Martin Derbyshire, Author at PA Online Casino

How To Get The SugarHouse Sportsbook Sign-Up Bonus Twice

If you got a deposit bonus for signing up for SugarHouse NJ, don’t worry, you can get the exact same offer again on its new PA betting app.

PlaySugarHouse Sportsbook officially launched online in Pennsylvania on May 31 and there’s something special in it for PA sports bettors – Even if they’re already PlaySugarHouse customers in New Jersey.

Pennsylvania-based SugarHouse Sportsbook NJ customers who do a little sports betting across state lines may remember receiving first deposit bonus of 100% up to $250 when they signed up for an account in NJ.

Use the PA250 promo code

All players who registered for an account in NJ using the SugarHouse Sportsbook promo code 250MATCH were eligible for the bonus. Now, they can also take full advantage of the very same offer right here in PA.

The only difference is the promo code, which is PA250 instead of 250MATCH.

Just sign up for a new SugarHouse Sportsbook PA account using the promo code PA250. Then, you’ll receive a deposit bonus of 100% up to $250 when you make your first deposit.

Even if you got the full $250 bonus in NJ, you can get it again by signing up for an account here in PA. Or, you can get it first here in PA, then go across the state line and claim it again using the promo code to sign up in NJ.

The same easy-to-clear one-time wagering requirement is attached in both states as well.

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Just a one-time wagering requirement

You’ll see the bonus in your Bonus Bank within 48 hours. Then, you’ve got 30 days to wager with it. After you’ve played through bonus money once, it’ll move into your main cash balance. Then, you’re free to withdraw it or let it ride as you see fit.

Not only is the bonus a generous one, but the terms and conditions are easy to meet. You can deposit as little as $10 or as much as $250 and, if you haven’t already done so, you can head over to NJ and do the same thing there.

A separate PA and NJ online sportsbook

That’s because for all intents and purposes PlaySugarHouse.com PA and PlaySugarHouse.com NJ are two completely separate entities.

Both share the same name as Philadelphia’s SugarHouse Casino. Plus, the online arm of the casino owns and operates both online sportsbooks.

Both post the same odds provided by Kambi. However, sports betting regulations in both states require the two mobile and online sportsbooks to operate separately from one another.

That means even PA residents with an account at PlaySugarHouse.com in NJ will have to register for a new account on PA.PlaySugarHouse.com if they plan on making bets online in PA.

Separate accounts and separate deposits are required for anyone planning to use both. Plus, you’ll have to download the PA app if you’re planning to make bets on a mobile device in PA.

The Android app is available on the SugarHouse website. As of now, there is no iPhone option, but one should arrive soon.

Claim online sportsbook bonus twice

Of course, there are some clear advantages to this for players. These advantages start with the ability to claim a second deposit bonus even if you already claimed one in NJ.

Then, there’s SugarHouse’ promotion offering no-vig bets on NBA Finals games. SugarHouse has extended it to PA as well. As a result, there’s really a lot in the launch of PA’s first online sportsbook for players on both sides of the state line.

Doug Polk And Shaun Deeb Earn SugarHouse PGCB Fine

A late night cash game during a Poker Night In America weekend at SugarHouse casino resulted in a $30,000 fine for spreading unregulated games.

The Poker Night In America cast and crew appeared to have a great time filming a grudge match and high-stakes cash game inside Philadelphia’s SugarHouse Casino in March 2017.

But at least one of the players involved is feeling a bit remorseful now. Especially since the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) has stuck SugarHouse with the bill.

A $30,000 fine for unauthorized games

That bill came in the form of a $30,000 fine the PGCB levied against SugarHouse this week. The PGCB is also charging SugarHouse $2,500 in fees and penalties on top of the fine.

Apparently, the fee was initially higher. The final number is the result of negotiation between SugarHouse and the PGCB Office of Enforcement Counsel.

According to a press release, the fine stems from SugarHouse dealing two poker games that had not been authorized by the Board.

In one incident, SugarHouse staff dealt a few cash game hands of open-faced Chinese Poker.

The other incident occurred during a weekend at SugarHouse filled with Poker Night In America festivities. After filming ended, a high-stakes cash game included a hand of ten-card stud.

The hand was not a part of the Poker Night In America livestream or edited TV broadcast.

Video evidence of Polk and Kaufman

However, there is no denying the ten-card stud flip occurred.

Poker pros and grudge match commentators Shaun Deeb and Doug Polk filmed it on Deeb’s phone. Then they posted it on Polk’s YouTube channel.

