What PA Sports Bettors Need To Know About The Super Bowl
Interest in the Super Bowl had to be at an all-time high in Pennsylvania in 2018. Not only because the Philadelphia Eagles were in it, but because they beat the New England Patriots 41-33 to win it.
The Eagles were not able to repeat the feat in 2019, bowing out to the New Orleans Saints in the Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs. Plus, the state’s other team, the Pittsburgh Steelers, missed the playoffs altogether after losing four of their last six regular season games.
However, interest in the Super Bowl has not waned in Pennsylvania, because for the first time ever, Pennsylvanians can bet on the game here at home.
Gamblers love Super Bowl Sunday
Super Bowl Sunday traditionally marks the biggest day of the year in sports betting across the US. Survey results released by the American Gaming Association (AGA) before Super Bowl LIII show approximately one out of every ten Americans will bet on the game. Plus, they’ll have as much as $6 billion riding on the outcome.
The AGA also claims the majority of that $6 billion will be bet illegally, through either bookies or offshore online sportsbooks.
Of course, the amount of money that is legally bet on the Super Bowl in the US will be bigger than ever in 2019. That’s because there are now eight states across the country offering legal and regulated sports betting of some kind, including Pennsylvania.
In 2018, Nevada was the only state offering this kind of single-game Super Bowl betting. Nevada sportsbooks took in a total of $158.6 million in legal bets on the game. In 2019, PlayUSA analysts estimate Americans will bet $325 million on Super Bowl LIII at legal sportsbooks across the country. This includes a similar $160 million at Nevada sportsbooks and another $30 million at recently launched legal and regulated sportsbooks right here in Pennsylvania.
Betting on the Super Bowl in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania’s first legal and regulated sportsbook opened up at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course in Grantville in November 2018. Since that time, five more legal and regulated sportsbooks have launched in the state. Plus, all indications are there are more on the way.
Unfortunately, none of these sportsbooks have launched online and mobile sports betting in advance of the Super Bowl in 2019.
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) will approve the launch of several online and mobile sports betting operations well in advance of Super Bowl LIV in 2020. For now, that means you’ll have to visit a retail Pennsylvania sportsbook to bet on the Super Bowl.
Watching the Super Bowl in Pennsylvania
Even without the Eagles or Steelers in the game, Pennsylvanians traditionally tune into the Super Bowl in big numbers. In fact, the entire country does. More Americans watch the Super Bowl on TV than any other annual event in the US.
In 2019, the following CBS affiliates in PA will broadcast the game:
- Altoona – WTAJ-TV 10
- Erie – WSEE-TV 35
- Harrisburg – WHP-TV 21
- Philadelphia – KYW-TV 3
- Pittsburgh – KDKA-TV 2
- Scranton – WYOU 22
As always, bars, restaurants, casinos, social clubs, and private citizens across the state will be hosting Super Bowl viewing parties. Americans tend to eat and drink in record numbers during these Super Bowl soirées. In fact, people across the US eat and drink more on Super Bowl Sunday than any other day outside of Thanksgiving.
Outside of a Super Bowl party with close friends and family, Pennsylvania casinos are always among the best places in PA to watch the Super Bowl. Especially now that some have sportsbooks allowing you to bet on the game.
Most Pennsylvania casinos are throwing Super Bowl parties in 2019, including:
Parx
Parx is hosting a Big Game Watch Party at its new Beer Garden and Liberty Bell Gastropub. Organizers have installed two giant screens for game viewing and several self-service betting kiosks where you can wager on the action. Plus, Eagles legend Brian Westbrook will make an appearance.
Rivers
Rivers is hosting a Big Game viewing party in Pittsburgh. The second-floor event center will be the place to be and Rivers will be taking bets at kiosks inside and its temporary sportsbook location on the first floor.
Harrah’s Philadelphia
Harrah’s Philadelphia is also hosting a viewing party in its event center. There will be food and drawings for $1,000 worth of free slot play throughout, all included in the $29 ticket price. The new sportsbook at Harrah’s Philadelphia will be happy to take bets on the game.
Heading to a Pennsylvania sportsbook to watch the Super Bowl also gives you the chance to bet on live in-game Super Bowl action with lines that change as the game goes on.
Betting on the Super Bowl in Pennsylvania
All of Pennsylvania’s sportsbooks are offering a variety of Super Bowl lines to bet on. Basic Super Bowl betting lines include:
- Moneyline bets allowing you to pick the game winner and bet on the teams with odds set by sportsbooks according to each teams chances.
- Point spread bets where you have to pick the winner with a line set by oddsmakers factored into the final score.
- Over/under bets where you decide whether the final score will be over or under a line set by oddsmakers.
Of course, Pennsylvania sportsbooks also give you the chance to bet parlays by putting together two or more of these basic bets. Parlays pay better than individual bets, but you have to win all bets that are part of it to get paid.
Pennsylvania sportsbooks also offer a variety of Super Bowl game and player props. This gives you the opportunity to bet on different in-game outcomes and player performances. There are props to cover almost every betting angle the Super Bowl offers, including things like:
- Which team will win the coin toss?
- Who will score first?
- Which team or player will score the first touchdown?
- How many touchdown passes will each quarterback throw?
- How many yards will each running back rack up on the ground?
- Who will win Super Bowl MVP?