Sportsbetting interests Presque Isle Downs and Casino

In Pennsylvania, Presque Isle Downs and Casino is reportedly eager to put in a sportsbook to its current portfolio of approximately 2,000 slots and 32 gambling tables and expects to have the ability to start the required licensing procedure as early as next month.

New owner plans:

According to a report from the local Erie Times-News newspaper, Presque Isle Downs and Casino is in the midst of being sold to American casino operator, Churchill Downs Incorporated, with this transaction set to be finalized when Friday morning pending acceptance by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.

‘March Madness’ goal:

Should this deal have come to pass, the Erie County venue’s general manager, Kevin O’Sullivan, allegedly stated that he wants to have a sportsbook up and running in time to the beginning of this year’s three-week NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament, which is often colloquially known as ‘March Madness,’ in March 19.

O’Sullivan into the Erie Times-News…

&ldquoWe hope to be on the February docket of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board to exhibit our sport wagering format. Right now we are looking at dividing space on the existing casino floor to get a designated space. Our guests are excited about it.

Online and mobile opportunities:

O’Sullivan allegedly told the newspaper the casino, that can be located just beyond the little city of Erie, is expecting to receive permission to replace its lower-performing slots using a sportsbook in order to have the ability to give wagers on a range of amateur and professional sports covering everything from basketball and football to cricket and darts. He supposedly detailed this provision would also allow the establishment to provide sportsbetting services online and through mobile programs to punters located everywhere in ‘The Keystone State. ’

O’Sullivan into the Erie Times-News…

“Even though we don’t believe it’ll overtake table or slot earnings, we do have reason to believe it will appeal to a strong niche and carry over to extra revenues for both table and slot games. Many properties are experiencing growth in other areas with the coming of sport wagering and we believe there’ll be crossover benefits for all segments. Not only can this likewise be beneficial for Presque Isle Downs [and Casino], it will be beneficial for our guests as well.

PASPA merchandise:

The Erie Times-News noted that Pennsylvania is one of just eight states together with Nevada, Delaware, New Jersey, Rhode Island, New Mexico, Mississippi and West Virginia to have legalized sportsbetting after May’s invalidation by the United States Supreme Court of the Preceding Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) prohibition. The authority ’s licensed sportsbook supposedly opened inside the Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course at November with this facility going on to place revenues for its first fourteen days of about $500,000.

The newspaper reported that this was followed by comparable sportsbetting authorizations for Rivers Casino Pittsburgh and Philadelphia’s SugarHouse Casino whilst yesterday saw Parx Casino in the community of Bensalem begin a state-mandated two-day test that could see its sportsbook go fully live as soon as tomorrow.