Grand Opening February 15, 2023
Harrisburg, PA (RestaurantNews.com) Today, Harrisburg, Penn.-based restaurant group Arooga’s Grille House & Sports Bar will celebrate the grand opening of the Connecticut Lottery Corporation’s (“CLC”) latest PlaySugarHouse retail sportsbook at the Shelton, Conn., franchise location. PlaySugarHouse is the award-winning sports wagering platform from Rush Street Interactive (NYSE: RSI) (“RSI”) , the CLC’s official online and retail sportsbook operator.
Located at 387 Bridgeport Ave., Shelton, Conn., and owned by Arooga’s franchise group McBride Holding Company, LLC, this location is over 7,000 square feet, seats 250 guests and has more than 100 wall-to-wall HD TVs. A portion of the restaurant underwent extensive renovations to create a dedicated space for the PlaySugarHouse sportsbook, which includes multiple kiosks and teller stations facing Arooga’s famous two-story video wall.
“Arooga’s Shelton is a prime example of what we envisioned when we set out to establish our retail footprint in the state — a high-quality sportsbook, in a high-quality sports bar, in a high-traffic location,” said Greg Smith, President & CEO, Connecticut Lottery Corporation. “We’re excited to partner with Arooga’s to provide Connecticut’s Greater Valley with an entertainment destination, and we look forward to growing this partnership with McBride Holding Company and the Shelton Arooga’s team.”
“This is an incredible opportunity for our McBride group franchise partners, as well as the Arooga’s sports bar brand,” said Gary Huether, Arooga’s Grille House & Sports Bar parent company owner and President. “Sports betting blends seamlessly into our award-winning sports bar.”
“We are thrilled to launch this latest RSI powered sportsbook to bring best-in-class retail sports wagering entertainment to the Shelton area,” said Richard Schwartz, RSI’s Chief Executive Officer. “Area residents and visitors can now place in-person bets on their favorite teams while enjoying the hospitality of Arooga’s. This new venue illustrates our commitment to Connecticut to offer innovative experiences at many sportsbooks and venues around the state where players can bet and cash their winning tickets or even fund and cash out their PlaySugarHouse online accounts.”
The recipient of several national accolades, including selection as America’s Next Top Restaurant Franchise, as well as recognition among Entrepreneur Magazine’s Top 500 Franchises 2021, and Top 200 Food Franchises 2020, Franchise Times Top 500 2022, and FranServe Fran-Tastic 500 2021, the Arooga’s restaurant company continues to charm the industry with its commitment to utilizing the latest technology in enhancing the guest experience and improving operational practices, and creating unique and delicious menu items observing environmentally responsible operation methods in their restaurants as part of their certification by the Green Restaurant Association.
About Arooga’s
Arooga’s is an innovative restaurant group that currently offers different models for investment: their traditional sports themed and entertainment focused concept, an urban design with a similar theme and a flexible floorplan with reduced square footage, and their fast casual “Wing Shack.” Arooga’s offers franchising opportunities for their concepts to qualified multi-unit candidates. For more information on available markets in the US and internationally please visit www.aroogasfranchising.net, or contact Keith Swade, Director of Franchise Development at keithswade@aroogas.com.
About the Connecticut Lottery Corporation
The Connecticut Lottery Corporation (CLC) is a quasi-public state agency with the mission to generate revenue for Connecticut consistent with the highest standards of good public policy and social responsibility. In fiscal year 2022, players won more than $1 billion in prize money and retailers earned more than $84 million in commissions. At the same time, the CLC provided $402 million to support the valuable services and programs funded by the state’s General Fund including public health, libraries, public safety, education and more. Since the Lottery began in 1972, its contributions to the General Fund have exceeded $11 billion.
The CLC reminds the public that Lottery purchasers must be 18 or older, and players must be at least 21 to place sports wagers. Help is available for problem gambling. Call 888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org. For information about the CT Lottery, stop by any CT Lottery retailer, visit CTLOTTERY.ORG, join us on Facebook (facebook.com/ctlottery), Instagram (Instagram.com/ctlottery), Twitter (twitter.com/ctlottery), or call (860) 713-2700.
About Rush Street Interactive
RSI is a trusted online gaming and sports entertainment company focused on markets in the United States, Canada and Latin America. Through its brands, BetRivers, PlaySugarHouse and RushBet, RSI was an early entrant in many regulated jurisdictions. It currently offers real-money mobile and online operations in fifteen U.S. states: Pennsylvania, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Connecticut, Michigan, Indiana, Virginia, Maryland, Colorado, Iowa, West Virginia, Arizona and Louisiana, as well as in the regulated international markets of Ontario, Canada, Colombia and Mexico. RSI offers, through its proprietary online gaming platform, some of the most popular online casino games and sports betting options in the United States. Founded in 2012 in Chicago by gaming industry veterans, RSI was named the 2022 EGR North America Awards Operator of the Year, Customer Services Operator of the Year and Social Gaming Operator of the Year, and the 2021 SBC Latinoamérica Awards Sportsbook Operator of the Year. RSI was the first U.S.-based online casino and sports betting operator to receive RG Check iGaming Accreditation from the Responsible Gaming Council. For more information, visit www.rushstreetinteractive.com.
Media Contact:
Tanya Scannelli
Arooga’s Director of Communications
717-635-9464
tanyacaldwell@aroogas.com
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