The action saw Polk and commercial real estate manager Jeremy Kaufman each put up $42,000 on a ten-card stud flip.

It looked like Polk had the hand locked up when he made two pair, aces and tens. Kaufman held two pair, eights and fours, with just two cards left to turn over. That’s when the pair negotiated a buyout with Kaufman agreeing to pay Polk $25,000.

Kaufman then turned over his final two cards and discovered he would have made a straight. Polk bricked out and it turned out he would have lost the $84,000 pot had he not taken the buyout.

The video of the hand has well over 115,000 views on YouTube:

Deeb reacted to a post about the fine on Twitter this week, admitting he and others pushed SugarHouse staff to deal the hands. Deeb said the players have since apologized for getting the staff in trouble and taking advantage of their kindness:

The Poker Night and SugarHouse connection

Rush Street Gaming subsidiaries own and operate both SugarHouse Casino and the production company behind Poker Night In America. In fact, the poker room at SugarHouse was known as the Poker Night in America Poker Room until recently. SugarHouse has since re-branded the 28-table poker room SugarHouse Poker.

Poker Night In America airs nationally on CBS Sports Network.

The action filmed on the weekend in question included a heads-up grudge match between poker pros Cate Hall and Mike Dentale. The match was spawned by an ongoing Twitter spat between the two.

It also included action from $25/$50 and $50/$100 cash games. The cash games featured Deeb, Polk, and other top pros including Phil Hellmuth, Olivier Busquet, and Matt Glantz.

A $2/$5 no-limit hold’em cash game with a lineup of local players was also part of the livestream.

Double The Sportsbooks, Double The Handle For PA In January

Three new PA sportsbooks opened in January, helping the PA sports betting industry almost double its monthly handle numbers to more than $30 million.

Legal sports betting really took off in Pennsylvania last month.

Three new sportsbooks opened up. Plus, according to figures released by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) on Feb. 15, the fledgling industry’s monthly handle numbers almost doubled.

The numbers show the six PA sportsbooks operational in at least part of January took in $32,011,839 in wagers. This was close to double the $16,173,090 in bets the three PA sportsbooks open in December 2018 brought in.

PA’s three new sportsbooks

Plus, it is worth noting the three new sportsbooks that opened in January were not operational for the full month:

The Sportsbook at Parx Casino opened Thursday, Jan. 10.
Parx’ South Philadelphia Turf Club in Philadelphia launched sports betting operations on Thursday, Jan. 17.
The Book at Harrah’s Philadelphia started taking bets on Thursday, Jan. 24.

Despite the big jump in monthly handle, PA sports betting revenue was only up to $2,607,205 from $2,006,546 in December 2018. Additionally, PA sportsbooks generated $938,597 in taxes in January, compared to $722,356 in December.

PA sports betting numbers

Here is a complete look at the PA sports betting handle, revenue, and tax revenue numbers for each PA sportsbook in the month of January:

Sportsbook	Handle	Revenue	Tax Revenue
SugarHouse Casino	$10,795,121	$103,523	$37,268
Rivers Casino	$9,543,112	$853,316	$307,194
Parx Casino	$5,382,620	$1,170,348	$421,325
Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course	$4,817,151	$284,624	$102,465
Parx South Philadelphia Turf Club	$858,130	$91,835	$33,061
Harrah's Philadelphia	$615,704	$103,569	$37,285
Statewide Total	$32,011,839	$2,607,205	$938,597

February numbers could be even greater, with the possibility of as much as $30 million bet at PA sportsbooks on the Feb. 3 Super Bowl.

Plus, the numbers are expected to grow even more come March with sportsbooks at Valley Forge Casino, Presque Isle Downs, and the Valley Forge Turf Club expected to be operational by then. The NCAA tournament won’t hurt either, as the three-weeks long March Madness has emerged as one of the country’s largest betting events.

PA’s top-earning sportsbooks

In the meantime, as the numbers above show, SugarHouse Sportsbook took the top of the PA sports betting industry, bringing in approximately $10.8 million in bets. Of course, the numbers come as no surprise considering SugarHouse is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania’s largest city.

What is somewhat surprising is that SugarHouse was only able to generate $103,523 in revenue from that. Philadelphia sports fans are apparently proving to be sharp handicappers.

