Bet365 announced the full launch of its Pennsylvania online casino and sportsbook today, July 22. In doing so, it has resurrected Presque Isle Downs’ dormant master iGaming license and brought Pennsylvanians their 22nd online casino brand.
The brand may not yet be familiar to many in the Keystone State. However, it’s one of the most famous international sportsbooks, particularly in the United Kingdom, where it dominates the market.
In the US, as well, it’s a sports-focused brand. Though it now offers sports betting in eight states, Pennsylvania will be only its second with an online casino. Even in New Jersey, where it has both, over 70% of its revenue comes from its sportsbook.
It’s known for having some of the best sportsbook software in the business. With decades of experience in overseas markets, it’s a perfect choice for fans of soccer and other sports not specific to the US, as it can offer a wide variety of lines on most matches.
The bet365 app went live for soft launch testing last week, with limited hours of operation. As of now, it has the green light from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board to begin around-the-clock service.
What to Expect from bet365 Pennsylvania
Visit bet365’s site, and you’ll find the sportsbook front and center because that’s what the brand is best known for. Same-game parlays with boosted odds feature prominently at the top of the navigation, followed by the main lines for live and upcoming events. The categorical navigation makes it easy to find events for whatever sport you’re interested in.
Switch over to the casino, and you’ll find that the experience there is also designed with a sports fan in mind.
Table games are more prominent than at some casinos—especially live dealer games. For blackjack, bet365 has opted for sports-themed studios. The rest of the live dealer selection is impressive for a brand-new casino, offering pretty much everything from Evolution’s catalog, including the newly-launched Crazy Time game show and some more niche products like live dealer craps, lightning roulette, and three-card poker.
Even the slots are geared toward a slightly different audience. The ever-popular 88 Fortunes features most prominently at the top of the casino lobby. However, the thematic categories that follow aren’t the usual ancient mythology or animals.
Instead, bet365 expects many of its users to want to play TV and Rock Slots featuring branded content from White Hat Studios and others. For instance:
- Ozzy Osbourne
- Jimi Hendrix
- Peaky Blinders
- Wheel of Fortune
There’s even a Joe Exotic slot based on that Tiger King documentary we all watched during the pandemic.
There are also specific categories for “retro” slots (meaning steppers, mostly) and Pennsylvania retail casino favorites. Both of these should appeal to old-schoolers.
App users can choose their experience. There’s a bet365 Casino app with the full spread of casino games and a bet365 app focusing on the sportsbook and offering a smaller selection of casino products.
A Long-Awaited Arrival for bet365
Unlike some of its European competitors, bet365 has taken a patient approach to the US market. From 2o19 until the second half of 2022, New Jersey was the only state bet365 served.
However, it has now determined that the time is right to establish itself stateside. In 2023 alone, it had six state launches for its sportsbook and announced its intention to come to Pennsylvania.
Its market access comes by way of Presque Isle Downs, which is owned by Churchill Downs Inc. (CDI). CDI had initially used the racetrack’s online gambling licenses for its own TwinSpires brand. However, it found it impossible to penetrate the sports betting and casino market and turned its focus back to parimutuel race betting.
After the shutdown of TwinSpires Casino, the Presque Isle Downs license sat vacant until bet365’s launch. It has taken about 18 months to do so, from the time the partnership first became public.
Biding its time appears to have been a deliberate strategy for bet365. The early days of US sports betting were marked by enormous advertising and promotional spending by the likes of DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM. Many companies that hurried to launch but didn’t have as much cash to burn found their brands drowned out.
However, with five sportsbook launches last year alone, it’s clear that the waiting game is over. Even in New Jersey, where it has been around for years, bet365 has doubled its sports betting market share in a matter of months. Adding a second online casino state is another big move that could pay dividends if Pennsylvanians find they appreciate the company’s experience and polished software.
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