Shopping, restaurants, arts, and golf courses make a good time in Montgomery County a sure bet. With the recent legalization of sports betting in Pennsylvania and the opening of two sportsbooks the stakes for excitement have been raised.

Two locations, the Oaks Race & Sportsbook and Valley Forge Casino Resort, are now taking sports betting action. Some of the sports available for wagering include football (NFL & college) basketball (NBA & college), baseball (MLB), hockey (NHL), boxing, MMA, golf, tennis, and more.

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“People were already doing this activity with bookies or driving to New Jersey or flying to Las Vegas. The beauty of it now is they can do it in Montgomery County,” said Matthew Cullen, Senior VP of Interactive Gaming and Sports for Parx Casino.

Greenwood Racing, parent company of Parx Casino, officially launched sports betting at the Oaks Race & Sportsbook (600 Cresson Avenue, Oaks Corporate Center) in March 2019 with sports betting technical partner Kambi.

The Oaks Race & Sportsbook, formerly the Valley Forge Turf Club, was rebranded and upgraded with a $1 million renovation to refurbish the property and add new amenities. It features over 100 new televisions to so no one misses a second of the action. Patrons can bet the spread, moneyline, total, props, parlays and teasers at any of the six tellers and fourteen kiosks. The 26,000 square foot facility has a full dining room with seating for over one hundred guests, a delicatessen and a full bar and lounge. Food service includes breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Patrons of the Sportsbook, especially during any of the Triple Crown races, are familiar with the hunt club atmosphere. There is still a similar ambiance and a strong simulcast-racing crowd.

“We have a lot more options for players to bet on instead of just racing,” commented Cullen.  “All the feedback we’ve gotten at South Philadelphia, Parx, and Oaks has been quite positive. People are happy sportsbetting is finally here. Even the racing patrons, at the end of the day, are sports fans, and a lot of them are broader sports fans. We’ve seen a very positive reaction to the rollout of this new regulated activity. It’s been really good for racing as well, it’s helped raise our racing handle. Sports bettors might not normally be exposed to racing content and the option to bet on racing and now they are starting to do that along with the sports games they are betting on.”

If you are on one of Montgomery County’s golf courses or taking in a show at the Keswick Theatre, you will be able to place a bet from your phone. According to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, mobile Pennsylvania sports betting will launch in May 2019.

“The rollout out of retail sports betting is a game changer and when online happens, it will be a major game changer,” said Cullen. “Philadelphia is sports crazed city to begin with. You layer in sports betting on top of it, if you’re a sports fan it’s nirvana. It’s the best place to be.”

Oaks Race & Sportsbook hours of operation are: 
Monday through Friday, 12:00pm to 11:00pm
Saturday, 10:00am to 12:00am
Sunday, 10:00am to 11:00pm

Hilton Garden Inn Valley Forge/Oaks is located within walking distance of Oaks Race & Sportsbook. This casual hotel boasts a 4.5 Trip Advisor rating and offers a bar/restaurant, an indoor pool, plus free Wi-Fi, parking & an area shuttle.

For more information about Valley Forge Race & Sportsbook, visit www.parxracing.com/turf_vf.phpOpens a New Window. or call 610-650-0100.

To read the full article go to valleyforge.org.

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