Caesars Entertainment has partnered with Massachusetts’ Raynham Park to open a retail sports betting facility there, pending approvals, after the racing centre ended its ties with Bet 365.
Caesars will operate a 30,000-square-foot retail location at a 13-acre site, with construction set to be completed during H2 2023.
The 60,000-square-foot entertainment complex at the former greyhound racecourse, located just south of Boston, will also feature two restaurants, bars and private event space.
The Caesars announcement comes two months after a partnership between Bet 365 and Raynham Park was announced. However, a spokesperson for the facility told iGB North America that Bet 365 and Raynham Park are no longer partners and that its online license remains available.
Caesars still requires regulatory approval by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) for the project, although it has already been found preliminarily suitable for a licence to offer in-person and mobile betting in the state.
It plans to operate at a small temporary venue until the retail complex is completed.
“Raynham Park is in an excellent location in southeast Massachusetts and will be one of just a few retail sports betting locations in the Commonwealth,” said Eric Hession, president of Caesars Digital. “It’s great to partner with the Carney family, which has a long history in the community and an exciting vision for a tremendous sports entertainment and pari-mutuel simulcasting facility.”
“We look forward to showcasing the Caesars commitment to world-class experiences through this partnership.”
In addition to in-person sports wagering and horse racing simulcast wagering at Raynham Park, Caesars Sportsbook plans to launch on desktop and be available for download on iOS and Android devices.
Caesars Sportsbook will be available to eligible Massachusetts sports fans when mobile sports betting goes live later this year, since it has already been approved for a temporary mobile sports betting license by the MGC.
The Caesars Racebook app also recently launched for Massachusetts customers, offering a horse racing wagering menu and livestreaming from racetracks around the world.
“Caesars Sportsbook is the strongest retail sports gaming brand in the industry and we are extremely proud to announce our partnership,” said Raynham Park owner Chris Carney. “Our sportsbook will be one of the largest sports gaming destinations not only in Massachusetts, but in the US.”
“With Caesars’ legendary commitment to quality and integrity, Raynham Park will be a world-class venue that will set a new standard for gaming in Massachusetts.”
Originally founded as a greyhound racetrack in 1940, Raynham Park was one of the top-grossing racetracks in America for decades, setting an annual betting handle record of $240m in 1989. Since losing greyhound racing in 2009, the facility has remained open as a simulcast-only betting parlour with 100-plus employees and an annual betting handle of approximately $20m.
In November 2022, Bet 365 announced plans to operate under a Category 3 online gaming licence through a partnership with Raynham Park.
The MGC has set a goal of launching retail sports wagering at the three casinos in the state that eligible for Category 1 sports wagering licences by January.