This week’s State of the Union, in partnership with Segev LLP, covers William Hill’s partnership with Monumental sports to operate a sportsbook at its venues, the launch of mobile sports betting in Indiana and the results of Indiana’s public consultation period on sports betting.
William Hill sets US-first with Monumental Sports & Entertainment deal
The William Hill US division and Monumental Sports & Entertainment have announced details of a new partnership that will see the first sportsbook open inside a professional sports venue in the US.
Subject to regulatory approvals, a new William Hill sportsbook will open at the Capital One Arena in Washington D.C., a venue owned by Monumental Sports & Entertainment and is home to Monumental’s Washington Wizards NBA team, Washington Capitals NHL franchise and Washington Mystics WNBA outfit.
The sportsbook would feature premium sports betting facilities, span multiple floors and remain open daily, including on game days and both event and non-event days at the arena. Fans will also be able to bet on the William Hill mobile app while inside the arena.
BetRivers.com launches as first online sportsbook in Indiana
Rush Street Interactive and the French Lick Casino Resort have launched the first legal online sportsbook in Indiana.
BetRivers.com will be available both online and mobile from today (3 October), with users able to place wagers on a wide range of sporting events.
Players can register and bet instantly online or mobile, as Indiana sports betting regulations do not require in-person registration at a casino. Subject to approval by the Indiana Gaming Commission, players will receive a match bonus up to $250 on their first deposit.
Operators call for compliance “grace period” in Illinois
Industry stakeholders have suggested policies such as a pre-registration process, a 270-day “grace period” to comply with regulations and licensing reciprocity between jurisdictions as part of Illinois’ public consultation period on legal sports wagering.
Some stakeholders and members of the public also used the consultation period to criticize Churchill Downs Incorporated for its decision not to operate a racino at Arlington racetrack in the state, where it will instead only take sports wagers.
The public consultation process ran from 27 August to 27 September and included input from operators including William Hill, MGM and Rivers Casino, as well as other stakeholders and members of the public.
Newgioco enters D.C. sports betting market with Handle 19
Betting technology supplier Newgioco is to enter the Washington, D.C. sports betting market through a new partnership with Handle19, a sports bar chain planned by entrepreneur Shane August’s August Holding Corp.
Under the agreement, Newgioco will supply Handle19 with its ELYS platform to power online and land-based sports betting in D.C.
According to the Washington Business Journal, Handle19 will apply for a Class B license when the D.C. Lottery opens the licensing process.
WV sports betting revenue continues to climb in September
West Virginia’s sports betting market experienced further growth in four weeks to September 28, as licensed operators reported combined revenue of $3.8m for the period.
Punters wagered a total of $25.6m on sports during the four weeks, which coincided with the start of the National Football League season on September 5, winning $21.4m in total.
Penn National Gaming’s Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, which runs its sportsbook in partnership with DraftKings, remains the market leader in West Virginia by some margin, posting $2.6m in revenue from a handle of $17.9m.
Pennsylvania VGTs make $226,743 in first six weeks
Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI) has agreed a deal to acquire Turfway Park in Kentucky from Jack Ohio LLC, an affiliate of Jack Entertainment LLC and Hard Rock International, for total consideration of $46m.
The agreement is subject to approval by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC), which will meet on October 8 to discuss the proposal. Should the KHRC give the go-ahead, the deal is expected to close shortly after the hearing.
CDI said that immediately after it finalises the acquisition, it will proceed with plans to demolish the existing grandstand to make way for a new Turfway Park Racing & Gaming facility.
Pennsylvania’s Parx Casino opens online sportsbook in NJ
Parx Casino, the Pennsylvania-based property owned by Greenwood Gaming & Entertainment, has launched its online sportsbook in the neighbouring New Jersey market.
Operating in partnership with GAN and Kambi, the Parx sports betting offering is now accessible to players in the Garden State, its second market after the operator’s native Pennsylvania.
The sportsbook underwent a three-day soft period last week before being approved to launch around the clock. Parx Casino patrons can also link their Reward Card online to their counterpart internet gambling account.