On Wednesday in Harrisburg, the SugarHouse Casino in Philadelphia informed the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board that it will rebrand as Rivers Casino Philadelphia.
Rush Street Gaming, the parent company, first unveiled the plans at the regularly scheduled hearing. The company owns Rivers Casino Pittsburgh, SugarHouse’s sister property.
The branding will be consistent across Rush Street’s casinos in Illinois, upstate New York, as well as in Eastern and Western Pennsylvania. SugarHouse was the first PA casino to launch online/mobile sports wagering (and remains the only one so far). The highly anticipated launch of the Play SugarHouse online sportsbook happened late last month.
Rush Street indicated on Wednesday that the SugarHouse brand will eventually be totally phased out. It feels like a smart move, considering that NYS will soon allow Rivers Casino Schenectady to offer sports betting, and Illinois just days ago sent a sports betting bill to its governor, which would allow Rivers Casino Des Plaines to offer retail and online sports wagering. Having one brand for its U.S. sports betting business makes more sense. SugarHouse also currently has an online casino in operation in NJ.
“Our long-term plan is to establish continuity across Rush Street’s PA properties, sportsbooks, iGaming, and guest rewards programs,” said the casino’s presentation to the PGCB.
The rebranding of the b&m SugarHouse casino will be completed this fall, Rush Street said. It will cost about $15 mm.
Penn National approved for a satellite casino
The PGCB has held hearings on a handful of proposed satellite casinos sprinkled around the state, and on Wednesday regulators finally approved one of them. The Hollywood Casino near Morgantown, Pa. was given the green light by the PGCB. The so-called mini-casino will be equipped with fewer slots and table games than a typical PA casino.
The casino plans a sportsbook, Penn National Gaming informed regulators at the hearing. PNG won an auction for the mini-casino in April 2018.
In its presentation to the Board, PNG revealed floor plans and indicated it will spend about $110 mm on the casino.
Penn National Gaming seeking approval today from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board for its satellite casino near Morgantown. Casino would have a sportsbook (pink shaded area on the floor plan). pic.twitter.com/nBsdHQjXcp
— Brian (@brianpempus) June 12, 2019
Mount Airy awarded a sports betting certificate
Another one of the state’s casino licensees received approval for sports wagering. Mount Airy Casino, which partnered with The Stars Group, received a $10 mm sports wagering approval from the PGCB. Mount Airy provided regulators with renderings of its upcoming sportsbook/poker room space, which they hope to open in September.
Mount Airy told state officials that poker and sports betting “draw on many of the same customers.”
New: Mount Airy Casino, in partnership with The Stars Group, plans a poker room/sportsbook. Poker and sports betting would be in the same space, and not separate. Couldn't be any easier for poker players to bet on sports. pic.twitter.com/wXJHuNNAbu
— Brian (@brianpempus) June 12, 2019
The casino’s presentation to the Board featured light discussion of TSG’s recent partnership with Fox for a platform to be called Fox Bet.
