- PA sports betting at retail sportsbooks have been live since November of 2018.
- State revenue collected from sports betting in PA hit its highest amount last month.
- iGaming, also known as online casino gaming, is also set to launch in mid-July of 2019.
HARRISBURG, Pa. – It seems as though the avenues to place a sports bet in Pennsylvania have grown each month this year. Casinos from across the state have either launched their sportsbooks or have applied to do so. However, the biggest step has yet to come as online PA sportsbooks are close to launching.
“I really believe that within the next two to three weeks, we will see the first of the sports wagering internet sites go up for testing,” said Doug Harbach, spokesman for the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB).
Since sports betting was approved last year, 10 of the state’s 12 casinos have either applied to offer this type of gaming or have already launched retail sportsbooks. Each land-based sports wagering facility had to go through a two-day testing period before an official launch. So far, no one has failed that benchmark.
However, a testing period for this new wagering type will be crucial.
Avoiding Potential Conflicts
Last month, West Virginia’s one and only state-authorized online sports betting app had to indefinitely suspend operation. While this came at the expense of a contract dispute and not technological errors, it is still worth noting.
Pennsylvania will more than likely have multiple online sports betting sites in order to avoid this potential issue. Parx Casino among others has already announced that they will release an online sports wagering platform and have advertised it on their website for months.
Mount Airy Casino, who applied to the PGCB earlier this month to open a retail sportsbook, has also already secured an online sports gambling provider and is pending a launch.
Why Online Sportsbooks In PA Are Launching
The need for online sports betting has been apparent for months and it has only been highlighted when comparing revenue figures to neighboring state New Jersey.
According to the PGCB, Pennsylvania sportsbooks were able to hit their largest total handle last month accruing over $44 million in bets altogether.
Although, in the same month, New Jersey sportsbooks were able to rake in a total handle of $372.5 million, with about 80% of those bets coming in from online or mobile devices.
Once online sports betting sites are launched by PA casinos they will follow the same rules as their New Jersey counterparts. Bettors will have to prove that they are 21 years old or older and they will have to be physically located in the state in order to place a wager.
By the time the online sports betting market in Pennsylvania has matured, many are expecting it to be able to better compete with New Jersey and potentially surpass it due to the state having a larger population.
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News tags: PA online sports betting | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania sports betting
– In his career, Hasan has worked both local and state government positions—including the Attorney General’s Office in Florida. On top of being familiar with the legislative process, he has also been researching and writing on the legality of sports betting across the US. Outside of work you’ll most likely find him producing or playing music, playing sports, or working on creative writing projects. You’ll also catch him at Doak Campbell Stadium cheering on the Noles.
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