Pennsylvania’s sports betting and iGaming scene is getting even more crowded.
bet365 began a soft launch of its sportsbook platform on Tuesday and will continue on Thursday from noon until midnight. If this trial window goes well, bet365 could officially become the Keystone State’s newest mobile gaming operator, pending full approval from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.
Pennsylvania residents can create an account, deposit funds, wager on sports, and play in the online casino.
The Keystone State is the 11th operating market for bet365, joining Ohio, North Carolina, Arizona, Colorado, Virginia, Kentucky, Louisiana, New Jersey, Iowa, and Indiana.
bet365 is the first new sportsbook brand in Pennsylvania since Fanatics transitioned from PointsBet in January.
Market access
bet365 gained market access in Pennsylvania through a partnership with Presque Isle Downs & Casino, a subsidiary of Churchill Downs Incorporated.
“We are pleased to partner with a global leader in the online gaming industry,” Bill Carstanjen, CEO of CDI, said earlier this year. “Our relationship with bet365 enables us to maximize the value of our company’s sports betting and iGaming market access in Pennsylvania.”
bet365 is a U.K.-based gaming brand that’s held up well in big U.S. markets like Ohio and New Jersey. The online sportsbook highlights features like bet boosts, same-game parlays, edit bets, and a “market-leading” sign-up offer.
"Off the heels of our launch in Ohio, we are thrilled to announce our partnership with Churchill Downs Incorporated,” a bet365 spokesperson said in January.
Big market
Pennsylvania’s sports betting handle puts the state in the top five year-to-date in the U.S.
The Keystone State is also one of five states to generate $30 billion in wagers all-time and has taken over $3 billion of bets through May when Pennsylvania sports betting operators combined for $61.7 million in revenue on a handle of $591.9 million.
Competition for bet365 includes FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, Caesars, and BetRivers, among others.
Pending regulator approval, bet365 enters one of the most robust iGaming markets in the U.S. Pennsylvania’s online casinos produced over $170 million in revenue during May for the fourth consecutive month.
bet365 is currently offering live dealers, online slots and table games, video poker, and more in its virtual casino.
