Pennsylvania Online Sportsbooks Move To 7
With the additions of DraftKings Sportsbook and Unibet Sportsbook, there will now be 7 online/mobile sports betting option in PA.
- FanDuel Sportsbook
- BetRivers Sportsbook
- SugarHouse Sportsbook
- Parx Sportsbook
- FoxBet
- DraftKings Sportsbook
- Unibet Sportsbook
A more detailed look:
PA Online Sports Betting | PA Casino Partner | Launch date | Free Promo |
SugarHouse Sportsbook PA | SugarHouse (Rush Street) | May 31, 2019 | Free $250 Bonus |
Bet Rivers Sportsbook | Rivers (Rush Street) | June 24, 2019 | Free $250 Bonus |
FanDuel Sportsbook PA | Valley Forge Casino | July 24, 2019 | Risk-Free $500 Bet |
FoxBet PA | Mt. Airy Casino Resort | September 5, 2019 | FREE $1000 BONUS |
DraftKings Sportsbook PA | Meadows Casino | November 7, 2019 | $500 Deposit Bonus + Free $200 Bet |
Unibet PA | Mohegan Sun Pocono | November 12, 2019 | $600 Free Bet |
Parx Online Sportsbook | Parx Casino | June 24, 2019 | no promo |
Harrah's Sportsbook PA | Harrah's (Caesars) | TBD | TBD |
Bet America Sportsbook | Presque Isle | TBD | TBD |
- Top 5 Best Promotions on PA Sports Betting Apps [2023] - March 30, 2022
- What is the Fox Bet Super 6 App? How To Play & Win - September 8, 2021
- PA Sports Betting Revenue Tops $34M in June as FanDuel & DraftKings Own 60% of Handle - July 20, 2021
Does anyone know which mobile Sportsbooks have a pitch by pitch
Gaming experience?
I believe either Draftkings or FanDuel
Have it.
Hope you can save me the legwork. I’m old.