Through KonekTV, Pennsylvania’s bars and taverns have the ability to offer their customers up-to-the-minute sports wagering information, such as betting lines, over-under totals and other sports wagering statistics. KonekTV have a history of works with licensed sportsbook operators in states with mobile wagering regulations to provide the information on television screens inside the locations. Their focus has been on states with online sports wagering, which in certain states (including Pennsylvania) allows customers to register and download a mobile sports app without having to physically visit a casino.
The Hooters experiment to go statewide in Pennsylvania
Keen fans of Hooters in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Indiana will have already noticed the KonekTV platform live transforming their local Hooters into the ultimate sports betting destination. However, the platform is now spreading their wings further afield into independently run bars, taverns and restaurants statewide in Pennsylvania.
Independent bars and taverns can enjoy what Hooters customers have already enjoyed for a while now.
“We love enhancing the guest experience in any way we can from best-in-class food and service to top-notch entertainment. Partnering with KonekTV allows us to bring a whole new world of opportunities to our guests and creates another reason as to why Hooters is the ultimate hangout spot,” said Terry Marks, Hooters of America Chief Executive Officer.
Giving their clients the “full fan experience” from the game on the screens to the food and beverage associated with watching the game to now the ability to wager, in real-time, from their chair in the restaurant, bars and taverns across Pennsylvania are hoping to cover all bases for its customers and make their establishment the ultimate betting destination, on NFL Sundays or Monday Nights or for any major sporting event.
PA Bars New Revenue Stream
KonekTV uses proprietary hardware to stream their content directly into a sports bar.
Any number of channels can be chosen to customize the content based on the bar owner’s bar theme or desire to promote a big event. Sports betting odds displayed can either be a consensus market from all online sportsbook, or provided from a specific sportsbook (such as SugarHouse or FanDuel) if the bar has a partnership link with one. The TV displays show ads, which is how bar owners share revenue directly from the KonekTV installation.
KonekTV founder Seth Schorr explains that the product tends to be at very worst cost-neutral to the sports bars because of the advertising revenue. Numbers may vary based on location, bar size, and occupancy.
Sports bar owners installing KonekTV hope tend to also see increased revenue from increased patronage.
“A bar is often competing with somebody’s home, so at a minimum, you have to give somebody the same experience they can get at home — and hopefully something much, much more,” said Schorr.
The KonekTV PA connection
Though based in Las Vegas, KonekTV has strong ties to PA. Both Schorr and business partner Sameer Gupta attended the University of Pennsylvania and consider Philadelphia their “second home.”
Josh Harris, owner of the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers, is an investor in KonekTV through his company, Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment.