December 2018’s top sportsbook, Rivers, brought in $9.5 million in bets and generated $853,000 in revenue. However, The Sportsbook at Parx Casino was monthly revenue king. It generated $1,170,348 in revenue off of $5,382,620 in handle, even though Parx didn’t start taking bets until Jan. 10.

Finally, the state proved to be PA sports betting’s next biggest winner. PA’s six sportsbooks generated a total of $938,597 in tax revenue, which means the state earned more than every other sportsbook outside of Parx. Plus, it was a pretty close second.

Questions About Adelson’s Involvement In New DOJ Opinion Keep Surfacing

Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro has joined New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal in telling the US Department of Justice exactly what it can do with its latest opinion on the Wire Act.

In a letter dated Feb. 5, Shapiro and Grewal ask Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein to withdraw the opinion completely. Or at the very least, tell DOJ prosecutors to refrain from bringing any action against the online gaming industry or players in either state based on it.

Is online gambling now a federal crime?

The DOJ’s latest interpretation appears to reverse its 2011 opinion the decades-old Wire Act only applied to sports betting. The 2011 opinion is what led several states to believe they could legalize online gambling.

Shapiro and Grewal’s letter expresses the pair’s “strong objections” to the DOJ’s reversal of that opinion. In particular, because it may make online gambling a federal crime, even in states where it is now legal.

The letter states:

“This about-face is wrong and raises significant concerns in our states. We ask that DOJ withdraw its opinion altogether or assure us that DOJ will not bring any enforcement actions against companies and individuals engaged in online gaming in our states — where it is appropriate under state law.”

It goes on to claim this DOJ opinion appears to run contrary to previous policies:

“We can see no good reason for DOJ’s sudden reversal. First, it runs contrary to plain language of the Wire Act. Second, DOJ has recognized that it should ’employ considerable caution in departing from … prior opinions,’ in light of the ‘strong interests in efficiency, institutional credibility, and the reasonable expectations of those who have relied on our prior advice.'”

Is it Adelson’s opinion or the DOJ’s?

Additionally, the pair has submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request looking to find out exactly where the new opinion comes from. The FOIA request is specifically seeking information related to outside groups’ lobbying efforts urging the DOJ to reconsider.

Anti-online gambling zealot Sheldon Adelson is CEO and founder Las Vegas Sands Corporation. He has been asking the DOJ to reverse its Wire Act opinion since it was released in 2011.

A January Wall Street Journal report indicates the new opinion comes directly from a lobbying group memo. The lobbying group is funded by Adelson. The Washington Post also published a similar article Feb.7. It outlines how the opinion appears to have been influenced by Adelson and the group.

Although, the DOJ claims any accusation that the opinion was shaped by any outside interest is baseless and offensive.

Shapiro and Grewal’s letter states:

“Press reports … indicate that this new advice followed substantial lobbying by outside groups that have long been unhappy with the 2011 opinion — but who were unable to convince Congress of the merits of their view. That is not a good enough reason to trample over the law and states’ rights, and to upend the settled expectations on which we have been relying for nearly a decade.”

Hundreds of millions at stake

Shapiro and Grewal’s letter also indicates the new opinion threatens the online gambling industry in PA and NJ, and all it has created so far, including:

$350 million in annual revenue and $60 million in gaming taxes in NJ
$23.8 million in online lottery revenue in PA
Jobs, economic health, and state funds for the public good in both states

The letter states:

“The opinion casts doubt not only on traditional online gaming, but also multi-state lottery drawings (such as Power Ball and Mega Millions) and online sales of in-state lottery tickets. While regulators and the industry are reviewing the full range of impacts this opinion may have, each potential implication is of concern.”

Shapiro and Grewal’s letter appears to be only a part of growing opposition to the DOJ opinion.

The North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries also sent a letter to the DOJ urging it to reconsider.

It states:

“The recent United States Department of Justice, reinterpretation of the Wire Act of 1961 creates a substantially detrimental impact on the lottery industry, including traditional retail-based draw and instant lottery games, as well as traditional lottery games offered over the Internet, and the billions of dollars for good causes lotteries provide.”

PA Sports Betting Options For NBA Fans

Licensed sportsbooks are beginning to open up at casinos all across PA, meaning you can now bet on Philadelphia 76ers games and the NBA. Here’s how:

Licensed sportsbooks are beginning to open up at casinos all across Pennsylvania. As a result, anyone over 21 and inside the state can now legally bet on Philadelphia 76ers games and all kinds of NBA action.

