Flutter Entertainment’s FanDuel Group has launched sports betting at Boyd Gaming properties in Indiana and Iowa as it continues to take advantage of its partnership with the operator.
This has seen FanDuel-branded lounges opened in Indiana’s Blue Chip Casino Hotel and Spa and the Belterra Casino Resort, as well as at two Iowa-based, Diamond Jo-branded casinos.
“Together, Boyd Gaming and FanDuel Group continue to successfully capitalize on the historic opportunity afforded by the legalization and expansion of sports betting in new states across the country,” said Keith Smith, president and chief executive of Boyd Gaming.
FanDuel CEO Matt King added: “Working with Boyd Gaming to open four sportsbooks across Iowa and Indiana in such a short timeframe is an incredible achievement and something our retail team is proud of.
“Boyd Gaming continues to be a key partner as we further expand our offerings nationwide by bringing FanDuel’s first-class sports betting experience to the Midwest.”
The operator has partnered Boyd to launch sports betting in all states in which it operates casinos, outside of Nevada. The deal has already has already seen FanDuel roll out a retail and mobile sportsbook for the Valley Forge Casino Resort in Pennsylvania.
“The FanDuel sportsbook is off to a great start in Pennsylvania, contributing to solid growth in visitation and profitability at our Valley Forge Casino Resort near Philadelphia,” Smith said of the operation.
“We are confident our partners at FanDuel will deliver excellent results in Iowa and Indiana as well, further expanding Boyd Gaming’s customer base and enhancing our long-term competitive appeal.”
Indiana’s sportsbook market launched on 1 September after governor Eric Holcomb signed the necessary legislation in May, while sports betting in Iowa launched on 18 August.
With the sportsbooks all opening close to the start of the NFL season, ceremonial first bets at all four casinos wer eplaced by former NFL players: former Chicago Bears player Brian Urlacher at Blue Chip; former Green Bay Packers player Antonio Freeman at Diamond Jo Dubuque; former Minnesota Vikings player John Randle at Diamond Jo Worth, and former Cincinatti Bengals quarterback Ken Anderson at Belterra Resort.