For the first time since 2011, the Philadelphia Phillies are the best team in baseball. The team is also soaring in popularity with sports bettors and that’s good for Pennsylvania.
The Phillies have one of the deepest lineups in baseball, highlighted by one of the best pitching staffs in the MLB.
And Pennsylvania online sportsbooks are benefiting heading into the summer when sports betting is usually at its lowest due to the absence of the NFL, NBA and NHL.
While Philadelphias has taken the league by storm, betting on the Phillies in the state has been increasingly more popular.
Phillies have been a moneymaking machine for bettors
The Phils are a scorching 18-4 in their last 22 games and have climbed the ranks of the MLB standings. Because of that, sportsbooks have been getting plenty of Phillies action.
DraftKings Sportsbook PA sent PlayPennsylvania tons of information that reflected the excitement of Phillies fans and baseball fans across the nation.
Since April 15, the Phillies have been the the second-most bet team on the moneyline and the most-bet team on the runline by handle. That has translated into the Phillies being the biggest moneymaker for DraftKings customers.
The Phillies are also the most-bet team by handle to win the National League and NL East. They are the second-most bet team to win the World Series, trailing the Los Angeles Dodgers.
While it’s clear the Phillies are getting national attention from bettors, the Keystone State is also backing its team.
In Pennsylvania, the Phillies are the most-bet team by handle and tickets to win the World Series and NL East. Bryce Harper, Trea Turner and Alec Bohm are first, second and fourth, respectively, in handle and tickets for the National League MVP award. Though, with Turner expected to be sidelined for six weeks with a hamstring injury, he’s expected to fall out of the running.
The popularity continues on the rubber, too, as Ranger Suarez and Zack Wheeler rank one and two, respectively, in Cy Young handle and tickets.
BetMGM Sportsbook PA is also getting plenty of action, reporting that the Phillies are the most-bet team to win the NL and World Series in Pennsylvania.
Popularity could help drive handle during traditional summer slide
It’s no secret that baseball isn’t nearly as popular as football or basketball to bet on. And during the summer, when baseball is one of the few big sports on, handle numbers show that.
Pennsylvania sportsbooks make their living during football season from September through January. July and August can be pretty lean for operators not only in Pennsylvania, but across the country.
PA sportsbooks produced the following combined July and August handle since 2021:
- 2021: $652.9 million
- 2022: $699.5 million
- 2023: $731.5 million
Sportsbooks did not generate more than $400 million in any of those months. The closest it came was last August, when operators took in $393 million worth of bets.
As evidenced by the betting numbers, the Phillies have extremely likable players and are winning money for bettors. Perhaps this Phils run can capture the interest of Pennsylvania bettors, and break through for a $400 million handle month this summer.
Doing so would also increase tax revenue to the state to the benefit of Pennsylvanians.
Proving the Phillies’s prolific run is good for much more than ticket, jersey and beer sales.
