Pennsylvania Presque Isle Downs & Casino celebrates grand opening of BetAmerica sportsbook

Churchill Downs (CDI) celebrated Thursday the grand opening of its BetAmerica Sportsbook at Presque Isle Downs & Casino in Erie, Pennsylvania, coinciding with the start of this year’s NFL preseason. 

CDI acquired Presque Isle Casino in January, establishing the iconic brand’s footprint in Pennsylvania and furthering its position in the ever-growing sports betting arena.

“The legalization of sports wagering across the country presents a great opportunity for Churchill Downs to deliver more entertainment options to our customers,” said Bill Carstanjen, CEO of CDI. “We are excited to bring our industry-leading BetAmerica Sportsbook to the Pennsylvania market.”

“This has been an exciting and transformative year for our team at Presque Isle Casino,” said Kevin O’Sullivan, vice president and general manager of Presque Isle Downs & Casino. “We’re confident that the addition of the BetAmerica Sportsbook will help us draw an even larger crowd of sports fans and racing enthusiasts from across Pennsylvania and from surrounding states. This is great news, not just for Presque Isle Casino, but for the Erie community at large that benefits from increased tourism and interest in our city.”

Half of the 50 new wagering kiosks are located within the newly renovated sportsbook area of the Presque Isle Casino, with the remainder accessible in the Hub center bar, Bar 90, the High-Limit Room and in the non-smoking area. This setup allows bettors to easily access odds and lines throughout the venue.

“Erie has already established itself as a go-to destination for many in our region, and the expansion at Presque Isle Casino will undoubtedly help us to draw even more visitors from near and far,” said Ryan Bizzarro, Pennsylvania State Representative. “We’re excited to see this venue continue to grow in the years to come.”

Presque Isle Casino hosted a Grand Opening Celebration for the BetAmerica Sportsbook on Thursday, August 8 with remarks by the General Manager, Kevin O’Sullivan, followed by a ribbon cutting ceremony with community leaders. Hanford Dixon (formerly of the Cleveland Browns), Louis Lipps (formerly of the Pittsburgh Steelers), Omar Moreno (formerly of the Pittsburgh Pirates), and Jason Grilli (formerly of the Pittsburgh Pirates) were also present.