Penn National CEO: Barstool Sportsbook Will Launch Michigan Online Sports Betting In 2020

Barstool Sportsbook Michigan will be ready at the launch of Michigan online sports betting, according to the CEO of its parent company.

Jay Snowden of Penn National Gaming told Fantini Research in a video interview released Wednesday that Michigan will be the second state for the Barstool app to launch in.

“We’re going to be launching as opposed to playing catch-up in Pennsylvania, where we were a year late to the game,” Snowden said. “In Michigan, the gun goes off, we’re all at the starting line.

“I think it’s going to really be a nice proof point for us to show maybe what many other states will look like once we’ve had the appropriate time to play catch-up.

“What does Michigan look like in month two and month three? Might be a fair indication as to what it will look like across the country in the 20 states where we operate a few years down the road.”

Snowden said the best indication he has right now is Michigan’s online gambling launch will be in mid-to-late November.

Penn National acquired a 36% stake in Barstool Sports in January. The deal included an option to acquire more later, and a nationwide partnership for online gambling products.

Pennsylvania was step one for Barstool launch

Barstool Sportsbook launched in Pennsylvania in mid-September, a successful start.

Snowden said it was a record-shattering launch and more details will be available soon on the company’s earnings call.

“We’ve got great momentum right now, but we’re in one state,” Snowden said. “So I think we’re still proving this out.”

Although Michigan is the only state on the docket for the rest of 2020, Barstool is making big 2021 plans.

Snowden said Barstool will be live for sports betting and online casino in over a dozen states by the end of next year.

Planned launches include:

• Colorado
• Illinois
• Indiana
• New Jersey
• Virginia
• West Virginia

Retail sportsbook coming to Detroit soon

Playinmichigan reported first last week the Barstool app could follow the launch of a Barstool Sportsbook retail facility at Greektown Casino in Detroit.

Greektown has a temporary sportsbook, but Playinmichigan learned a permanent one in the middle of the casino floor could open in late November.

The latest estimates of Michigan’s online gambling launch date range from November to early 2021. Playinmichigan reported the latest details about launch this week.

Barstool online casino will launch after sports betting

Snowden said online casino in Michigan will launch “very soon after when the state is ready.”

Barstool online casino has not launched anywhere yet, but Barstool plans to launch it within the same app. Penn National has launched a Hollywood online casino in PA.

“That will make it very competitive,” Snowden said. “We’re really excited. We have a lot to prove.”