Digital Wager Wire highlights the most important events impacting the domestic and international sports betting and gaming industry landscape each Wednesday and Sunday.
Hard Rock Chief Opens Door to Online Partners in Florida
Florida is home to one of the most populous online sports betting markets, but only the Seminoles Hard Rock Bet is allowed to operate due to its gaming compact with the state. The legality of that monopoly has been tested in a court of law and through campaign initiatives by several entities, including online sports betting leaders, FanDuel, and DraftKings, none of which have prevailed.
However, Hard Rock International Chairman and Seminole Gaming CEO Jim Allen recently attended the Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada, and was asked about the company’s relationship with the industry’s dynamic duo.
“I would say whether it’s FanDuel or whether it’s DraftKings, we’ve actually developed a great relationship with them,” Allen said.
“We do recognize that long-term, some type of strategic relationship with some of the brands that really have marquee value could be helpful to both of us, and we are receptive to those conversations,” he added.
This would be a stark departure from the adversarial relationship the Seminoles previously had with the digital sports betting tandem that has subsequently forsaken their aggressive posture for a more genteel approach with the gaming tribes in Florida and California.
Amy Howe, FanDuel’s CEO, spoke about cooperating with tribal nations at the Indian Gaming Tradeshow & Convention in Anaheim, California, earlier this month.
“I think if we can work together and figure out a structure that goes through the tribes but also takes full advantage of what we’ve built over not just six years of being an operator of online sports betting in the US but we’re also backed by the largest global gaming company, there’s something really powerful that we can do together,” she said.
Horseshoe Casino Brand Goes Live in Michigan
Caesars Entertainment has launched its iconic Horseshoe Online Casino in Michigan, bringing the total to 16 iGaming sites in the Wolverine State, and it is now available on iOS, Android, and desktop.
“The Horseshoe brand is anchored by a promise to put the player first,” said Matt Sunderland, Senior Vice President and Chief iGaming Officer at Caesars Digital. “A brand with such a storied past deserves an online equivalent that pays respect to the legacy it has established in gaming, and that is what we’ve created with Horseshoe Online Casino.
“This launch reinforces our multi-brand online casino strategy by seamlessly bringing another one of our world-class Caesars’ brands into the palms of players’ hands.”
Caesars already has a significant presence in Michigan’s online casino gaming industry with its Caesars Sportsbook & Casino, Caesars Palace Online Casino, Tropicana Online Casino, Harrah’s Online Casino, and WSOP.COM.
“This launch reinforces our multi-brand online casino strategy by seamlessly bringing another one of our world-class Caesars’ brands into the palms of players’ hands,” said Sunderland. “A brand with such a storied past deserves an online equivalent that pays respect to the legacy it has established in gaming, and that is what we’ve created with Horseshoe Online Casino.”