In fact, all PA sports betting operations offer a variety of simple and easy ways even casual fans of the NBA can bet on the league.

Basic NBA bets available at all PA sportsbooks include:

Moneylines
Point spreads
Totals
Futures

NBA moneylines

Moneyline bets are probably the easiest and most popular way to bet on any sport, including basketball. The bets pay according to a team’s probability of winning. All you have to do is pick the outright winner of the game and accept the odds.

Take a look at a typical 76ers home game against a fellow Eastern Conference contender like the Indiana Pacers. The moneyline on the Sixers at most PA sportsbooks will likely hover around -120. That means you’ll need to bet $120 on Philadelphia to win $100 plus your bet back.

If you like Indiana to win on the road, you’ll probably find a price of around +100. That means a $100 bet on Indiana will pay $100 plus your bet back.

NBA point spreads

NBA point spread bets are almost as easy to bet on. The point spread line at any PA sportsbook is subject to move based on how people are betting.

However, in the 76ers-Pacers game described above, most PA sportsbooks will have the home 76ers as a -1.5 point favorite.

It’s simple, just make the correct prediction with the line factored in and you’re a winner.

That means if you take the Sixers as a -1.5 point favorite, you will win when Philadelphia beats Indiana by two points or more. Of course, that also means if Indiana wins, or the Sixers win by just one point, only bets on Indiana will pay off.

PA sportsbooks will typically make the odds on point spread bets on either side -110. That means no matter what side you choose, you’ll have to bet $110 to win $100 plus your bet back.

NBA totals

NBA totals bets are a lot like the over/under in football. PA sportsbooks will set a line on the total number of points both teams will combine to score and it’s up to you to decide if the actual total will be over or under that number.

PA sportsbooks will typically make the odds on totals bets on either side -110. That means no matter what side you choose, you’ll have to bet $110 to win $100 plus your bet back.

In the 76ers-Pacers game described above, a PA sportsbook might make the totals line 213. That means if both teams combine to score under 213 points, under bets pay. If the total is over 213, like Sixers 110 Pacers 104 for example, over bets pay.

NBA futures

NBA futures bets are just what they sound like they should be. These are NBA bets involving something where the outcome will not be determined until sometime in the future. That traditionally means betting on who will win the Eastern Conference or the NBA title, for example.

The earlier it is in the season, the better odds you’ll usually get on these bets. Midway through this season, the 76ers are obvious title contenders, but they’re certainly not favorites. Most PA sportsbooks will offer NBA futures odds and will typically have the 76ers at +400 to win the East and +2,000 to win the title.

Just like moneyline bets, this means a $100 bet on the 76ers to win the East will win you $400 plus your bet back. Plus, a $100 bet on the Sixers to win the championship will earn you $2,000 plus your $100 bet back.

When it comes to futures, there are usually some pretty big odds available on underdog teams.

NBA parlays

NBA parlays involve combining two or more basic NBA bets on a single card. Most PA sportsbooks will offer parlay cards that pay much better odds than straight bets because you have to win them all for the parlay to pay. You can put together parlay cards involving bets on a single game, multiple games, and even multiple sports. However, it’s important to remember that you must win all your bets on the card for it to pay.

NBA in-play betting

Most PA sportsbooks will also offer some more advanced wagering options, like live in-play betting. This allows you to make bets with changing odds as the action continues.

It’s a great option for anyone who wants to watch the action unfold at the sportsbook and react to it with timely wagers. Play-by-play real-time wagering will typically be available at PA sportsbooks for 76ers games and can add even more excitement to the experience of watching a game at the casino.

NBA betting tips

Betting the basics in NBA games at PA sportsbooks should be easy enough to do. However, picking winners can be hard at times.

Here are three facts about the NBA you can usually count on to help you make good wagering choices:

In the NBA the best team almost always wins.
The NBA is a players league and superstars impact games. Pay attention to injury reports to see who is playing and who isn’t. It will have an impact on the outcome.
NBA games are almost always close. In fact, they’re often decided by a single bucket. If a game looks like it’ll be a close one, and you can get four or more points on a point spread bet, you might want to think about taking the underdog.

Parx Bringing Two New Sportsbooks To Philadelphia

Parx’s play to corner the PA sports betting market includes opening up a casino sportsbook Jan. 10 and another at its South Philadelphia Turf Club Jan. 17.

Pennsylvania’s top-grossing casino is making a play to corner the emerging PA sports betting market.

