{"id":6195,"date":"2018-05-10T22:05:46","date_gmt":"2018-05-10T22:05:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pokerscout.com\/?p=6195"},"modified":"2018-05-11T16:05:30","modified_gmt":"2018-05-11T16:05:30","slug":"xpress-sports-virtual-betting-will-be-in-pa-in-a-jiffy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pokerscout.com\/xpress-sports-virtual-betting-will-be-in-pa-in-a-jiffy\/","title":{"rendered":"Xpress Sports Virtual Betting Will Be In PA In A Jiffy"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pennsylvania<\/strong> Lottery<\/strong> customers have a box of\u00a0new toys<\/strong> to play with this year.\u00a0Stemming from approvals written into the 2017 gaming package, the lotto has begun to expand its library<\/strong> of games and products.<\/p>\n

Keno<\/strong> was the first<\/a>, rolling out to the network of retail locations<\/strong> across the state last week. Hundreds of bars and shops now offer the casino-style game, which is broadcast on a networked monitor and scored with pencils. Online lottery<\/a><\/strong> will debut in the coming months, too, featuring games more similar to Candy Crush<\/strong> than Powerball<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Virtual sports betting<\/a><\/strong> will be next, though.\u00a0This week, Inspired Entertainment<\/strong> announced a partnership with the PA Lottery to provide its award-winning product<\/strong> to the retail market.<\/p>\n

Already a popular way to gamble abroad, virtual sports betting is just beginning to take hold<\/strong> in the States.\u00a0Pennsylvania will be the second US market to offer the game, joining New Jersey<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Executive chairman Lorne Weil<\/strong> offered his thoughts on the partnership via a press release<\/a>:<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are delighted to announce this key milestone for the Pennsylvania Lottery and Virtual Sports fans in the state.<\/p>\n

Through an integration with the Lottery\u2019s gaming system, we\u2019re introducing the thrill of Virtual Sports betting for the first time to Pennsylvanians, and we\u2019re gratified to have been chosen by the Pennsylvania Lottery to deliver these new gaming entertainment products to its valued players with our high quality Virtual Sports graphics and animation.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Patrons will see the product branded as Xpress Sports<\/strong> in the PA market.<\/p>\n

PA Lottery + virtual sports<\/span><\/h2>\n

The launch integrates the products of Inspired Entertainment and Scientific Games<\/strong>, which provides the lottery\u2019s gaming platform.<\/p>\n

Like Keno (and actual sports), virtual sports require a TV monitor<\/strong> to \u201cbroadcast\u201d the simulated games. Many of the retailers that want the product are sports bars<\/strong> with an array of existing screens, but the lottery will come install an extra one if need be.<\/p>\n

Football<\/strong> and auto racing<\/strong> will be the first virtual sports to debut in PA, with more expected as time goes on. Games and races begin every few minutes<\/strong>, presented in a condensed format<\/strong> with no lull<\/strong>\u00a0in the action. Each sport runs on a dedicated channel, so retailers can offer both alongside each other.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a video from Inspired showing the football product:<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

It\u2019s like betting on a video game<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Virtual sports are fairly new, and they\u2019re generating astounding interest<\/strong> in existing markets. Inspired now has partnerships with almost 100 operators<\/strong>, up from around 80 this time last year. In its UK<\/strong> home, virtual sports make up around 30 percent<\/strong> of the total betting handle<\/strong> for sportsbooks.<\/p>\n

Pennsylvania\u2019s lottery network consists of nearly 10,000 retail locations<\/strong>, each of which can request to offer the product. Virtual sports betting should go live in June<\/strong> if things go according to plan.<\/p>\n

More about Inspired Entertainment<\/span><\/h2>\n

Inspired is one of the leaders in the space, building an acclaimed<\/strong> platform for virtual sports betting. That platform has introduced the product into several new markets, including New Jersey. Six NJ online casino operators now offer virtual sports betting:<\/p>\n