This week’s State of the Union, in partnership with Segev LLP, covers William Hill’s acquisition of sportsbook solutions provider CG Technology and the latest sports betting revenue figures from Washington DC. Also featured is PointsBet’s deal to become an official sports betting partner of NBC Universal and NBA legend Michael Jordan’s investment in DraftKings.
William Hill US finalizes CG Technology acquisition
William Hill US has finalized its acquisition of sportsbook solutions provider CG Technology, after the deal was approved by Nevada regulators.
This allows the operator to take charge of sports betting at four additional venues on the Las Vegas Strip.
Its sportsbooks are now open at The Venetian, The Palazzo, The Cosmopolitan and Silverton, with self-service kiosks, an expanded betting menu including in-play wagering live for retail and via a mobile app.
DC sports betting revenue reaches $142,279 in July
The DC Lottery has revealed that sports wagering revenue in Washington D.C in July amounted to $142,279, after handle for the month rose to $741,450.
The revenue figure was the highest monthly amount since the state opened its legal sports betting market in May this year, with the July total representing a 284.8% rise on the $36,985 recorded in June.
Player spending was also up 231.4% from $186,745 in June, while consumers won a total of $599,220, compared to $186,744 in the previous month.
PointsBet pens NBC Sports deal, plans AU$300m capital raise
PointsBet has agreed a deal to become the official sports betting partner of NBC Sports, while the operator has also set out plans to raise an additional Aus$300m (£165.1m/€184.4m/US$219.3m) in capital.
The five-year agreement with NBC Sports, under which PointsBet committed to a US$393m marketing spend, the operator will be incorporated in multi-platform gameday integrations across the eight NBC Sports Regional Networks in the US.
PointsBet will also become an official partner of the NBC Sports Predictor and integrate its content throughout the app, expanding the range of games on offer to users.
Boyd Gaming and FanDuel launch sports betting in Illinois
US casino operator Boyd Gaming has expanded its partnership with FanDuel Group to launch a new online, mobile and retail sports betting offering in the state of Illinois.
The FanDuel Par-A-Dice Sportsbook online mobile platform will enable players in the state to place bets on sports such as football, basketball, baseball and ice hockey.
Flutter Entertainment-owned FanDuel will also operate a retail sportsbook at Boyd’s Par-A-Dice Casino in East Peoria, Illinois, pending the regulatory approval of land-based wagering in the state.
Michael Jordan takes equity interest in DraftKings
Basketball icon Michael Jordan is to take an equity interest in DraftKings, in exchange for becoming a special advisor to the operator’s board of directors.
In his new role, Jordan will provide guidance and strategic advice to DraftKings’ board on key business initiatives such as company strategy, product development, diversity, equity and belonging, and marketing.
Skillz to go public on NYSE through SPAC
Mobile gaming platform Skillz Inc will go public on the New York Stock Exchange through a merger with special purpose acquisition company Flying Eagle Acquisition Corp.
Skillz, which offers multiplayer skill-based mobile games such as Solitaire Cube, 21 Blitz and Dominoes Gold, will trade on the exchange when the deal closes in Fall 2020.
RI sports betting revenue rises in July
The Rhode Island Lottery saw sports betting revenue grow in July, as the state’s market continued to recover from the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) shutdown.
Revenue amounted to $351,425, which represented a 246.8% rise on $101,328 in June, but also a 57.5% drop on $821,579 reported in July last year.
FanDuel becomes official PGA Tour betting operator
US-based fantasy and sports betting operator FanDuel has signed a multi-year content and marketing agreement with the PGA Tour, with a view to expanding upon the increased betting momentum on professional golf markets seen in 2020.
Golf represented the highest single event handle on FanDuel Sportsbook on nine of the last 12 Sundays, with the operator’s total golf handle for 2020 already surpassing amounts wagered on the sport in 2019.
Churchill Downs shifts online offering to Kambi and GAN
Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI) has announced that it will migrate its BetAmerica-branded sports betting and igaming business to Kambi and GAN’s software.
The deal will see GAN provide its enterprise software platform and player account management solution to CDI, supported by Kambi’s sports betting technology and related services such as trading and risk management.
Evolution to power live casino for BetMGM in US
BetMGM, the betting brand operated via the GVC Holdings and MGM Resorts joint venture, has selected Evolution Gaming to power its live casino games in the US.
The agreement will initially see the operator launch a range of live table and game show-style games through its primary BetMGM brand, as well as sister sites Borgata Online and Party Casino.
Evolution will broadcast the games from its live casino studio in New Jersey, with the deal to cover all states where BetMGM’s online casino is active.
PrizePicks signs marketing deal with MLB’s Atlanta Braves
Atlanta, Georgia-based fantasy sports operator, PrizePicks has sealed a new partnership with local Major League Baseball (MLB) team, Atlanta Braves, for the remainder of the 2020 season.
Having secured a similar marketing deal with Miami Marlins earlier in the season, the operator hopes to expand its footprint across the south-eastern states.
theScore launches Colorado sportsbook
Sports betting and media business theScore has launched its sportsbook in Colorado, the second state in which it will take bets after New Jersey.
Having been given the green light for the roll-out by the Colorado Division of Gaming early in August, the operator’s Score Digital Sports Ventures has launched its mobile wagering app for iOS and Android devices in the state.
Covid-19 closures push revenue down at BCLC in FY19-20
Canadian provincial lottery operator the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) said measures implemented during the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic led to a decline in revenue for its 2019-20 fiscal year.
Revenue amounted to CAN$2.53bn (£1.45bn/€1.62bn/US$1.95bn), which was 2.3% down from 2018-19, and below BCLC’s $2.64bn projection for the 12 months to 31 March, 2020.
Wynn extends SG Digital partnership into Indiana and Colorado
Casino giant Wynn Resorts will look to build on July’s launch of a Scientific Games-powered sports betting and igaming offering in New Jersey by extending the partnership into Colorado and Indiana.
This extension will Wynn deploy SG Digital’s OpenSports enterprise solution for online sports wagering in each state, supported by the OpenPlatform player account management platform.
CDI reopens Calder Casino in Florida
Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI) has announced the reopening of its Calder Casino property in Miami, Florida, after more than five months closed due to the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
The site resumed operations on August 31, having been closed since mid-March, in line with state-wide measures to slow the spread of Covid-19.
Bet.Works and Elite launch SSBTs in Colorado
US sports betting technology provider Bet.Works has launched branded self-service betting terminals at the Red Dolly Casino in Blackhawk, Colorado with its partner Elite Casino Resorts.
The terminals are certified by Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) and were designed and built in Colorado by self-service technology provider Kiosk Information Systems.
Former Valley Forge owner Lubert wins PA license auction
Ira Lubert, who formerly owned the Valley Forge Casino Resort, has won an auction for a Category 4 slots license in Pennsylvania with a bid of slightly more than $10m.
The license would give Lubert permission to operate between 300 and 750 slot machines.
PointsBet launches AU$303m fundraising drive
Online gambling operator PointsBet has set out details of a new capital raising, through which it hopes to generate AU$303m (£166.5m/€187.6m/US222.5m) in additional funds.
Announced last week, the new raising will be split into two parts – an entitlement offer and placement – with both set to take place within the next week.