Sports betting is set to get underway in Pennsylvania as the state’s first sportsbook launches its product on a trial basis.
On Thursday, the Hollywood Casino started to take bets during what was described as a “test day” and in the process, became the first venue to host legal sports betting in the state.
Pennsylvania was one of the first states to pass regulations setting up a sports betting industry following the Supreme Court decision in May that effectively legalized digital and land-based sportsbooks across the US. New Jersey, Mississippi and West Virginia already have operational sports betting venues, but there has been a delay in bringing forward facilities in Pennsylvania.
Regulatory compliance
The sportsbook at the Hollywood Casino will be operated by UK based bookmaker William Hill during the test period. William Hill has been given the task of controlling the operation and ensuring that staff and equipment fits with the regulatory framework laid down for the new industry.
The delay in instituting sports betting in the state is believed to be down to the caution of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) which has been concerned to ensure that there are no regulatory or compliance issues ahead of the launch.
But the Board has cleared a number of facilities to launch sports betting products, including the Parx Casino in Bensalem, Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino and Racetrack in Chester, SugarHouse Casino in Philadelphia, Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh, though the Hollywood Casino will be the first.
Other operators are likely to attempt to move into the growing sports betting market in the coming months, and it has been reported that the Valley Forge Casino Resort in King of Prussia has applied for an application to operate in Pennsylvania and has also entered a partnership with Betfair Interactive US LLC, a subsidiary of FanDuel Group, to enable their launch.
