Philadelphia Sports Bar To Bring New Face to Sports Betting

Bankroll (l.) is a new kind of sports bar. While it doesn’t contain any kiosks or cages to place a bet, it offers a concierge service to educate novices and veterans on the nuances and basics of sports betting.

Bankroll looks like a sportsbook, but isn’t one. It’s a sports bar with a betting concierge, even though you can only place a bet on your phone.

Betting Hero will partner with Bankroll to create the concierge program that introduces in-house sports betting experts to help Bankroll guests place wagers.

Bankroll will open in Center City Philadelphia this fall, according to Play Pennsylvania, with approximately 18,500 square-feet of space, enough to accommodate 400 guests. It will contain a restaurant, multiple bars, an upper mezzanine level with private lounges and multiple TVs. The cost of the project is estimated to be $20 million.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with Betting Hero and its team of seasoned sports betting experts to create the next generation of gaming catered to sports fans,” said Bankroll CEO Padma Rao in a statement. “Our unique concierge service will provide customers customized content, coaching, and community unlike any other venue or platform.”

The project evolved after a study conducted by Betting Hero Research found that 47 percent of sports bettors want to place more bets but don’t really have a handle on the mechanics. Additionally, 71 percent of sports bettors find it important or very important to be able to watch what they bet on; Bankroll, like most retail sportsbooks, solves that problem.

Bankroll will serve those who want to learn the basics, including setting up an account on a betting app, learning about the different types of bets they can place, and how to pay and withdraw their winnings. Veteran bettors will be able to talk to the in-house experts about the finer points.

Betting Hero will also focus on VIP customer engagement, customer acquisition, and building relationships with gambling and sports betting companies.

“Betting has become an integral part of the sports fan experience,” said Betting Hero President Jai Maw. “Creating a high-end betting experience at a venue like Bankroll gives guests more ways to engage with their favorite games and provides betting companies a truly differentiated way to engage customers.”