New Jersey’s online gamblers have yet another option following the launch of Churchill Downs Inc’s new BetAmerica online sportsbook and casino.
On Thursday, Churchill Downs (CDI) announced the launch of BetAmerica.com, CDI’s new online real-money sports betting and online casino platform in New Jersey. BetAmerica piggybacks on the online gambling license of Atlantic City casino operator Golden Nugget (which also hosts Betfair and PlaySugarHouse).
The Kentucky-based CDI launched its BetAmerica brand last August at its two Mississippi casinos, but that state permits only land-based wagering. The Mississippi wagering operations are powered by SBTech, following a deal the two companies struck last May.
CDI CEO Bill Carstanjen said his company hopes to “exceed our [New Jersey] customers’ expectations” by drawing on the company’s long experience running its highly successful advance deposit wagering site TwinSpires.com. In CDI’s Q3 earnings report, TwinSpires booked revenue of $72m compared to just $41m generated via land-based race betting.
BetAmerica’s online casino features games by a pantheon of well-known suppliers, including IGT, NetEnt, Spin Games, Everi, Konami and others. In addition to pre-game and live sports betting (in decimal or fractional odds), the site also offers a racebook and freeplay contests.
CDI definitely took the long road to Thursday’s BetAmerica’s launch. In 2014, the company sued a longtime Atlantic City casino exec following a failed deal that would have made CDI the now-shuttered Showboat casino’s ‘exclusive online vendor’ in New Jersey’s regulated online market. Undaunted, CDI said later that year it intended to become “a significant player” in the non-racing online gambling sector.
CDI is also pursuing online opportunities in neighboring Pennsylvania via CDI’s purchase last March of the Presque Isle Downs & Casino. Carstanjen noted at the time that the deal would allow CDI to pursue a Pennsylvania online license. This week, Pennsylvania regulators cleared the Presque Isle venue to commence testing of its land-based sports betting operations, but the online offering will have to wait a little longer.
