The casino began to accept bets in the former 360 bar and lounge, monitored by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.
If the board is content with the sportsbook’s operation, Parx will be allowed to accept wagering from 1pm on Thursday.
Parx Casino will be the second casino in Philadelphia to launch a legal sportsbook, after SugarHouse Casino opened its sports wagering facilities last month.
The casino will not be allowed to launch mobile betting just yet, although the casino’s sports betting supplier, Kambi, will activate the Betslip Builder app.
The app will enable players to seek out odds online as well as fill out bet slips which can be scanned.
Max Bichsel, Kambi’s director of US operations, said: “It’s very helpful, allowing you to do your homework ahead of time, which sports bettors typically do.”