Top 10 states to open new sportsbooks
Here we take a look at the 10 U.S. states that have recently launched new sportsbooks.
10. Nevada
During the first weekend in June, Circa Sports launched at Golden Gate Hotel & Casino in Downtown Las Vegas.
Las Vegas casino owner and developer Derek Stevens celebrated the opening of the sportsbook with a $1.5 million pro football contest and a ceremonial first bet to go along with the mobile app.
"The bell has rung, and we are thrilled to be taking bets of all kinds with Circa Sports," said Stevens. "We intend to bring that old-school Las Vegas vibe to the floor, so there was no better place to bring this to life than in Las Vegas' most historic hotel, Golden Gate."
Just two weeks later on 19 June, Circa Sports introduced a satellite program at The D Las Vegas and announced plans for the stadium-style sportsbook at Circa Resort & Casino when the resort is completed in late 2020.
The new Circa Resort & Casino will have 777 rooms and suites with the longest outdoor bar on Fremont Street Experience. It will feature a two-level casino with a spa and several restaurants. With construction already well underway, the 1.25-million-square-foot property will have the tallest tower north of The Strip.
#ICYMI The first @CircaSports debuted at our sister property @GoldenGateVegas.@DerekJStevens, @COOtheD, @MikePalmCirca, & @MMpact partook in the ribbon-cutting ceremony, captured by sports networks, news channels, etc.
— the D Casino Hotel (@theDlasvegas) June 3, 2019
Next up: #theD.
June 19th – Mark those calendars, #Vegas. pic.twitter.com/2eRBwrKVNX
9. Arkansas
On 1 July, Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort became the first casino in Arkansas to offer sports wagering.
The remodeled Race & Sportsbook features tellers, kiosks and is open seven days a week. The sportsbook offers in-game wagering, proposition bets, parlays and futures.
“We’re excited to now be offering sports wagering,” General Manager Wayne Smith said. “It’s a new level of entertainment for our guests.”
Oaklawn GM Wayne Smith places the first sports wager in AR, betting $5 that the Dallas Cowboys will beat the NY Giants in the season opener Sept. 8.
— Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort (@OaklawnRacing) July 1, 2019
Hours of Operation: 10 am - 10 pm for teller wagering.
Sports wagering kiosks are available from open to close of the casino. pic.twitter.com/EgTxv2JDzc
8. Mississippi
The $7 million Moneyline Book, Bar & Grill opened on 23 July at Gold Strike Casino Resort in Robinsonville, Mississippi. The new sports betting venue in Mississippi features over 60 screens with a video wall, expansive bar, VIP lounge and Mid-South’s first Topgolf Swing Suite.
More than a sportsbook, Moneyline offers a diverse menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
“Last August, Gold Strike and MGM Resorts were the first to launch legalized sports betting in Mississippi, ushering in a new era of sports entertainment,” said Gold Strike President and COO David Tsai. “Nearly a year later, we up the ante on the sports betting and sports entertainment experience in the Mid-South, with the opening of Moneyline Book, Bar & Grill and our own Topgolf Swing Suite.”
The 6,000-square-foot space also has a 50-foot-long bar with 16 video poker machines.
Your ultimate sports betting destination has arrived. We are happy to announce the GRAND OPENING of Moneyline Book, Bar & Grill this Friday, July 26.
— Gold Strike Tunica (@GoldStrikeMGM) July 24, 2019
Learn more: https://t.co/GyGseSch1f pic.twitter.com/tCY51RJafP
7. Pennsylvania
BetAmerica Sportsbook celebrated its grand opening at Presque Isle Downs & Casino in Pennsylvania on 8 August.
The month-old sportsbook includes 50 sports betting kiosks. Half are set up in the newly renovated sportsbook, and the remainder are by the Hub center bar, Bar 90, the High-Limit Room and the non-smoking area.
“The legalization of sports wagering across the country presents a great opportunity for Churchill Downs to deliver more entertainment options to our customers,” said Bill Carstanjen, CEO of Churchill Downs Incorporated. “We are excited to bring our industry-leading BetAmerica Sportsbook to the Pennsylvania market.”
Several former NFL players were in attendance for the grand opening, including Hanford Dixon (formerly of the Cleveland Browns), Louis Lipps (formerly of the Pittsburgh Steelers), Omar Moreno (formerly of the Pittsburgh Pirates) and Jason Grilli (formerly of the Pittsburgh Pirates).
6. New Mexico
Fans at Isleta Resort & Casino can now place bets on pro baseball, pro football regular season win totals, English Premiere League, UFC, WNBA, PGA golf and NASCAR.
On 12 August, the New Mexico resort opened its new sportsbook to the public in partnership with USBookmaking.
