Gaming technology provider Elys Game Technology has been granted approval by Washington DC local government for a white-label joint venture with the Ozio Lounge, a Mediterranean-themed nightclub.
The business formerly known as Newgioco has agreed to launch a joint venture with District Hospitality, the club’s operator, and will trade under the BetDupont LLC name. The agreement has an initial term of three years from the date the licence is issued – with inbuilt provisions for two anticipated extensions of two years each.
The deal is subject to regulatory approval from the DC Office of Lottery and Gaming (DCOLG) – and would be the third white label retail sportsbook opened by the business in the city, having engaged in similar deals with the Grand Central Restaurant and Sportsbook, which has been completed, and the Cloakroom Gentlemen’s Club, which is awaiting regulatory confirmation.
Elys Executive Chairman Michele Ciavarella placed the deal in the context of the business’s wider US small business strategy.
“While this approval is the first in a two-step process to obtain the license required to operate our sportsbook solution at the Ozio Lounge, we believe the increasing pace of approvals demonstrates our US expansion momentum, as well our ability to operate sportsbooks as an ancillary product for restaurants, bars and other small business establishments in a fully compliant manner.”
Ciavarella said he was “excited” to partner District Hospitality and that the “sportsbook solution will help further establish the Ozio Lounge as a premier destination for both local guests and tourists alike,” he said.
“Our sportsbook solution is not only garnering attention within DC, but we believe that interest is growing rapidly in this sector across the nation. We look forward to announcing additional retail locations in the near future, and to replicating this success in additional markets, including our recently announced expansion into the state of Ohio.”