PointsBet Sets Online Casino Deal in New Jersey, Lands Indiana Pacers Partnership

Posted on: August 5, 2020, 09:42h. 

Last updated on: August 6, 2020, 09:54h.

Steve Bittenbender Read More

Expertise: Legislation, Sports Betting, Horse Racing.

Australian-based gaming company PointsBet has been busy making announcements for its American-based operations. On Thursday, it said its New Jersey subsidiary reached a 10-year agreement with Twin River Management Group to serve as an iGaming skin in New Jersey.

The deal, however, is contingent on Twin River completing the purchase of Bally’s Atlantic City Hotel and Casino and getting the appropriate state approvals.

Per terms of the deal, Twin River will receive an unspecified share of PointsBet’s online casino gaming revenues generated in the state.

Patrick Eichner, PointsBet’s communications director, told Casino.org that the sportsbook will remain with the Meadowlands, but both will be available under the same app.

For now, PointsBet said it expects to launch its online casino product first in Michigan, with a New Jersey launch expected sometime in the first half of 2021.

Setting the Pace in Indiana

The iGaming deal comes one day after PointsBet announced a multi-year contract with the Indiana Pacers to be an official gaming partner of the NBA franchise.

The Pacers deal will give the sports betting app some major league exposure. The PointsBet logo will be displayed on the court at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, between the baseline and the team benches. It’s the first time a sports betting operator will have that kind of exposure on an NBA court.

PointsBet signage will also be on display elsewhere in the arena, and the gaming company will also have a presence on the Pacers online platforms.

Indiana represents a massive opportunity for PointsBet, and we will take a heavily localized approach to ensure we are delivering the best overall customer experience Indiana sports fans and bettors are seeking,” PointsBet USA CEO Johnny Aitken said in a statement.

PointsBet has been active in Indiana since March. Acting as a skin for Hollywood Casino and Hotel Lawrenceburg, the app’s handle of $520,376 in June ranked sixth of the seven mobile apps in the state.

To boost its profile in Indiana and to celebrate its partnership with the Pacers, PointsBet is offering a “Crowd Booster” for Saturday’s Pacers game against the Los Angeles Lakers. Similar to FanDuel’s “Spread the Love” promotion, PointsBet will increase the spread by a point for every 100 bettors who jump on the Pacers at even-money odds.

The spread started at +7 and is currently at +14. The maximum bet is $25.

Illinois Sportsbook Coming Soon

Last week, the Illinois Gaming Board granted Hawthorne Race Course, PointsBet’s partner in the state, a four-year master sports wagering license. That came a couple of weeks after PointsBet received its temporary operator permit from the state.

On Tuesday, in conjunction with the Pacers announcement, PointsBet said it will offer retail sportsbooks at three Hawthorne off-track betting parlors. Prospect Heights will give the company coverage in Chicago’s northern suburbs, Oakbrook Terrance is located in Chicago’s western suburbs, and Crestwood will draw customers from Chicagoland’s southern communities.

Those three OTB are in addition to the sportsbook that will be located at Hawthorne in Cicero, just minutes from downtown Chicago.

PointsBet said the retail sportsbook locations will help them attract customers in the coveted Chicago market, as Illinois requires an in-person appearance for mobile registration until it awards a mobile-only master license, a move that won’t happen for at least 16 months.

PointsBet expects to launch in Illinois by the end of the month.