Update July 19, 2019: Play SugarHouse PA is now available for iOS devices. The solution comes via a workaround where players that register on mobile will be directed to download a geolocation validator (GeoGuard) from the Apple app store. This will be utilized to verify that players are located in Pennsylvania at the time of play.
The SugarHouse Casino brand won’t be around much longer — parent company Rush Street Gaming has announced that the only current casino within Philadelphia city limits will be renamed Rivers Philadelphia for uniformity with the various other Rivers-branded properties in and out of Pennsylvania. But for the moment, SugarHouse remains one of the most respected, recognizable names in East Coast gaming.
It started with the land-based casino that opened in the Fishtown neighborhood in Philly in 2010, and it crossed state lines when Play SugarHouse opened as a regulated online casino (and later, a sportsbook) in New Jersey in 2016.
On Wednesday, at 1 p.m., Play SugarHouse, which has housed sports betting since late May, became the first online casino to operate on both sides of the PA/NJ border. At the web address pa.playsugarhouse.com, a “soft launch” period is now underway, giving SugarHouse the third active digital casino in Pennsylvania.
Hollywood Casino’s soft launch began at about 11:20 a.m. Monday, and Parx followed a little over three hours later. Both leave something to be desired in terms of game selection, but that’s to be expected during the testing phase. Hopefully, expanded libraries, expanded limits, and innovations like live-dealer games will follow.
And the same is true at Play SugarHouse. Despite having the advantage of operating an existing product in another gaming state, this Rush Street Interactive product has gone live with an extremely modest menu of games.
22 games, no tables
For now, there are only 22 games to choose from, all NetEnt slots. While the filters indicate that blackjack and other table games, video poker, and even “virtual sportsbetting” are coming, for now, it’s just slots titles, including:
- Blood Suckers
- Starburst
- Reel Rush
- Fruit Spin
- Dead or Alive
Of the three online casinos testing this week in the state, Parx boasts the deepest array of options, particularly for those who prefer table games to slots.
When the options will expand is uncertain. Here’s the schedule for the testing phase, during which the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board will be watching to ensure that geolocation, age verification, and other security measures are functioning properly:
Just like the other Pennsylvania online sportsbooks and casinos, a Play SugarHouse app is not available in the Apple Store yet. Until a redesign to get the iOS app in line with new Apple regulations for real-money gaming apps issued in June is complete, Pennsylvania gamblers can only access Play SugarHouse on laptop and desktop computers and Android devices.
As is the case with Parx, SugarHouse’s virtual sportsbook and casino operate out of a single Web address or app, making for easy movement from one vertical to the other, with a shared bankroll.
Deposit and withdrawal options
Getting money and off the site is available via the same methods as the SugarHouse sportsbook.
There are six ways to deposit:
- Credit/debit card
- Online banking (ACH)
- SugarHouse Play+
- PayNearMe
- Cash at the casino cage
- Wire transfer
And there are four options for withdrawals:
- Online banking (ACH)
- SugarHouse Play+
- Cash at the casino cage
- Check by mail
As for a welcome bonus, it’s identical to the sportsbook bonus and the New Jersey offering. First-time deposits are matched 100% up to $250 (minimum deposit: $10), with a very customer-friendly 1x playthrough requirement on any game, and the Play SugarHouse iRush Rewards program is widely recognized as one of the best in the industry.
