Australian sports betting operator PointsBet has agreed a new deal to provide its sportsbook services to Catfish Bend Casino in Burlington, Iowa, despite the state yet to finalise plans to legalise sports wagering.
The partnership will include retail and mobile sportsbook operations, subject to both PointsBet and Catfish Bend Casino securing the relevant licences in Iowa.
The retail service will operate out of a sports bar at the casino, featuring multi-screen video and an odds display wall, as well as additional casino gaming.
Gary Hoyer, CEO of Great River Entertainment, the parent company of Catfish Bend Casino, said: “The potential legalisation of sports betting in Iowa opens an exciting new opportunity for recreational and avid players, and PointsBet’s unmatched dedication to bettors makes them the ideal partner for our brand and go-to-market plan.”
Johnny Aitken, CEO of PointsBet in the US, added: “Catfish Bend Casino’s executives – Gary Hoyer and Rob Higgins – are two of the most progressive and forward-thinking operators in the industry.
“We knew they were the perfect match for PointsBet’s long-term vision of gaming in the US from day one.”
PointsBet has been active in the legal US sports betting sector since January of this year, when it rolled out its services in the regulated New Jersey market in partnership with Meadowlands Racetrack.
A bill that aims to legalise sports betting in Iowa is currently with Governor Kim Reynolds, whose signature would bring the legislation into law. Senate File 617, which last week passed the state’s House of Representatives by a vote of 67-31, is seeking to permit in-person, online and mobile sports wagering.
It sets a 6.75% net revenue tax for operators, as well as a licence fee of $45,000 (£34,767/€40,308).
Image: Tony Webster