International Game Technology (IGT) is set to expand its US retail sports betting network into North Dakota after striking a new deal with the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians.
Under the agreement, IGT will provide its PlaySports sports betting solution to the tribal organization’s Grand Treasure Casino in Trenton and Sky Dancer Casino and Resort in Belcourt.
Both casinos will also leverage IGT’s self-service kiosks and trading services, enabling them to offer sports wagering to customers for the first time.
“By leveraging IGT’s proven PlaySports solution, Turtle Mountain will launch an exciting sports betting operation at Grand Treasure and Sky Dancer casinos backed by best-in-class technology, services, and flexible self-service products,” Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians chairman Jamie Azure said.
“The addition of sports betting will expand our casino entertainment and offer our loyal patrons and sports fans alike new ways to play.”
IGT PlayDigital’s senior vice president Enrico Drago added: “Entering North Dakota is another significant milestone to add to IGT’s growing sports betting pedigree and reinforces our leadership as the principal B2B platform provider in the US.”
Sports wagering in North Dakota is currently limited to tribal casinos, with legislation to expand this to commercial casinos, or online, yet to pass.
Last year, a bill to legalize land-based sports betting across the state failed to pass the Senate.
North Dakota will become the fifteenth US state in which IGT has rolled out its sports betting solutions.
Its technology has already been deployed in Nevada, Illinois, Colorado, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Arkansas, Oregon, Indiana, Iowa, West Virginia, Mississippi and Rhode Island.
The deal comes after IGT last month reported a 48.4% year-on-year decline in revenue for the second quarter, while it also posted a net loss of $279.6m, both due to the impact of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
Revenue for the three months to 30 June fell to $637.5m, comprising $560.3m in service revenue, while product sales were down 69.7% at $77.2m.