William Hill launches operations in Pennsylvania

The operator was the first one to take wagers in the Hollywood Casino this weekend.

US.- Pennsylvania has finally inaugurated its sports betting market, as William Hill started accepting bets on sports on Saturday at the Hollywood Casino. The facility started taking bets on Thursday and Friday during a test period and finally unveiled operations during the weekend.

The test period was scheduled to control the business to make sure that staff and equipment were in compliance with regulatory requirements set by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB). With the latest launch by William Hill, Pennsylvania has become the seventh state to allow sports betting operations.

Dan Ihm, Hollywood Casino’s general manager, stated: “We are extremely appreciative for the tireless effort and support of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. They moved heaven and earth to get us to this point and we couldn’t be more excited to be Pennsylvania’s first sportsbook.”

Analyst Eilers & Krejcik had previously reported that the sports betting market in the state could be worth US$12 billion annually. Penn National said that it expects online bets to be taken in the first quarter of 2019.

“Penn National is excited to be the first casino to offer sports wagering in Pennsylvania. The enthusiasm around sports betting has been growing since the federal ban was repealed in May, and we look forward to providing our patrons with another great amenity to enjoy at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course,” Penn National chief executive Timothy Wilmott said.