Parx Casino opened up a sportsbook on the property in Bensalem on Jan. 10. The owner of Greenwood Gaming is now set to do the same at its South Philadelphia Turf Club off-track horse race betting location on Thursday, Jan. 17.

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) conducted two days of formal testing at the new Sportsbook at Parx Casino before the official launch. It is planning to do the same at the South Philadelphia Turf Club this week.

The launch of the Sportsbook at Parx makes it a total of four PA casinos now running sports betting operations. The others are:

Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course in Grantville
SugarHouse Casino in Philadelphia
Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh

The South Philadelphia Turf Club will become the first sportsbook in the state to open outside a PA casino.

The sportsbook could become the state’s most popular sports betting location when it launches. It sits in Philadelphia’s Stadium District, where all of the city’s major sports franchises play.

Kambi software dominates PA market

Both the Parx and South Philadelphia Turf Club sportsbooks will run on software provided by Kambi. SugarHouse and Rivers sportsbooks are also Kambi-powered operations.

Hollywood Casino’s sportsbook is operated by the country’s largest sportsbook operator William Hill and uses its proprietary software. Hollywood launched the state’s first legal sports betting operation in mid-November. It generated $500,000 in revenue on $1.4 million in handle in its first two weeks.

The Sportsbook at Parx Casino opened in a temporary location and allows the following types of bets:

Moneyline
Parlay
Props
Spread
Teaser bets
Totals

Leagues that PA bettors can wager on include:

NHL
Boxing
College basketball
College football
MLB
MMA events
NBA
NFL

Temporary location in Parx’s 360 Lounge

The sportsbook’s temporary location is in Parx’s 360 Lounge. Parx has converted the bar into a sports-betting lounge of sorts with two 16′ by 9′ HD TVs and 20 75″ HD TVs for game viewing.

Plus, there are a dozen self-service sports betting kiosks and seven live teller windows for over-the-counter betting.

However, the bar isn’t the only place players can place bets. Parx has 30 electronic sports betting kiosks throughout the casino floor as well. The facility has made in-game betting available at the kiosks and placed upcoming game odds on the big screen TVs around the bar as well.

Parx is also promising to launch an online sports betting app complete with live in-game betting before long. In fact, Parx has already launched a mobile Betslip Builder app allowing players to plan out bets, put together bet slips and view Parx’s real-time sports odds.

$10 million, state-of-the-art sportsbook

Parx is also building a permanent sportsbook in the north corner of the casino next to the Liberty Bell Gastropub. It plans to open it in the second quarter of 2019. Management promises it will be a $10 million, state-of-the-art facility with:

An LED wall wrapping around half the sportsbook
A full-service bar with video poker
HD TVs throughout
Dozens of self-service betting kiosks and live teller windows

Greenwood has also poured $1 million into renovations at the South Philadelphia Turf Club in anticipation of the sportsbook’s launch. This reportedly includes the addition of as many as 150 HD TVs for game viewing, an odds board and several dedicated sports betting teller windows.

A Beginner’s Guide To NHL Betting In Pennsylvania

Licensed sportsbooks are now opening up all across PA, meaning you can legally bet on the Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and the NHL. Here’s how:

Laws have been passed, regulations formulated and licensed sportsbooks are now opening up all across Pennsylvania. Now, anyone older than 21 and inside PA can legally bet on the Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins and all types of NHL action.

In fact, all PA sports betting operations are launching with a wide variety of simple and easy ways even casual fans of the NHL can bet on the league.

The basic NHL bets available at all PA sportsbooks include:

Moneylines
Point spreads (puck lines)
Totals
Futures

NHL moneylines

Moneyline bets are one of the easiest and most popular ways to bet on any sport, including hockey. NHL moneyline bets pay according to a team’s probability of winning. All you have to do is pick the winner of the game and accept the odds each bet will pay.

Books express moneyline odds as either a positive (+) or negative (-) number. Negative numbers are reserved for favorites and represent the amount you’ll have to bet to win $100 plus your bet back. The positive numbers are for underdogs and show how much a $100 bet will earn.

Take a look at a typical Flyers’ road game against a fierce rival like the defending Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals. The Flyers are having a tough season, so the moneyline on the Flyers at most PA sportsbooks will likely hover around +165. That means if you bet $100 on Philadelphia to win, you’ll win $165 if they come through.

If you like Washington to win at home, you’ll probably find a price of around +200. That means a $200 bet on the Capitals will pay $100 plus your bet back.

