Sports fans in Pennsylvania’s two largest cities can officially place bets on their teams at legal PA sportsbooks.
State regulators from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) approved sports betting operations at both SugarHouse Casino in Philadelphia and Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh. Each began a two-day trial Dec. 13. During that period, customers could place wagers, but the books were still under PGCB supervision.
Rivers and SugarHouse sportsbooks’ hours
Both books follow the same operating schedule:
- Mondays through Thursdays: 10 a.m. to midnight
- Fridays: 10 a.m. to 2 a.m.
- Saturdays: 9 a.m. to 2 a.m
- Sundays: 9 a.m. to midnight
The SugarHouse Casino Sportsbook is near the casino’s north entrance, across from the poker room. The Rivers Casino Sportsbook is near the high-limit table room. When the sportsbook is closed, bettors can cash winning tickets at the casino cashier cage.
Keep in mind these are only temporary facilities. Larger, permanent sportsbooks are on the way at both properties.
SugarHouse will eventually build out its permanent space near Lucky Red Lounge. Rivers Casino’s permanent sportsbook will be in a more central area of the property in the area currently housing the bar Levels.
Rush Street Gaming operates both Rivers and SugarHouse. Both properties use Kambi as their sports betting partner.
Where are other casinos in the process?
Hollywood Casino, near Harrisburg, began offering sports betting Nov. 17. Parx Casino and Harrah’s, both in Philadelphia, have conditional approval from PGCB. After thinking they could launch in December, Parx recently pushed its opening date to January. That is around the time Harrah’s is expected to launch as well.
Additionally, Valley Forge Casino, in King of Prussia, and Presque Isle Downs, in Erie, have applied for sportsbook licenses. They can only receive conditional approval after appearing before PGCB with their sportsbook plans. The next PGCB meeting is Dec. 19. Neither property is on the agenda, so it looks like 2019 before the casinos can move forward on sports betting plans.
Online wagering, meanwhile, still has no concrete launch date. The best estimates are in early 2019.
Cheryl Duhon, general manager of SugarHouse, told Legal Sports Report she hopes online betting launches sometime in the first half of next year.
