Daily fantasy sports operator DraftKings has inked a sports betting partnership with Atlantic City’s Resorts Casino Hotel.
Friday brought news that DraftKings had tied up with Resorts Casino on a “web-based and mobile” sports betting product, although DraftKings has yet to identify who will provide its sportsbook platform, as the company has to date only offered DFS products to its customers. The announcement didn’t specify when the new sports product will arrive, saying only that it will launch before the new NFL season kicks off in September.
And while DraftKings has established a New Jersey office, it has yet to receive a gaming license in New Jersey. This hasn’t stopped the company from buying billboards in the Garden State proclaiming that the “Draftkings sportsbook is coming.”
DraftKings CE) Jason Robins told the Associated Press that his company’s sportsbook product would be “ready to go” the minute state regulators flash him the thumbs up. The state is expected to approve new sports betting legislation as early as June 7, with sports betting expected to commence within a heartbeat of Gov. Phil Murphy signing the legislation into law.
Resorts owner Morris Bailey called DraftKings a “dynamic brand” and said he would welcome however big a slice of the ‘huge” sports betting market that the pairing can capture.
DraftKings’ archrival FanDuel recently announced a deal to merge with the US-facing operations of UK-listed bookmaker Paddy Power Betfair, which already operates a Betfair-branded New Jersey online casino and a national online horseracing wagering product, TVG.
AC’s casinos have been scrambling to get their sports betting ducks in a row in the anticipation of adding this new revenue stream to their mix. The new Ocean Resort Casino has partnered with William Hill US, which will also power the sportsbook at New Jersey’s Monmouth Park racetrack.
MGM Resorts’ Borgata property has temporarily rebranded its race book as The Race & Sports Book until work on its permanent betting area is completed. Churchill Downs Inc recently announced a deal with AC’s Golden Nugget casino for online gambling and sports betting opportunities.
Resorts already has an online gambling partnership with PokerStars, the flagship brand of The Stars Group (TSG), which has any number of sportsbook platforms on hand that might have filled Resorts’ need. It’s unclear whether TSG made any kind of push to convince Resorts that it could serve double-duty.
