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BetMGM Goes Live in Pennsylvania, Just in Time for College Football Championship Weekend

BetMGM has had a busy fall in Pennsylvania, and they’re (literally) just getting started.

The Ohio State Buckeyes score a touchdown against the Northwestern Wildcats during the first quarter in the Big Ten conference championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium. While Penn State fans are disappointed the Nittany Lions aren’t in this year’s championship game, BetMGM is giving Pennsylvania bettors another option for wagering. (Image: USA Today)

Since Thanksgiving week, the online sports betting operator has signed a multi-year partnership with the Pittsburgh Steelers, fast-tracked their approval process, and launched their sports betting app a couple of weeks ahead of schedule in the Keystone State.

BetMGM Goes Live in the Middle of Record-Setting Run

On Friday, the company, founded in 2018 in New Jersey, announced it’s now live in the third-largest online sports gambling market in the nation. BetMGM began taking sports bets just ahead of college football championship weekend in a state that’s been breaking its handle month-over-month since August.

According to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, the state’s October 2020 handle was a record $525.8 million. October bested September’s then-record of $462.8 million by 13.6%.

“Pennsylvania is known for its legendary sports fans, and we look forward to sharing the excitement of BetMGM with them,” BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt said Friday in a statement.

With Pennsylvania’s addition, BetMGM’s app-based sportsbook is now available, joining operations in Colorado, Indiana, Nevada, New Jersey, Tennessee, and West Virginia.

BetMGM Helped Carry Parent Company Through Pandemic

The online sportsbook has also grown its media footprint this fall with the notable hiring of chief operating officer Ryan Spoon from ESPN in October. Parent company MGM said BetMGM is the company’s pandemic-year bright spot during its 2020 Q3 earnings report on Oct. 31.

“BetMGM has gained significant momentum,” MGM CEO Bill Hornbuckle said. “We’re now a top-three operator in every market where it [sports betting] is live.

BetMGM joins a competitive online gambling ecosystem in Pennsylvania where it will compete with other major sports betting entities including FanDuel Sportsbook, DraftKings, and Rush Street Interactive.