SugarHouse eyes Pennsylvania sports betting licence

A third of all casinos in Pennsylvania have now submitted applications for sports betting licences after it was revealed that SugarHouse Casino in Philadelphia has put forward a formal submission.

Hollywood Casino was first out of the blocks with its licence application, shortly followed by Parx Casino last month. Harrah’s Philadelphia also applied earlier this week.

Parx owner Greenwood Gaming & Entertainment is also seeking permission to offer legal sports wagering at its South Philadelphia Turf Club off-track betting facility.

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) will consider applications from Hollywood and Parx at a hearing next week, but SugarHouse and Harrah’s will have to wait until next month to learn their fate, according to Philly.com.

Each casino will face a licence fee of $10m (£7.7m/ €8.6m) and a 36% tax rate should their applications prove to be successful.

New Jersey, Delaware and West Virginia have all moved to launch regulated sports betting markets since the repeal of PASPA earlier this year.

Pennsylvania approved regulations in the middle of August and hopes to launch its own market before the end of the year. The delay meant punters in the state missed the chance to bet on the start of the NFL season, which began at the start of this month.

Away from sports betting and the PGCB this month revealed its plans for a “co-ordinated launch” of online wagering in the state. The regulator has issued 32 of its 39 online licences, with those applicants that missed out in the initial phase now set to face a lottery-style draw.

Only two of the state’s 13 casinos – Lady Luck Casino and Meadows Racetrack – did not apply for an online licence, while Presque Isle Downs and Casino only applied for slots and table games licences.