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Sports betting is spreading into Iowa further as both Eldorado Resorts and William Hill US have stated that they plan to launch sports betting in the two casinos. The launch is slated for next month and will be done via the strategic partnership agreement between the two operators.
The plan is for William Hill US to oversee the sportsbooks that are to be opened in Isle Casino Hotel Bettendorf and Isle Casino Hotel Waterloo. These two casinos are operated by Eldorado. Regulatory approval for the two sportsbooks is expected in August and patrons at these two locations will gain full access to everything including the mobile app, betting kiosks and the In-Play wagering menu.
This partnership agreement between William Hill US and Eldorado was signed last year. According to the agreement, William Hill has the sole right to operate sports betting in all properties owned or managed by Eldorado in the United States. William Hill also get the right to offer mobile sports betting in states where Eldorado obtains a license.
In a statement, Anthony Carano, president of the Eldorado, said
Expanding the William Hill relationship to include Iowa offers our loyal customers a full complement of gaming action and plays an important role in providing guests the unbelievable experience.
Thanks to this deal, William Hill now operates in seven US states: Nevada, New Jersey, Mississippi, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Rhode Island. Moving into Iowa will add another feather to company’s cap and offer sports fans in Iowa a great new opportunity to enjoy their favourite games with some added wagering.
Further Expansion Possible
Iowa is not the only place where William Hill is benefiting from this partnership. One of the reasons why William Hill agreed to this partnership was because it would give the company’s U.S. arm access to Caesars Entertainment casinos. This merger between Caesars and Eldorado which was confirmed in June 2019 will create the world’s largest gaming company with over 60 properties spread across the country. The merge is expected to receive full approval by 2020.
Caesars has its own sportsbooks operating in Nevada, New Jersey and Mississippi. The company has also signed a partnership agreement with Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) provider DraftKings who will provide online games and mobile sports betting. So far, there has been no information as to how the DraftKings deal will be impacted by the Eldorado merger.
