The Unibet Sportsbook app is launching in Pennsylvania just in time for the Philadelphia Eagles game against the New England Patriots.
Kickoff is scheduled for 4:25 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 17.
By then, Unibet will be all in on Pennsylvania sports betting.
Unibet confirmed exclusively to Playin Pennsylvania that Nov. 12 is the soft-launch date; the platform will include the online casino that is integrated with the sports betting app.
Unibet said the initial casino launch would include 140 games, with another 150 to 200 scheduled to come online before the end of the year. If those games all go live as planned, Unibet will launch with, far and away, the biggest online casino library in the state, with almost twice as many titles as its next-closest competitors.
By comparison, here are the number of titles the other online casinos offer:
- Hollywood Casino: 76
- PlaySugarHouse Casino: 65
- Parx Online Casino: 57
- PokerStars Casino: 47
Android is ready; iOS is not
Customers will be able to wager via Android devices or web browser at pa.unibet.com. Android users can download the app directly from the website.
Meanwhile, iOS users will need to wait a little longer (there is no word on a target date).
Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) Director of Communications Doug Harbach said the plans are to staff a three-day test session beginning on Tuesday.
Barring any issues, customers will be able to place moneyline, point spread and parlay wagers on this Super Bowl LII rematch. Actually, there will be a full card of NFL betting.
First things first, here are the PA testing hours:
- Tuesday, Nov. 12: Noon – 8 p.m.
- Wednesday, Nov. 13: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
- Thursday, Nov. 14: 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Unibet Sportsbook is open at Mohegan Sun
The mobile launch is the next phase in the Keystone State plans. The first phase, of course, was opening the Unibet-branded sportsbook at Mohegan Sun Pocono in late September.
The space is 1,130 square feet.
Unibet, which is one of the bigger names in the Kindred Gaming portfolio, is well-established in Europe and Australia. In the US, the PA launch follows in the footsteps of neighboring New Jersey.
But in the Garden State, they only have a mobile skin under the Hard Rock license.
Creating a Unibet account
Before the wagering process can begin, customers will need to register for an account. The Pennsylvania version is entirely separate from New Jersey, so existing account holders will need to start from scratch.
The info required to create an account includes:
- Name
- Date of birth
- Address
- Social Security number
- Answers to security questions
How to deposit funds
There are several ways for customers to deposit funds into an account:
- ACH/e-check
- PayPal
- Cash deposit (PayNearMe)
- Instant banking
- Visa and Mastercard
- Play+
- Casino cage at Mohegan Sun Pocono
Once a deposit is made, the funds are available to use in the sportsbook or casino.
Withdrawal options are pretty much the same except for PayNearMe, prepaid cards and credit cards.
Unibet establishing a strong footprint in America
Unibet has plans to launch in other states down the road.
For now, the focus is on building up the brand in two of the more prominent American sports betting markets.
The company rolled out its NJ online casino over the summer.
The sportsbook went live on Sept. 10.
As far as Pennsylvania goes, Unibet should benefit from the recently announced casino partnership with the Eagles. The Unibet stadium ads are even noticeable to those watching the game at home.
How the deal translates to future success in PA is to be determined.
