PointsBet Sportsbook Gets License in Pennsylvania as it Prepares to Go Live in New York

PointsBet Sportsbook is coming to Pennsylvania.

The company announced on Thursday that it had been awarded a sports wagering and interactive gaming operator license by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. PointsBet will offer online sports betting and internet casino products in the state because of its exclusive partnership with Penn National Gaming.

"We are excited to be inching closer to officially offering PointsBet's market-leading products to sports fans and bettors in Pennsylvania in partnership with Penn National Gaming," PointsBet USA CEO Johnny Aitken said in a media release.

"With Pennsylvania ranking among the top five sports betting states in the nation, PointsBet is thrilled to be able to soon establish its presence in this lucrative market, and we are appreciative of the support we've received from the state of Pennsylvania and the great people at the Gaming Control Board. We ultimately seek to provide customers in Pennsylvania with the best-in-class sports betting and online casino experience."

PointsBet Deal With NBC Gives Access to Philly Teams

With its official exclusive sports betting partnership with NBC Sports, PointsBet will use the media company’s television and digital assets to promote the PointsBet brand in Pennsylvania, where Comcast Corporation’s headquarters are located.

Through the deal, NBC Sports gives PointsBet year-round, multi-platform media and marketing opportunities across its portfolio of events. This includes gameday integration across NBC Sports Philadelphia, the broadcast home for the Phillies, 76ers and Flyers.

"With NBC Philadelphia being a key asset in the NBC Sports portfolio, it will play a vital role in our ability to reach new customers and build brand recognition in this new market," PointsBet USA Chief Marketing Officer Kyle Christensen said in a media release. "We are excited to continue telling the PointsBet story and demonstrate to sports fans and bettors in Pennsylvania exactly what sets the brand apart among the rest."

PointsBet Going Live in New York Soon

In addition to gaining market access to Pennsylvania, PointsBet is set to go live with its online sportsbook in New York.

PointsBet New York was not one of the four operators who were the first to go live in the state with mobile sports betting.

DraftKings, FanDuel, BetRivers and Caesars were eligible to begin taking bets on Jan. 8. Meanwhile, the five other conditionally licensed operators, PointsBet, BetMGM, Bally Bet, WynnBET and Resorts World still had to meet the regulatory requirements to launch.

BetMGM was able to go live on Monday. The others are still set to be approved on a rolling basis when they meet those requirements.

PointsBet is still awaiting regulatory approval and could launch its sports betting product soon. On Nov. 8, the Australian-based company was officially selected by the New York State Gaming Commission as one of its selections for its new mobile sports betting market.

“Today’s news of being recommended by the New York State Gaming Commission marks an exciting moment for us at PointsBet New York,” Aiken said in a statement. “Having the potential to secure market access to New York state – expected to be one of the largest and most important markets in the United States – represents another major milestone for our company, our brand, and our technology. We are thankful to the Gaming Commission for this recommendation and believe it speaks volumes to PointsBet’s reputation and ability to deliver an unrivaled, world-class experience. We eagerly await the official opportunity to leverage our exclusive sports betting partnership with NBC Sports and introduce the nation’s premier sports betting product to the countless passionate, sports-loving New Yorkers.”