The timing may not be ideal, but Penn Entertainment’s ESPN BET sportsbook on Monday gained unanimous approval from the New York State Gaming Commission to open for business in the state.

ESPN Chief Strategy and Legal Officer at Penn Entertainment Chris Rogers told the board just before the vote that the sportsbook has “a couple of boxes to check” on the technology side, but that the website and app could go live “in a matter of several days, perhaps with a soft launch later this week.”

Sportsbooks tend to experience higher volumes at the start of the college and pro football seasons in early September, so opening for business just ahead of Week 4 in the NFL puts ESPN BET at a disadvantage compared to its established rivals.

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