Hollywood Casino, at Penn National Race Course, announced a test launch Thursday for its new sportsbook, a first of its kind in Pennsylvania.

Starting at 2 p.m. Friday, the book will have another day of testing. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) will oversee the new operations during the testing phase, expected to last only one day. The sportsbook at Hollywood Casino anticipates operating regular business hours and a full launch effective Saturday, Nov. 17.

It will open at 11 a.m. on weekdays and an hour earlier on weekends. It will close at midnight daily.

The sportsbook will be in the simulcast theater next to the Skybox Sports Bar on the second floor of the casino. The area was recently renovated in anticipation of legalized sports betting, which included the addition of dozens of televisions.

William Hill to operate Hollywood sportsbook

William Hill operates the sportsbook at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course. Penn National is the parent company of Hollywood Casino.

The two also partnered for West Virginia sports betting. It opened days before the start of this year’s football season. William Hill also operates sportsbooks in Delaware, Mississippi, Nevada and New Jersey, as well as the United Kingdom.

In a press release, Penn National CEO Timothy Wilmott said:

“Penn National is excited to be the first casino to offer sports wagering in Pennsylvania. The enthusiasm around sports betting has been growing since the federal ban was repealed in May, and we look forward to providing our patrons with another great amenity to enjoy at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course.”

In the same release, Hollywood Casino General Manager Dan Ihm stated:

“We are extremely appreciative for the tireless effort and support of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. They moved heaven and earth to get us to this point and we couldn’t be more excited to be Pennsylvania’s first sportsbook.”

More PA sportsbooks on the way

The sportsbook at Hollywood Casino is one of many expected to open in Pennsylvania in the coming months. Five other casinos in the state are in the licensing process. Three think they will open retail sportsbooks by year’s end. These are:

Pennsylvania will be the seventh state to launch sports betting in the United States. It is the fifth to do so since the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) was thrown out by the U.S. Supreme Court earlier this year.

The states that already have licensed sports betting are:

  • Delaware
  • Mississippi
  • Nevada
  • New Jersey
  • New Mexico
  • West Virginia

William Hill operates in all those states, except New Mexico, which only offers betting at one tribal casino.