Flutie’s Sports Pub Will Be ‘Boston-Themed’ Barstool Sportsbook By Summer
When retail sports betting launched in Massachusetts on the last day of January, Plainridge Park Casino was ready with kiosks and teller windows for customers. With hundreds of slot machines, live simulcast horse racing, and dining, the casino is already an enticing destination for residents of southeast Massachusetts and nearby Rhode Island.
However, Plainridge Park’s dedicated sports wagering area is in a temporary space until the casino converts its Flutie’s Sports Pub into a permanent Barstool Sportsbook.
We talked with a spokesperson for the casino to get the latest on the casino’s plans to build a brand-new retail sports betting area.
PPC Sportsbook Branding
Pennsylvania-based PENN Entertainment operates Plainridge Park. The casino’s parent company owns a 36% stake in Barstool Sportsbook. It finalized its acquisition Friday.
So, it is no surprise that Plainridge Park’s retail and mobile Massachusetts sports betting partner is Barstool. The sportsbook has locations in 15 other states. The temporary sportsbook has Barstool branding, and the permanent one will too.
“We have a really nice temporary space with windows and kiosks,” Plainridge Park spokesperson C.J. North said of the current setup. He also noted that the casino’s bars and lounges are great places to watch a game.
Renovation Timeline, Details
Renovations are currently underway at Flutie’s Sports Pub, so it’s closed to the public.
“PPC continues remodeling and construction on Flutie’s to turn it into their permanent sportsbook,” Burke Cain, Interim Gaming Agent Division Chief of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, said during a Feb. 9 MGC meeting.
What’s the timeline?
“We are planning to open up our full-time Barstool Sportsbook some time this summer,” North said.
If the renovation project stays on schedule, bettors at Plainridge Park can enjoy the new digs just in time to place wagers on major events like the FIFA Women’s World Cup Final, the US Open, college football, and NFL preseason games.
“We’re really looking for this to be a great experience and place to watch games,” said North, who added the PPC Barstool Sportsbook will be “Boston-themed.”
By that time, the casino’s online sportsbook partner, also Barstool Sportsbook, will be open for business for a seamless online and retail experience. Online sports betting is set to launch on Friday, March 10, in the Commonwealth.
READ MORE: My Advice for Betting on Sports in a State That Bans Credit Cards at Sportsbooks
According to North, once the Barstool Sportsbook retail outlet opens, it will have full-service restaurants, a bar, 20 self-service kiosks, and five teller windows plus HD TVs.
“Obviously, it puts us on a level playing field in the market with what Rhode Island has right across the border,” he said.
On its first day taking sports wagers on Jan. 31 in its temporary home, Plainridge Park Casino reported a sports betting handle of $82,235.80 and $53,554.26 in revenue.