Philly sports bettors will have a new option to get in their wagers for the Super Bowl. The Book at Harrah’s Philadelphia is set to open January 22, reports the Philadelphia Business Journal.
The new sportsbook will undergo a two-day operational test. If the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) approves the run, the grand opening is expected to push through on January 24.
The new offering replaces “The Block” entertainment center, and offers 19 lounge seats, 11 high-top tables, bar seating and more than 45 large-screen TVs to follow the games on.
The license for the new sportsbook was awarded to Harrah’s by the PGCB in October. SugarHouse Casino and Rivers Casino got their sportsbooks open in December, beating Harrah’s to the punch.
The PGCB is likely hoping that Harrah’s new offer helps take a bite out of New Jersey’s sports betting industry. $1.2 billion has been wagers in the Garden State since it launched sports betting in June. When SugarHouse Casino opened its sportsbook, those revenues flattened.
It’s a little early to conclude exactly how much of that revenue will come back to Pennsylvania, but reports from the PGCB indicate $2 million in revenue was generated from sports-betting, although SugarHouse and Rivers were not open the full month.
If the response to SugarHouse has been any kind of foreshadowing, punters can expect Harrah’s sportsbook to be packed leading up to the Super Bowl. SugarHouse’s offering has been regularly packed since launch, with wait time averaging 30 minutes to make a bet. They are working to improve the wait time, and when online options open it up it may improve as well.
Evan Davis, Vice President of SugarHouse, isn’t worried about online offerings hurting their brick and mortar offering. “I think in-game wagering may be more popular online, but the physical sportsbook is a great integrated experience,” said Davis. “You can hang out here all day, in solitude or with your buddies, and watch all the games. Make a day of it.”
With a bar setting and 45 TVs to watch, Harrah’s is set to offer a similar neighborly experience with The Book.
