The wait for online sports betting in Pennsylvania is finally over.
Philadelphia’s SugarHouse Casino, which launched PA’s first retail sportsbook in December 2018, partnered with Rush Street Interactive to become the state’s first online sportsbook. The site PlaySugarHouse.com launched last Friday.
PlaySugarHouse.com looks to build on NJ success
The PlaySugarHouse.com launch followed a successful three-day testing period and full approval by the Pennsylvania Gaming and Control Board (PGCB) to accept digital wagers. New Jersey’s SugarHouse sportsbook site launched in September 2018.
“Thanks to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board’s leadership, we are excited to make history in bringing the first online sportsbook to sports fans in the state of Pennsylvania,” Richard Schwartz, president of Rush Street Interactive, said in a press release last week.
“Rush Street Interactive has grown market share since entering the New Jersey market, in large part due to the quality of PlaySugarHouse.com user experience and a laser focus on delivering what our players want, a massive range of sports betting options, responsive customer service and fast payouts. We have now brought the same quality, award-winning PlaySugarHouse.com site to players in the state of Pennsylvania.”
PlaySugarHouse.com has been one of the top four performing digital sportsbooks in the state of New Jersey. Its operator, Rush Street Interactive, was also recently named Mobile Operator of the Year in North America at the 2019 EGR North America Awards.
No-vig NBA bets, deposit bonuses accompany the launch
To celebrate PlaySugarHouse.com’s launch, the site will offer no-vig bets on NBA Finals wagers made in Pennsylvania. The main line spread will be priced at +100 for each team in each game.
NBA Finals action continues Wednesday in California with the series between the Golden State Warriors and Toronto Raptors tied 1-1.
To bet, users will have to visit PlaySugarHouse.com to create an account. Even if you have a SugarHouse account in New Jersey already, you will need to create a new one to play in PA. Players will also receive a match bonus of up to $250 on their first deposit.
Betting is live on laptops and Android; iOS still awaiting approval
Gamblers can place their bets now via the PlaySugarHouse.com site on their laptops, desktops, or Android devices. The iOS app for PlaySugarHouse.com in Pennsylvania is still pending due to changes in Apple Store policies but is expected in the next few weeks.
Bettors will have a wealth of options for gambling action far beyond the NBA Finals. Lines for football, baseball, Stanley Cup hockey, French Open tennis, and some selected prop bets are all live right now.
More PA sports betting sites should soon follow
It’s only a matter of time before some other Pennsylvania casino-sponsored sites follow PlaySugarHouse.com into the world of online sports betting.
But for now, the first entrant will enjoy a healthy boost in business. Across the border in New Jersey, online betting accounts for roughly 80 percent of the state’s overall betting handle.
“Since opening, our SugarHouse Sportsbook has been buzzing with sports fans 24/7,” said Rob Long, general manager of SugarHouse Casino in the press release. “…The action is round-the-clock. And now with online and mobile sports betting, you can take it with you.”