NHL puck lines

NHL point spread bets, aka puck lines, are almost as easy to bet on as moneylines. The puck line at any PA sportsbook for every NHL game is set at -1.5 for the favorite and +1.5 for the underdog. That’s because two goals or less decide the average NHL game.

Betting the puck line is simple. All you need to do is make the correct prediction with the puck line factored in, and you’re a winner.

The thing that varies is the price you get on the puck line bet. Books will express favorites as negative (-) numbers and underdogs as positive (+).

It works just like the moneyline. That means if you take the Penguins as a -1.5 puck line favorite at home against the Florida Panthers, you will win when Pittsburgh beats Florida by two goals or more. Most PA sportsbooks will set the price on the Penguins puck line at around -165. That means you’ve got to bet $165 to win $100 plus your bet back.

Of course, that also means if the Panthers win, or the Penguins win by just one goal, only bets on Florida will pay off. Most PA sportsbooks will set the price on the Panthers puck line at around +135. That means you’ll win $135 for every $100 bet.

NHL totals

NHL totals bets are a lot like the over/under bets on football games. PA sportsbooks will set a line on the total number of goals both teams will combine to score. Then it’s up to you to decide if the actual total number of goals will be over or under that number.

PA sportsbooks will typically make the totals around five or six goals for most games and odds on totals bets on either side are generally -110. That means no matter what side you bet on, you’ll have to bet $110 to win $100 plus your bet back.

In the Flyers-Capitals game described above, a PA sportsbook might make the totals line 5.5. That means if both teams combine to score five goals or under, under bets pay. If the total is six goals or more, e.g., Capitals 4, Flyers 2, the over bets pay.

NHL futures

Futures bets on the NHL, or any other sport, are just what you might think they are because of the name. In fact, futures are bets involving something where the outcome will not be determined until sometime in the future. That traditionally means betting on something like who will win the Stanley Cup before the season even starts.

The earlier it is in the season, the better odds you’ll usually get on these bets. Midway through a losing season for the Flyers, PA sportsbooks will offer NHL futures odds on the team that pays pretty big. In fact, with the chances of the Flyers going all the way at around slim to none right now, you could get a line of +10,000 or more.

The Penguins are more of a contender. However, no team can be considered a favorite to win it all just halfway through the season. Therefore, PA sportsbooks will offer futures odds on the team winning the Stanley Cup at around +1200 right now.

Just like moneyline bets, this means a $100 bet on the Penguins to win the Stanley Cup will pay you $1,200 if they go all the way.

NHL parlays

NHL parlays involve combining two or more NHL bets on a single card. Most PA sportsbooks will offer parlay cards. These bets pay much better odds than single bets alone because you have to win them all for the parlay to pay. You can put together parlay cards involving bets on a single game, multiple games, and even numerous sports.

However, it’s always important to remember that you must win all the bets that are part of a parlay for it to pay.

NHL in-play betting

Most PA sportsbooks will also offer some more advanced NHL wagering options, like live in-play betting. This allows you to make bets with changing odds as the action continues.

It’s an excellent option for anyone who wants to watch hockey games at a sportsbook and react to the action with timely wagers. Play-by-play, real-time wagering will typically be available at PA sportsbooks for Flyers and Penguins games and can add even more excitement to the experience of watching a hockey game at the venue. Expect the opportunity to bet on changing moneyline and puck line odds throughout any NHL game.

NHL betting tips

Betting the basics in NHL games at PA sportsbooks isn’t hard to do. However, picking winners can be.

Here are three facts about the NHL you can usually count on to help you make good wagering choices:

Home ice advantage is real

Home teams get the last line change; plus, a boost of confidence only the support of a home crowd can provide. However, some teams are better at taking advantage of this than others. Pay attention to the home and road records of the teams in any game to make sure you’re on the right side of things yourself.

Parity is real

There’s not that much separating the league’s top teams from the cellar dwellers. In fact, most games are decided by a single goal and the majority feature five goals or less. Unlike the playoffs in most sports, underdogs regularly upset favorites in hockey. If you can find NHL lines that allow you to take advantage of these facts, go for it.

NHL games are almost always close

In fact, they’re often decided by just a single goal. That makes betting the underdog on the +1.5 puck line always an attractive bet. The key is to shop around for a great price on the bet and be wary of teams that offer big odds because there’s usually a good reason why.

PokerStars Officially A Part Of The PA Online Poker Galaxy

PokerStars is set to launch in Pennsylvania in early 2019 after getting approval from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board last week.

