The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) has revealed that it has awarded a further three sports betting licenses to Harrah’s Casino and Racetrack in Chester, Sugar House Casino in Philadelphia and Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh as it gets closer to becoming the sixth state to offer sports betting.
Rivers Casino and Sugar House Casino are both owned by Rush Street Gaming LLC and it is their intention to take their first bets on Saturday, 1st December 2018 at temporary sportsbook venues in the respective casinos and are expecting to launch internet gaming operations in 2019.
Earlier this month the first two sports betting licenses were awarded to Hollywood Casino near Hershey and suburban Philadelphia’s Parx Casino, which also received approval for an off-track betting parlor that it owns in Philadelphia.
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board has also awarded interactive gaming licenses to Stadium Casino LLC and Presque Isle Downs & Casino that will allow these operators to launch online slot and casino table games.
Should any of the casinos meet other requirements, such as training personnel and passing equipment tests, then sports betting could start as early as November, 2018. A fee of $10 million can be paid by owners of Pennsylvania’s 12 casinos in order to operate sports betting.
In May of this year the Supreme Court in the United States cleared the way for states to legalize sports betting.