Bally’s Acquires Iowa Sportsbook Presence

Bally’s Corporation has signed a partnership deal to provide mobile sports betting licensed by Elite’s Grand Falls Casino and Golf Resort in Iowa.

Bally’s is acquiring sportsbook platform Bet.Works for $125 million, which provides omnichannel products, platforms, software and content solutions to operators in multiple states, including Iowa.

Once the acquisitions are completed, Bally’s will offer gaming in 11 states. The company is in the process of acquiring four casinos in three states and will eventually have 14 properties in 10 states. Iowa, however, is the first state where Bally’s does not have a brick-and-mortar casino and its presence is totally online.

Bally’s officials said that the company prefers to enter a jurisdiction through an owned casino property, but with the sports betting market growing quickly the online approach is a good move by the company.

George Papanier, President and Chief Executive Officer of Bally’s Corporation said: “We are delighted to partner with Elite Casino Resorts in Iowa. We currently operate sportsbooks in Rhode Island, Colorado, Delaware, Mississippi, and soon will be in Atlantic City, said George Papanier, president and CEO of Bally’s. “Entering the Iowa gaming market with our new, integrated sports betting and iGaming company is very exciting and we look forward to the launch in 2021.”

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