PokerStars is set to launch in Pennsylvania in early 2019 after getting the thumbs up from PA regulators last week.

At its latest meeting Nov. 28, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) approved the global online poker giant’s PA interactive gaming petition. This opens the door for PokerStars to launch an online poker and PA online casino site in the Commonwealth in the first quarter of 2019.

PokerStars’ parent company The Stars Group inked a deal to operate in PA under Mount Airy Casino Resort‘s license this past August. At the time, both sides said the plan included the launch of a full suite of online gambling products, plus sports betting under The Stars Group’s BetStars brand. However, neither side has applied for a PA sports betting license as of yet.

PokerStars in the US

Up until now, New Jersey lawmakers have been alone in allowing PokerStars to operate in the US. In fact, the US Department of Justice closed the US market to PokerStars in 2011. At the time, the DOJ charged its principals with a number of money laundering and bank fraud offenses.

PokerStars has since changed ownership and settled the case. It returned to the US in 2016, launching PokerStars NJ in the fenced-in New Jersey market.

There, PokerStars NJ operates under the Resorts Casino Hotel NJ online gambling license. Resorts Casino Hotel is managed by the Mohegan Tribe and Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment, which also owns and operates Mohegan Sun Pocono in PA.

Mohegan Sun Pocono

At its Nov. 28 meeting, the PGCB also approved Mohegan Sun Pocono’s interactive gaming petition. It is moving forward on slots and table games, but withdrew the online poker portion of its application.

Mohegan Sun Pocono is now moving ahead with an online casino operation that shouldshe launch in early 2019.

Now that PokerStars is set to launch in a second US state, its hopes for further expansion across the US are two-fold.

First of all, PokerStars will be eagerly anticipating PA lawmakers signing the Multi-State Internet Gaming Association (MSIGA) agreement.

PA joining MSIGA will allow PokerStars to share player pools between its NJ and PA sites. However, PokerStars will launch in a fenced-in PA market and all indications are it will be at least a year before PA lawmakers sign on to MSIGA.

PokerStars and Eldorado

Plus, on Nov. 26, The Stars Group inked an agreement with US casino operator Eldorado Resorts, Inc. The deal gives The Stars Group the option to operate online sports betting and online gambling with Eldorado casino properties in 11 different states.

The 11 states covered in the agreement are:

Colorado
Florida
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Louisiana
Mississippi
Missouri
Nevada
Ohio
West Virginia

However, it’s unclear which state the company will go to next.

Of these 11 states, only Nevada has any kind of online gambling legislation on the books.

However, Nevada’s online gambling laws prevent PokerStars from entering its online poker market. The law includes “bad-actor” language instituting a lifetime ban on operators who accepted US customers after Congress passed The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006. PokerStars is among these operators.

Mississippi and West Virginia have launched legal sports betting. If either state approves online and mobile operations, they could be next for The Stars Group after PA.

On the online gambling front, Illinois is the most likely from this list to pass legislation in the near future. Although, it remains unclear if Illinois lawmakers will follow Nevada’s lead on ‘bad actor’ language, or be open to PokerStars like NJ and PA.

PGCB Clears Big Hurdles For Mohegan Sun, PA Sportsbooks

Sportsbooks at Parx, SugarHouse, and Rivers, and Mohegan Sun’s online gambling operation moved another step closer to opening this week, thanks to the PGCB.

A trio of Pennsylvania sportsbooks and one PA online casino operation moved another step closer to opening after the Nov. 28 meeting of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB).

Firstly, the PGCB gave conditional approval of sports wagering operator licenses for Rush Street Interactive and Sports Information Services, Limited, otherwise known as Kambi.

Rush Street Interactive is the online arm of Rush Street Gaming. Rush Street Gaming owns both SugarHouse Casino in Philadelphia and Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh. Kambi is a sports betting company working with SugarHouse, Rivers and Parx Casino as each prepares to launch sportsbook operations, both at the casinos and online.

Three more PA sportsbooks ready to go

As a result of the PGCB approving sports wagering operator licenses for both companies, these three Pennsylvania casinos are now on the verge of launching PA sports betting operations.

All that’s left is PGCB testing and the final paperwork on gaming licenses.

Parx Casino was actually the second PA casino property to apply for a sports betting license. It is a looking to launch in December. Parent company Greenwood Gaming and Entertainment are also looking to launch sports betting operations at its South Philadelphia Turf Club off-track betting parlor. However, the PGCB has decided that it will have to wait until the Parx operation passes testing and goes live.

