The addition of online gambling and sports betting presents Pennsylvania casinos with a sweet opportunity for growth in the Commonwealth. But which are best-positioned to take advantage of the chance?
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In this series, we explore the prospects for the PA online gambling industry and what to expect from each of its participants. Last time, we kicked the tires on Mohegan Sun Pocono.
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This time: SugarHouse.
Following a successful online casino rollout in New Jersey, the Philadelphia property is ready to challenge for market supremacy in PA.
A brief history of SugarHouse Casino
SugarHouse is one of two PA casinos owned and operated by Rush Street Gaming (along with Rivers in Pittsburgh). Both hold Category 2 licenses reserved for standalone casinos without live racing.
SugarHouse received its gaming license in December 2006, but it took nearly four years for the property to open its doors. A lengthy legal battle put the project well behind schedule and forced developers to adopt a multi-phase construction strategy.
After prevailing in court, the official groundbreaking occurred on Oct. 9, 2009. The first phase of the casino opened for business less than a year thereafter.
Although it was a latecomer, SugarHouse is now one of the top-performing casinos in the crowded Pennsylvania market. Its success stems from its prime location in the heart of Philadelphia and the $164 million Phase 2 expansion completed in May 2016.
Plans for Phase 3 of the property include the addition of a hotel.
Gaming options at SugarHouse
SugarHouse doesn’t possess as many slot machines as the other top-tier casinos in the state, but it overcomes the deficit with a large assortment of table games.
It was also one of the first PA casinos to open a sportsbook on property.
- Slot machines: 1,750
- Table games: 115
- Poker tables: 28
- A retail sportsbook
Online gambling at SugarHouse
SugarHouse will be an active participant in every facet of PA online gambling.
The casino, through its parent company, secured a permit in all three categories: slots, table games and poker. SugarHouse also possesses a PA sports betting license which covers both land-based and online wagers.
The SugarHouse online casino and poker platforms are powered by proprietary software developed by Rush Street Interactive, the online division of Rush Street Gaming.
Building upon their relationship in New Jersey, SugarHouse uses Kambi to power the PA sports betting operation.
Online casino games at SugarHouse
SugarHouse is expected to be part of the first wave of PA online casinos, with a go-live date tentatively slated for July 15.
Considering it already offers online gambling in NJ, we know what the SugarHouse PA online casino will look like and what games it’s likely to offer.
The one outstanding question relates to online poker.
SugarHouse holds a PA online poker license, but what its site will look like is anyone’s guess. The SugarHouse online casino only offers house-banked games in New Jersey.
Although Rush Street has reportedly developed an online poker platform, no one has seen it to date.
Sports betting at SugarHouse
Like its online casino, SugarHouse Sportsbook is a known commodity.
The NJ online sports betting app has been live for several months and provides a glimpse of what to expect in Pennsylvania. One notable difference will likely be a greater tie-in to the retail sportsbook at SugarHouse.
Peering into the crystal ball
SugarHouse has all of the ingredients needed to succeed in the PA online gambling market:
- Experience and a track record of success in NJ.
- A good product and good partners.
- A strong brand in a large market.
- Relationships in PA (its sister casino, Rivers) and NJ.
- A parent company that understands the importance of online gambling,
But success isn’t guaranteed, of course. The long-term relevance of SugarHouse will ultimately hinge on its ability to leverage these advantages.
PlaySugarHouse, Pennsylvania’s revenue leader in the online casino category, recently added a deposit option that is missing from its competitors’ offerings.
PayPal is the most popular digital wallet in the world. The e-wallet is also one of the most popular ways to get money on and off online casinos and online sportsbooks. Unfortunately, it is not prevalent in the PA online gambling market yet.
However, with the addition at SugarHouse, there is now an option for online casino users to deposit via PayPal. Additionally, the number of PA online sportsbooks accepting PayPal is now up to three.
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SugarHouse, BetRivers now accept PayPal
SugarHouse is the first in the PA online casino market that offers PayPal. However, FanDuel has offered a PayPal option though its online PA sportsbook since launch.
SugarHouse added PayPal without fanfare on Sept. 17.
PayPal is also available via its sister, BetRivers, site. Rush Street owns both properties. SugarHouse is currently in the process of rebranding to Rivers Philadelphia.
PayPal common in NJ, but may not be in PA
SugarHouse has had a PayPal option for some time now in New Jersey, where the market is more mature. Many online casinos and online sportsbooks in NJ accept PayPal for deposits, but not all.
It is possible PA online operators are not offering PayPal because the processing fees are higher than other banking methods.
With Pennsylvania’s 54% tax rate on online slots, online casino margins are slim. Some operators may forgo offering PayPal because the high fee cuts too deeply into profits.
More options for deposits at SugarHouse
SugarHouse has additional deposit options.
They are:
- ACH
- Mastercard
- American Express
- Discover
- Play+
- PayNearMe
- Cash at the casino cage
Parx has the most options, but not PayPal
Parx Online Casino offers gamblers 11 options for deposits, which is the most of any online casino in the state. The deposit options at Parx are:
- Visa
- Visa Electron, a debit card
- Mastercard
- Discover
- Maestro, a debit card
- ACH
- Secured payment, another form of an e-check.
- Play+ card
- PayNearMe, which works through a network of stores, such as 7-Eleven.
- Cash at the casino cage
- Bank wire transfer
Hollywood Casino deposit options
Hollywood was the first online casino to launch in PA, but it has the fewest deposit options.
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The deposit options at Hollywood are:
Sugarhouse Casino Online Sports Betting Pa Live
- Visa
- Mastercard
- Play+
- ACH
- PayNearMe