Pennsylvania has finally taken its first sports bet with the Keystone State placing its first test wager on Thursday, 15th November 2018 when Penn National Gaming tested out its system with punters at Hollywood Casino, Penn National Race Course.
A further test phase took place from 2 p.m. to midnight on Friday, 16th November 2018 next to the Skybox Sports Bar before a full implementation in the next few days.
Pennsylvania is now the seventh US State to process a legal sports wager.
According to research by Eilers & Krejcik Gaming, it is estimated that an amount of $12bn could be wagered each year in Pennsylvania when the market matures, which is almost three times more than Nevada.
Penn National confirmed that the test launch allowed staff to get to grips with the new system and iron out any kinds of teething problems that have been reported with sportsbook launches in a number of other US states in recent months.
Dan Ihm, the General Manager at Hollywood Casino, commented that they are extremely appreciative for the tireless effort and support of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. He added that they moved heaven and earth to get them to this point and they could not be more excited to be Pennsylvania’s first sportsbook.
Last month Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course and Parx Casino became the first casinos to obtain approval from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) to launch sports wagering.
According to Timothy Wilmott, Chief Executive Officer at Penn National, the company is excited to be the first casino to offer sports wagering in Pennsylvania.
