Pennsylvania’s Valley Forge Casino opened its FanDuel Sportsbook last week, the seventh retail sports betting location approved by the state. After two days of testing by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, the casino held a ribbon-cutting ceremony, after which former Philadelphia Eagle Brent Celek placed the first wager, a nominal bet that newly minted Philadelphia Phillie Bryce Harper will hit more than 33 home runs this season.
The ribbon-cutting was hosted by Valley Forge General Manger David Zerfing, along with Bill Wright, senior vice president of operations for casino owner Boyd Gaming, and FanDuel Group Senior Director of Retail Jeff Lowich.
The sports book occupies an 1,800 square-foot space on the near the main entrance of the casino. It features seven teller windows, 29 LCD monitors, two sports tickers and seating for up to 30.
“Opening the FanDuel Sportsbook at Valley Forge Casino Resort is the start of FanDuel Group’s retail sports betting expansion in partnership with Boyd Gaming,” said FanDuel Group CEO Matt King. “Our experience operating the top sports book in New Jersey at the Meadowlands Racetrack will serve us well as we enter Philadelphia and compete for customers in an area with some of the most passionate and knowledgeable sports fans.”
Keith Smith, CEO of Boyd Gaming, added, “In less than a year, FanDuel has established itself as the leading sports-betting brand in a competitive New Jersey market. We look forward to bringing their market-leading product to Valley Forge, and are confident the FanDuel Sportsbook will serve as a powerful draw for new and existing customers throughout the Philadelphia market.”
Meanwhile, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board has licensed the state’s eighth retail sports book, approving Greenwood Gaming, owner of the Parx Casino in Bensalem and a new mini-casino under construction in Western Pennsylvania, to operate a sports book at the Valley Forge Turf Club, an off-track betting parlor it owns in Valley Forge.
The sports book will be the fifth retail sports betting outlet in the Philadelphia area, and the second in Valley Forge, joining Boyd Gaming’s Valley Forge Casino. Sports books are also operational at Greenwood’s flagship Parx, Harrah’s Philadelphia and the South Philly Turf Club, also owned by Greenwood Gaming.
