Penn National Gaming Live-Tests Its Sportsbook Betting Technology

Pennsylvania’s casino operator Penn National Gaming confirms testing its sportsbook betting tech in the past couple of days with the aim of preparing for action as soon as Pennsylvania’s Gaming Commission approves it. The operator tested the tech in order to check the staff and the sportsbook tech’s performance and ascertain that they both work in accordance with the rules and requirements of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.

Following the Pennsylvania license approval in early October and the partnership deal with William Hill’s US subsidiary to power the sportsbook, the casino operator Penn National Gaming started testing its tech, preparing to launch the first ever sportsbook betting technology. With that, it will make the state the sixth that inaugurates sports betting activities.

Penn National Gaming tests its sportsbook tech to prepare for launch following the green light by PGCB.

The Live-Test Launch

This Thursday, Penn National Gaming announced to have started the testing of its sportsbook tech that took place in its Hollywood Casino, in order to ensure that everything works by the book and is in compliance with the requirements, so it could go live the soon the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board gives the thumbs up.

The William Hill-powered sportsbook will be the first of its kind to be launched in Pennsylvania. Dan Ihm, Hollywood Casino’s GM said that the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board had given their best and moved heaven and earth to get this far, although the state showed slower off the mark than the other states, like West Virginia and Mississippi.

Pennsylvania will become the 6^th state, or 7^th counting Nevada, to launch single-game sports betting, following the state’s gambling bill approval and the removal of the federal betting ban by the US Supreme Court this spring. Hollywood Casino’s sportsbook will be available from 10:00 to 00:00 on weekends, and from 11:00 to 00:00 Monday to Friday. The sportsbook will be set in the simulcast theatre, right next to the Skybox Sports bar. With that, the Penn National Gaming’s earnings growth for this year is projected to achieve over 610.40%.

Growing Enthusiasm for Sports Betting

As mentioned, Penn National Gaming has received its gambling license at the beginning of this October, but it is not the only casino who has PGCB-approved licenses. Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board has so far given permits for sports betting to 5 operators. They have announced to receive another application for a betting license, this time by Boyd Gaming-operated Valley Forge Casino Resort. The acquiring of Valley Forge by Boyd Gaming was reported soon after the betting partnership with Paddy Power Betfair’s brand FanDuel.

Even though the PGCB requires from operators to wait at least 90 days between the filling of the betting license application and the launch of their operations, and Valley Forge will not be taking bets until February, the growing enthusiasm for sports betting is evident. It is interesting, though, that casinos operating in Pennsylvania have been less eager to apply for sports betting licenses than the eagerness shown for the online gambling licenses. This is probably due to the 36% tax on official betting revenues that operators have to pay the state.