The Next Pennsylvania Online Sportsbook: Unibet Launching Next Month

Unibet’s online sportsbook and casino operations will begin next month in Pennsylvania, its Stockholm-listed parent company Kindred said.

Unibet has an agreement with Mohegan Sun to operate both retail and online sports betting as well as iGaming at Mohegan Sun Pocono. The retail sportsbook launched last month.

Results from the retail launch have been encouraging so far, CEO Henrik Tjärnström said.

There are already four online sportsbooks live in PA.

Unibet already in New Jersey

Pennsylvania will become the second state in which Unibet is fully operational. The brand launched online in New Jersey last month through Hard Rock Atlantic City’s license.

Unibet’s online sportsbook in New Jersey got a bit of a viral marketing boost earlier this month in the state. It accepted a $1 million bet from Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale on the Houston Astros in the World Series. That came after he placed large wagers at FanDuel Sportsbook in NJ as well as other sportsbooks around the country.

It was the first $1 million bet in New Jersey for Kindred, but that size bet is completely normal for the company in its international operations, Tjärnström said.

Other agreements for Unibet

Along with the Mohegan Sun and Hard Rock AC partnerships, Unibet has a few sports partners as well.

• It signed a multi-year sponsorship with the NHL’s New Jersey Devils. The agreement includes in-arena and digital marketing opportunities and fan and hospitality experiences for Unibet customers.
• The brand signed Hall of Fame Devils Goalie Martin Brodeur as a brand ambassador for the state.
• It has a partnership with Major League Soccer’s Philadelphia Union, Tjärnström said.

Next moves for Kindred

The US is clearly a long-term opportunity for Kindred, Tjärnström said. For now, the company expects to continue to lose money as it invests in its US business.

Kindred is working to secure more market access agreements for other states it thinks will be commercially viable, he added.

Investments in the US cost Kindred £1.8 million in EBITDA during the third quarter. That was slightly higher than the £1.6 million from the second quarter. Losses for the fourth quarter and early next year could grow as well, Tjärnström said.

It’s possible that Unibet isn’t the only new brand will see with a PA sports betting app next month; DraftKings Sportsbook could also join the fray.