Mohegan's The Downs at Lehigh Valley to open sportsbook in time for March Madness

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board said a test period for the new sportsbook at The Downs at Lehigh Valley kicked off at 10 a.m. Monday. Mohegan Sun, which operates the facility off Airport Road in Hanover Township, Lehigh County, received gaming control board approval in December to offer sports wagering there.

The test period continued through Tuesday, gaming control board spokesman Doug Harbach told lehighvalleylive.com.

“In a nutshell, our staff is on the ground there to monitor all aspects of operating the sports books,” Harbach said. “Among many things, we are looking at how well trained are personnel; the reliability of the systems in place including networks, software and hardware; adherence to regulations and protocols; and, management of all aspects of the financials including the handling, recording and end-of-gaming-day reconciliation of funds. Normally, we can sign off to 24/7 operation following these two days of testing unless there are significant issues.”

That means, barring any significant issues, The Downs will be taking wagers for March Madness, the NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament that is among the biggest events for sports wagering in the nation.

A spokesman for Mohegan Sun, which already has a sportsbook at its Pocono casino outside of Wilkes-Barre, described the test phase as a “soft launch” where guests will be allowed to place live wagers on sporting events. “In the coming days, we’ll be able to share more information, including details on a grand-opening event,” Mohegan Sun spokesman Cody Chapman said.

The Downs is the first sports wagering facility to open in the Lehigh Valley since it was legalized in Pennsylvania as part of a 2017 gambling expansion. Pennsylvania’s first legal online sports wagers were placed in May 2019 through SugarHouse Casino in Philadelphia, per a report in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Wind Creek Bethlehem, the Lehigh Valley’s only casino, has yet to start offering sports wagering, but wants to make the move. In January, it announced an agreement with Betfred to operate a sportsbook for its Pennsylvania customers. Subject to regulatory approval, Betfred will offer a full sportsbook at the Bethlehem casino as well as mobile and internet betting in Pennsylvania.