Pennsylvania’s expanding betting and gaming markets are to grow further still, with Presque Isle Downs and Casino all set to make its sports wagering introduction.
The Erie located property, purchased for $178.9m earlier this year by Churchill Downs Incorporated, has announced the start dates for its mandatory two-day testing period as stipulated by state regulator the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.
Receiving its sports wagering licence in February, it is said the BetAmerica branded sportsbook has taken longer than other entities within the state to become operational due to a desire to ensure that it truly stands out from the crowd.
The limited opening from Presque Isle Downs and Casino’s BetAmerica offering is to begin on Wednesday 12 July from 4pm – 12am, as well as during the hours of 2pm – 12am on Thursday 25 July, with the PGCB to work alongside both parties during the testing phase and prior to final approval being issued.
Set to encapsulated 50 BetAmerica sports betting kiosks throughout the casino floor, the grand opening is slated for Thursday 8 August, which marks the official start of the National Football League pre-season games.
When purchasing the property, which first opened in February 2007 and operates approximately 1,600 slots, 32 table games and a poker room, earlier in the year Bill Carstanjen, CEO of CDI, commented: “Presque Isle will give us a foothold in Pennsylvania and the opportunity to participate in the sports betting and online gaming market throughout the state. This acquisition is projected to be immediately accretive to our shareholders.”
Pennsylvania made its long-awaited manoeuvre into igaming recently, after its market went live this week with a trio of entities undergoing soft launches.
Following approvals being issued almost two years ago by the Pennsylvania General Assembly as part of a state-wide gaming expansion under bill H271, Penn National Gaming’s IGT powered Hollywood Casino became the first entity to conduct its soft launch earlier in the week.
This was followed by Greenwood Gaming and Entertainment’s Parx Casino, whose igaming platform has been supplied by Gan, and SugarHouse Casino.