“We are confident that our dedicated and exceptional sportsbook team will provide the very best betting experience in New Mexico,” said Isleta Resort & Casino CEO Harold Baugus.
The resort is currently building a permanent location for the sportsbook, which is planned to open later this year. The permanent location will also include a bar where guests can order food and drinks while watching games they just placed bets on.
Sports Book is now open at Isleta Resort & Casino! Guest may place bets from the kiosk 7 days a week, from 8am-1am. Good luck!!https://t.co/wSKJnQZJz6#sportsbetting #sports #bet #fun pic.twitter.com/IH8r3Pk8OA
— Isleta Resort Casino (@IsletaCasino) August 12, 2019
5. West Virginia
Bettors in West Virginia can now enjoy the FanDuel Sportsbook app after the launch in late August. In partnership with The Casino Club at The Greenbrier, FanDuel’s mobile app can be downloaded via iOS and Android and used inside the Mountain State.
The sportsbook can connect to FanDuel’s fantasy sports app, so players can use winning from either app interchangeably.
Some of the sports offered on the app are football, basketball, baseball, golf, soccer and tennis.
4. Oregon
Former NFL player Ed “Too Tall” Jones placed the first legal sports bet in Oregon at Chinook Winds Casino Resort on 27 August.
The former Dallas Cowboys lineman placed a bet on the Cowboys to win the Super Bowl at 10-to-1 odds.
After placing his bet, Jones said, “This is my good luck Super Bowl ring, and we need another one.”
The sportsbook offers a range of professional and collegiate sports to wager on and remain open from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.
Sports Wagering is officially open at Chinook Winds Casino Resort! @1EdTooTallJones placed the historic first bet in Oregon at Chinook Winds this morning. The former Dallas Cowboys Lineman bet on the Dallas Cowboys at 10-1 odds to win the Superbowl. https://t.co/lF1IkT766B pic.twitter.com/OiSL7LPBgL
— Chinook Winds Casino (@ChinookWinds) August 27, 2019
3. Iowa
FanDuel and Boyd Gaming introduced their first retail sportsbook in Iowa last month. Diamond Jo Casino - Northwood welcomed the opening of the FanDuel Sportsbook on 30 August.
Football Hall of Famer John Randle placed the first bet, a $93 moneyline bet on the Minnesota Twins to win that night, which the team did.
The recently opened sportsbook features three betting windows, six video displays with a video wall, 11 betting kiosks and one ticker.
2. Indiana
On 5 September, another Boyd Gaming property in the Midwest unveiled a FanDuel sportsbook. Blue Chip Casino, Hotel & Spa had NFL Hall of Famer Brian Urlacher place the ceremonial first wager at the new FanDuel sportsbook.
Urlacher placed a straight bet on his former team the Chicago Bears to win over the Green Bay Packers in the opening NFL game of the 2019 season. Unfortunately that bet did not pan out in Urlacher’s favor.
“We are thrilled and honored to have a Chicago sports legend like Brian Urlacher join us to celebrate the debut of the FanDuel Sportsbook at Blue Chip,” said Ted Bogich, Executive Vice President, Operations for Boyd Gaming. “This state-of-the-art sportsbook – managed by FanDuel, one of the nation’s premier sports-betting brands – will be a tremendous addition to our first-in-class amenities, and give customers yet another reason to visit the leading regional entertainment experience we have created at Blue Chip.”
This sportsbooks includes five betting windows, 13 kiosks and 13 video displays along the video wall.
This morning, we celebrated the grand opening of our @FDSportsbook with Chicago football legend @BUrlacher54. Brian placed the first bet, a $54 bet on Chicago in their game tonight against Green Bay.
— Blue Chip Casino (@bluechipcasino) September 5, 2019
Thanks to everyone who joined us for the opening! #FanDuel #BlueChipCasino pic.twitter.com/hcj4E8fVIr
1. New York
Scientific Games and the Oneida Indian Nation have launched sports betting at a third New York casino.
On 4 September, Yellow Brick Road Casino went live with a retail sportsbook. The venue is almost 9,000 square feet and able to hold over 250 people.
It features 35 TV screens alongside the main 32-foot LED screen.
Oneida Indian Nation Representative and Nation Enterprises CEO Ray Halbritter said, “OpenSports is empowering us to give our customers a top-notch betting experience, and we’re thrilled to bring a quality sportsbook technology to our Yellow Brick Road property, New York’s largest sportsbook.”
Touchdown! ?? Our Opening Event for The Lounge with Caesars Sports was a huge success. ??
— Yellow Brick Road (@YBRCasino) September 4, 2019
Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate this exciting addition to Yellow Brick Road Casino. We are thrilled to announce that we are officially open! ???? #LoungeWithCaesarsSports pic.twitter.com/JGvKAQTfVt