William Hill US is partnering with Iowa’s Prairie Meadows Racetrack & Casino, in anticipation of the legalization of sports betting in the state.
HF2448, filed during the state’s last General Assembly, would have allowed licensees to operate sportsbooks, provided the Supreme Court repeal the federal ban on sports betting. Although the Supreme Court did just that, the bill, which would have imposed as much as a 22% tax on adjusted gross receipts over $3 million, failed to pass.
In a press release, Prairie Meadows announced that it has made William Hill its official sportsbook operator, even as a new sports wagering bill has still to be filed for the present General Assembly.
William Hill CEO Joe Asher said, “We are building a first-class sports book that will make Prairie Meadows the best place to bet and watch the games.”
Upon passage of the desired legislation, and approval from the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission, William Hill will be operating its sportsbook on the Prairie Meadows casino’s fourth level, covering 8,600 square feet and right by the property’s racing area. A new bar will be opened that will have state-of-the-art video wall technology for the viewing of sporting events and providing odds data for live betting.
Prairie Meadows Senior Vice-President and Chief Strategic Officer Brad Rhines said, “We are excited to expand our resort offerings with a fully renovated Clubhouse that includes both our racing center and new William Hill sports book. Once the legislative process is complete, this innovative partnership will provide many fun and unique sports betting options for our guests.”
The agreement is the latest inked by William Hill in its expansion of sports betting operations in the U.S. Last September, it partnered with Nevada-based Eldorado Resorts, which also has facilities in Iowa, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.
Just last week, it was announced that William Hill had settled a lawsuit against FanDuel, who had allegedly used William Hill’s guide for sports betting, lifting passages from it verbatim, even neglecting to omit the name “William Hill” when posting the guide on the FanDuel website.
