We’ve covered on this site the launch of online sports betting in Pennsylvania. But, things may really take a turn when FanDuel Sportsbook PA launches. Right now, three operators are currently live: SugarHouse Sportsbook, BetRivers Sportsbook, and Parx Sportsbook. None of them, however, are available on iPhones, thanks to the new Apple App Store policy that restricts gambling apps from using html web code in their apps. FanDuel, however, is expected to launch in late July, and says it will be live on iOS at or shortly after launch. Why is this such a big deal? FanDuel Sportsbook is the market leader in New Jersey.
FanDuel, a well known daily fantasy company that launched early last football season. And while it struggled behind DraftKing Sportsbook for a few months, by the time the Super Bowl rolled around and their aggressive 53-1 odds promotion, FanDuel was able to take the market lead in New Jersey, and they haven’t looked back. Their app is intuitive, it is easy to use, it is mobile-focused, and their superior tech will now allow them entry into Pennsylvania, particularly on iOS.
FanDuel Sportsbook was acquired by Betfair, which now has a 61% stake in the company that is called FanDuel Group, and they are partnered with the Meadowlands Casino in New Jersey. In Pennsylvania, they’ve partnered with Valley Forge Casino Resort.
Pennsylvania functions a bit differently from New Jersey, in that the casino partner has to brand the online gambling app. This means that FanDuel Sportsbook in PA might be called something like Valley Forge Casino Resort Sports, powered by FanDuel. It’s a mouthful, to be sure, but given the problems for the other operators currently live in the State, it is expected the FanDuel will quickly rise to the top and be among the leaders in sports betting in Pennsylvania. Their name is synonymous with sports gaming, particularly on football, where many users play daily fantasy games every day, even every hour, during the NFL season. They have a large customer base already to draw from, and they have significant funds to spend on marketing, on TV, radio, and through online marketing channels. This gives FanDuel a leg up against the competition, particularly casino operators, whose customer base tends to be a bit older. And those companies typically have less experience with online marketing activation the way FanDuel and DraftKings do.
So while all the headlines may have gone to local casinos in and around Philadelphia to be among the first to launch online betting in Pennsylvania, FanDuel Sportsbook may come in and upend the market before it even gets started by launching fully across all mobile platforms. FanDuel Sportsbook PA is one to watch out for.