All three sportsbooks launching before Christmas

Penn National Gaming is bringing bettors extra festive cheer, as it is opening three Barstool Sportsbooks in Michigan and Indiana before Christmas Day.

The Pennsylvania-based casino operator announced on Tuesday that it will open rebranded brick-and-mortar Barstool Sportsbooks at both the Greektown Casino Hotel in Detroit, Michigan and the Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg in Indiana today. Then on Christmas Eve, an all-new retail Barstool Sportsbook will premiere at Ameristar East Chicago Casino & Hotel, a riverboat operation docked at Indiana Harbor in East Chicago, Indiana.

Penn National tweeted yesterday that it would be “taking bets soon” at all three venues:

Penn National owns a 36% stake in Barstool Sports after it invested $136m in the New York City-based digital media company in January 2020. Under the agreement, Barstool exclusively promotes Penn National’s brick-and-mortar and online sports wagering products, in addition to the Barstool Sportsbook mobile app.

‘Tis the season to get sporty

Detroiters have an early Christmas gift to unwrap today, subject to any final regulatory approvals, with the opening of a new Barstool Sportsbook at Greektown Casino.

Detroit bettors will enter their new facility through a bespoke entryway on the second floor of the casino. All the bells and whistles of a signature Barstool venue will be on display. Along with a sports viewing area and dining space, the Greektown Casino sportsbook will include a betting counter with generously sized odds boards, abundant sports betting kiosks, and ticket writer stations ready to support a wide array of sports wagering options.

Greektown Casino VP and GM John Drake said in a news release that his organization was “thrilled” by the new sportsbook opening at the property.

the new design showcases the spirit of the Barstool Sports brand”

Drake said “the new design showcases the spirit of the Barstool Sports brand, resulting in an outstanding sports wagering experience [that] passionate sports fans in Detroit and throughout Michigan” will relish.

Lucky sportsbook horseshoe?

Heading west from Detroit to Indiana Harbor, then south down to Lawrenceburg, Penn National will complete a horseshoe-shaped trail of new openings as two rebranded, reimagined Barstool sportsbooks launch in over the next two days.

Subject to any final regulatory approvals, the first Barstool-rebranded sportsbook to open will be at the Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg?in Indiana on?December 23. Then, on Christmas Eve, the rebranded Ameristar East Chicago Casino & Hotel in Indiana will welcome guests.

Senior VP of regional operations for Penn National, Rafael Verde, expressed his excitement about holiday launch of the two venues in a news release. The new-look sportsbooks will offer “unique sports wagering and dining experiences” for customers, Verde said.