Presque Isle Downs and Casino is to host a grand opening of its new BetAmerica branded sportsbook today, as Churchill Downs Incorporated celebrates its latest entry.
Coinciding with the start of this year’s National Football League pre-season, the Erie, Pennsylvania property, acquiried by CDI in January, sees the firm strive to strengthen its position in the United States’ sports wagering arena.
Ryan Bizzarro, Pennsylvania State representative, commented: “Erie has already established itself as a go-to destination for many in our region, and the expansion at Presque Isle Casino will undoubtedly help us to draw even more visitors from near and far. We’re excited to see this venue continue to grow in the years to come.”
The new sportsbook features the addition of 50 sports wagering kiosks at Presque Isle Casino, with the grand opening celebration featuring remarks from Kevin O’Sullivan, vice president and general manager of the property, followed by a ribbon cutting ceremony with community leaders.
In attendance will be Hanford Dixon, formerly of the Cleveland Browns, Louis Lipps, ex-Pittsburgh Steelers and Omar Moreno and Jason Grilli, formerly of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
“The legalisation of sports wagering across the country presents a great opportunity for Churchill Downs to deliver more entertainment options to our customers,” stated Bill Carstanjen, CEO of CDI. “We are excited to bring our industry-leading BetAmerica Sportsbook to the Pennsylvania market.
Half of the new kiosks are to be located within the newly renovated sportsbook with the remainder in the casino’s centre bar, high-limit room and non-smoking area, to allow bettors easy access to odds and lines throughout the venue.
O’Sullivan added: “This has been an exciting and transformative year for our team at Presque Isle Casino. We’re confident that the addition of the BetAmerica Sportsbook will help us draw an even larger crowd of sports fans and racing enthusiasts from across Pennsylvania and from surrounding states.
“This is great news, not just for Presque Isle Casino, but for the Erie community at large that benefits from increased tourism and interest in our city.”