For the first time since sports betting was legalized in Pennsylvania, online wagers have been taken in that State.
Betting began on Tuesday afternoon after the SugarHouse Casino had received approval to conduct a 3-day online betting test.
SugarHouse was the first operator to launch sportsbooks in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania. However, unlike high-flying New Jersey where mobile betting has always been an option, this was not been the case in Pennsylvania.
Here sport-betting was restricted to land-based betting windows at licensed Casinos like SugarHouse.
Betting hours will be limited during testing, Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board spokesman Richard McGarvey told the media. The site will close at midnight for all three days.
When the tests are over, probably by Friday, SugarHouse will immediately begin operating around-the-clock, McGarvey confirmed.
Initially, online betting with smartphones will only be available via the Android app format. However iOS apps for I-phones are expected to be available soon.
Five more Penn Casinos set for online testing
Five other Pennsylvania casinos with sports betting licenses will introduce their mobile apps in the coming weeks, McGarvey said. They will all be subject to the same three-day testing window.
“From our standpoint, we’re ready to move forward to the live environment,” he added. “We’ve done a lot of offline testing in the last few weeks. The last step is to get it to the general public and see how it’s all working.”
To make bets with their laptops or smartphones, punters will need to have an account with the casino’s sportsbook. They will also have to be within the state lines of Pennsylvania and aged over 21 to place wagers.
All betting options and other functions available to them at Casino betting windows will be available online
Until now it is believed that a good many Penn punters have been betting online via illegal offshore sportsbooks. Others have made the short journey into neighboring New Jersey to make their bets.
Gaming analysts are expecting Pennsylvania’s monthly betting handle to grow considerably when all Casinos and their affiliates go online.
Their six operational Casinos have drawn $162m in sports bets since November. Against this, high-flying New Jersey’s total betting handle for April alone was $313.7. The fact that at least 80% of that ($256.96) came in online wagers will be heartening to Pennsylvania.
Currently, six Pennsylvania casino sportsbooks are operational with two more licensed but not yet offering sports betting.