Thanks to modern-day technology, previously time-consuming tasks, such as calling a cab or finding a significant other online, can be completed in minutes through a smartphone. Society craves convenience in nearly all facets of life and now, locals can enjoy that sense of instant gratification in a brand new facet – gambling.
Recently, Bensalem’s Parx Casino launched its online real money casino, which allows gambling fans across Pennsylvania to place bets online for their favorite games like slots, blackjack, video poker, roulette and more from the comfort of their homes.
According to Matthew Cullen, Parx Casino’s senior VP of interactive gaming and sports, this is one of the first real money online casinos in the state of Pennsylvania. The virtual experience has been nearly two years in the making, with Cullen (who relocated from California) forming a specialized team to focus solely on Parx’s online products.
When someone visits the online casino, Cullen said they are presented with a homepage that showcases some of the bigger, more popular game titles. They’re required to undergo a brief onboarding process, which asks them to provide proof that they’re at least 21 and not a “problem” gambler. Once the account is opened, the patron is able to make a deposit and play as they wish, 24/7.
In the fall, Parx will expand the library to include an authentic live dealer experience, where live dealer games will stream to users’ devices in real time.
“That’s going to be great. It’s going to be really interesting,” Cullen said. “It’s becoming much more popular every month in New Jersey. It’s been gaining a lot of momentum.”
Since online gambling is such a fresh endeavor, Cullen said he understands why some people may be hesitant about the idea. However, he outlined several perks that come with this casino-of-the-future rather than a traditional location.
“You have different capital requirements. You don’t have to buy machines. You don’t have to build a building. You don’t have to have the type of infrastructure that we have here with over 3,000 employees to run a physical casino,” he said. “You’re not confined to geography. The geography boundary is, in our case, Philadelphia. We launch online and we can access the whole state. So it allows us the opportunity to market our brand to players all over the state and at a fraction of the cost of building a land-based facility.”
The online casino comes on the heels of the Parx Casino Online Sports Betting website and app launch in June, which allows sports fans across Pennsylvania to place real money sports bets from their Android device, Mac or PC. Bets can be placed on NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, college sports, soccer, MMA, golf, tennis and more.
Next month, Parx will continue to expand its offerings with the debut of a new $10 million, state-of-the-art Parx Casino Sportsbook. The new sportsbook will replace the temporary space that is currently operating in the former Parx 360 venue.
So far, Cullen said online sports betting has taken off not only at Parx, but across the state, and he expects it to grow exponentially once football season begins.
“It’s going to be a pretty competitive marketplace, I would imagine. A lot of brands will be launching and trying to acquire customers, so I imagine it getting very aggressive in terms of trying to acquire those customers,” Cullen said. “But so far so good. It’s a pretty exciting time in Pennsylvania and we’re excited. We’re the largest casino in the state, and we hope that we’re fortunate enough to replicate our land-based success online. Time will tell.”
For the online casino launch, any new user, including existing online sports bettors, can get a 100 percent deposit match up to $500 using promo code PARX500. There is a 20x wagering requirement on the bonus funds to become cash.
Deposits can be made using credit cards, a prepaid card (Play+), ACH/echeck, PayNearMe, bank wire, check, Maestro debit card, and cash at the Parx Casino cage. Money can be withdrawn via ACH/echeck, by prepaid card (Play+), check by mail, or cash at the Parx Casino Cage, at the South Philadelphia Race & Sportsbook at 700 Packer Ave., and at the Oaks Race & Sportsbook at 600 Cresson Ave.
Visit parxcasino.com/pa from any Android device, Mac or PC. Macs and PCs must be connected to wifi. iOS devices (iPhones and iPads) are not currently approved by Apple but will be coming in the future. ••
Samantha Bambino can be reached at sbambino@newspapermediagroup.com
