Two new deals
International Game Technology (IGT) is expanding its presence in the Colorado sports betting market, while PointsBet has gained market access in Arizona.
IGT announced on Monday the signing of a multi-year deal with the Ute Mountain Casino Hotel. This will see IGT supply its PlaySports platform, self-service PlaySports kiosks, and turnkey services to the casino.
The PointsBet subsidiary PointsBet Arizona has entered an exclusive deal with the Yavapai-Apache Nation-owned Cliff Castle Casino Hotel, providing the operator with access to the sports betting market in Arizona for ten years.
IGT expanding its presence in Colorado
IGT has been making plenty of moves in recent times to expand its reach in the US sports betting space. The deal in Colorado comes just a few days after it announced a market access deal with the Snoqualmie Casino in Washington. IGT now powers the sportsbooks at over 40 gaming outlets in the country through PlaySports.
IGT is honored to help Ute Mountain Casino grow”
Speaking about the Colorado agreement, IGT PlayDigital senior vice president Enrico Drago said: “IGT is honored to help Ute Mountain Casino grow its PlaySports-powered sports betting enterprise from the ground up.”
He spoke about how the IGT team will help the casino to create “compelling offers and promotions” that will drive growth and build a strong level of loyalty. He also referred to how PlaySports has been processing wagers in Colorado since the sector launched last May.
Ute Mountain Casino general manager Rick Scheer spoke about the big plans the property has for its sportsbook that is set to open at the end of August. He outlined how IGT has been a trusted partner for a long time and the operator looks forward to “expand our relationship and differentiate our casino with the introduction of sports betting and personalized betting offers.”
PointsBet establishing itself in Arizona
With PointsBets’ ten-year deal in Arizona, both the operator and the tribe will be seeking a “first skin” license to launch an online sportsbook in the state. Sportsbooks are hoping to go live for the first time in Arizona on September 9, in time for the beginning of the NFL season. Up to 20 sports betting licenses are up for grabs in the state.
Following the signing of this partnership, PointsBet US CEO Johnny Aitken said that the operator looks forward to introducing sports fans and bettors to “the competitive advantages PointsBet possesses in owning our technology end-to-end, such as market-leading ease of use and the deepest slate of betting options available in the world.”
As part of this agreement, the Yavapai-Apache Nation will get a market access fee from PointsBet, as well as a cut of the online sportsbook’s net gaming revenue. The two parties will also have a deal in place that will see the creation of a retail sportsbook at the Cliff Castle Casino Hotel. The Yavapai-Apache Nation will operate the PointsBet-branded retail sportsbook. Finally, PointsBet will make an annual donation to the tribe’s public interest fund that will help young people.
PointsBet already has online sportsbooks up and running in several states, including Colorado, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, and New Jersey. Last month, it signed a ten-year market access deal in anticipation of the launch of legal sports betting in Maryland.