Sportsbooks In Philadelphia
It’s no secret that Philadelphia is known for having some of the most diehard sports fans of any U.S. city. That is why even before the Supreme Court lifted the federal sports betting ban, lawmakers were already preparing to regulate sportsbooks in Philadelphia. With the Pennsylvania sports betting law in effect, sports fans in the City of Brotherly Love are naturally curious about what this means for the sports wagering industry. Offshore online sportsbooks have always been the safest bet for wagering on the Philadelphia Eagles and other local teams, but what happens now?
For one, overseas sports betting sites like Bovada and BetOnline still accept PA residents. The major change is that fans will now be able to visit land-based sportsbooks in Philadelphia, instead of having to visit Nevada for the full gamut of sports wagering. Casinos in the state can begin taking sports bets after applying and receiving approval for a “sports wagering certificate”. While official launch dates have not been announced, we know which casinos have applied to become sportsbooks in Philadelphia.
The state has six casino operators, three of which are in the Philadelphia area. The city is home to the four professional teams, including the Philadelphia Eagles, Philadelphia 76ers, Philadelphia Flyers, and Philadelphia Flyers. With such a sports following, it only makes sense that Pennsylvania sportsbooks be brought to the largest city in PA. Though still speculative, you can learn more about the existing casinos and racetracks may become land-based casinos in Philadelphia.
- SugarHouse Casino
- https://www.sugarhousecasino.com/
- 1001 N. Delaware Avenue
- Philadelphia, PA 19125
- 877-477-3715
Philadelphia’s first-ever casino, SugarHouse, is also the first operator to pen an agreement with a sports betting provider. Rush Street Interactive, the gaming company that owns Sugarhouse and several other east coast casinos, has partnered with Kambi Group for their online sports betting product. Though the union guarantees that SugarHouse is onboard with offering sports betting it its customers, the actual sportsbook has not yet launched. Once the casino obtains licensure, sports fans can expect to be able to wager at SugarHouse in no time.
SugarHouse is technically the only casino operating within the Philadelphia city limits, and has already submitted a petition to offer sports betting. Its location along the Delaware River already brings in more than 1.5 million visitors per year, a number that is sure to increase by offering sports betting. The casino houses more than 1,600 slots, a 28-table poker room, and 54 different table games. Once the sportsbook opens, sports fans will be able to wager on both professional and collegiate sports teams, making betting on the Philadelphia Eagles or Philadelphia Phillies easier than ever. Sugarhouse will undoubtedly be one of the top sportsbooks in Philadelphia.
- Parx Casino
- https://www.parxcasino.com/
- 2999 Street Road
- Bensalem, PA 19020
- 1-888-LUV-PARX
The Parx Casino was first opened in 2006 and combines horse racing, casino gaming, and entertainment. As soon as table games were legalized in 2010, Parx was one of the first to add blackjack, poker, and other games to their casino offerings. With sports betting now legalized, it may not take long for Parx to start accepting wagers on sporting events. It was one of the first casinos in the state to obtain a sports betting license. Currently, the racino has over 3,500 slots machines, two large poker rooms, and more than 130 table games. Patrons can also enjoy live horse racing from February through December on Saturday’s and Sunday’s. The facility also has simulcast wagering on races happening at other tracks.
The Parx Casino is open 24/7, meaning that gamblers can play whenever they want. As far as entertainment, Parx has live bands, a dance club, comedy nights, cabarets, and more. The racino does not have a hotel, but there are plenty of choices for lodging nearby. Some of the hotels include the Radisson, Best Western Plus, Courtyard Marriot, and Extended Stay American. There are discounts whenever you use any of these hotels. With such a wide variety of casino and horse betting options already, Parx Casino would be one of the more popular sportsbooks in Philadelphia.
- Harrah’s Philadelphia
- https://www.caesars.com/harrahs-philly
- 777 Harrah's Blvd
- Chester, PA 19013
- Tel: (800) 480-8020
Harrah’s is about 30 minutes from Philadelphia, but is well worth the drive. It was the third PA casino to apply for a sports betting license. The racino has something for everyone, putting it in an ideal position to become one of the leading sportsbooks in Philadelphia. Harrah’s Philadelphia has more table games than any other casino in Pennsylvania (or Delaware!). The casino also has close to 3,000 slot games, with jackpots, high limit games, and even a non-smoking area. The racetrack is for harness racing only, but horse racing fans can wager on races happening at tracks all over the nation via simulcast.
The current gaming space consists of 100,000, and we would have to wait and see exactly where a sports betting lounge would be constructed. The Harrah’s Las Vegas Race & Sports Book features 45 plush seats, full-service bar, and more than 30 HDTVs, so the Philadelphia location could potentially follow a similar design. For now, those who visit Harrah’s can enjoy the casino atmosphere and harness racetrack. There are also several dining options (Cove Steakhouse & Raw Bar, Caffe Napoli, Riverview Tavern, Philly Steak Shack, Mien, etc.) and live entertainment.
Online sportsbooks in Philadelphia still include the offshore books that many residents use every day, but there will now be additional options. Pennsylvania lawmakers legalized online, mobile, and land-based sports betting with the new law. This means that state-licensed sportsbooks in Philadelphia will start to roll out just as brick and mortar locations will. As is the case with SugarHouse, casino operators will partner with an iGaming sports betting provider to create their online sportsbook.
When using state-regulated sports betting sites, the odds will be the same as what is offered on-land. Comparatively, offshore online sportsbooks in Pennsylvania may have better odds. Overseas operators do not have a main casino where they have to cover various expenses, and therefore are able to give bettors the best odds. State-licensed sportsbooks have to pay high taxes and other operational costs that trickle down into the odds that are offered. You should always line shop to compare odds when you can.