SugarHouse and Rivers previously targeted Dec. 1 for the opening of temporary sportsbooks on the properties. Even with the approvals, the casinos are reporting that date is not going to happen, but hope to launch imminently.

The Sportsbook at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course opened Nov. 17 after going through testing and its final paperwork in a matter of days.

Following the PGCB’s approval, Kambi’s Chief Commercial Officer Max Meltzer said the company’s future in PA looks bright:

“We’re delighted to have received our transactional waiver from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board today, which puts us one step closer to launching the Kambi Sportsbook with our partners in the state. I’m confident the players of Pennsylvania will enjoy what Kambi has to offer both on-property and online, particularly through the lens of our fantastic customers, who’ll have the ability to leverage our empowerment tools to differentiate, innovate and create exciting sports betting experiences.”

PGCB approves Mohegan Sun Pocono online gambling

In the meantime, the PGCB also approved Mohegan Sun Pocono’s application for online slots and online table games licenses.

The Wilkes-Barre, PA, casino originally applied for a license to operate online poker as well. However, the PGCB allowed it to pull that application this week, giving the casino a $4 million rebate on its licensing fee.

Mohegan Sun has kept quiet about who its online gambling software partner will be. So far, it has only said it is a well known public company in Europe that has filed for similar licenses in New Jersey.

Kindred Group, the owner of the Unibet brand, is really the only company that fits that description. It is quoted on the Swedish stock exchange. Plus, Kindred is Hard Rock Atlantic City‘s online gambling software partner in New Jersey.

It’s worth noting that Kambi is actually a Kindred spinoff. Plus, it renewed a long-term contract to provide sports betting services to Kindred in May 2018.

Hollywood gaming license renewed

Finally, the PGCB voted unanimously to renew Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course‘s gaming license. The PGCB renewed the Grantville casino and racetrack’s license for an for an additional five years.

The PGCB noted it has generated $2.7 billion in gross gaming revenue since its November 2006 opening. Plus, it has also generated $1.4 billion in gaming tax revenue for the state.

Hollywood Sportsbook Officially Up And Running

Legal sports betting officially launched in Pennsylvania this weekend with the opening of The Sportsbook at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course.

Legal and regulated sports betting officially launched in Pennsylvania this weekend with the opening of the sportsbook at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course.

The William Hill US-operated sportsbook ran live wagering testing Nov. 15 and Nov. 16 to ensure everything complied with state regulations. However, the official launch was 10 a.m. Saturday when the sportsbook at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course started full operations.

William Hill and casino owner and operator Penn National Gaming converted the existing horse racing simulcast theater on the Grantville property’s second floor into the new sportsbook.

Six windows and a 50-foot TV wall

The space features six new betting windows and a 50-foot wall of TVs for game viewing. Additionally, viewing stations with lounge seating and odds-display monitors will be added at a later date.

The sportsbook is located just off the casino floor near Skybox Sports Bar, which offers a full bar and food menu and additional TVs for game viewing.

Regular hours are 11 a.m. opening on weekdays and 10 a.m. on weekends. The sportsbook closes at midnight daily.

Additionally, the casino is hoping to launch statewide online and mobile sports wagering in early 2019.

Available wagering

In-person wagering is now available on a wide variety of pro and college sports including:

Auto racing
Baseball
Basketball
Boxing
Cycling
Football
Golf
Hockey
MMA
Rugby
Soccer
Tennis

Available wagers include straight bets, parlays, matchups, futures, props and in-play betting.

The launch of the state’s first sportsbook makes PA the seventh state in the country to offer legal single-game wagering. The other states are:

Nevada
New Jersey
New Mexico
Delaware
Mississippi
West Virginia

The PA sports betting market

PA sportsbooks must pay a $10 million licensing fee to obtain a license. Additionally, the activity is taxed at a rate 36 percent of gross sports betting revenue.

However, four other casinos have conditional approval from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB). Additionally, a fifth, Valley Forge Casino Resort, applied for a PA sports betting license just last week.

The four other casinos with conditional approval from the PGCB are:

William Hill

William Hill US is an offshoot of the UK’s William Hill. It is one of the world’s largest sports betting operators.

The US division is the largest sports betting operator in Nevada. However, with the launch of legal sports betting across various states, William Hill has also become the top sports betting operator in the country. It now operates in Delaware, New Jersey, Mississippi, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania.