Australian Operator PointsBet Lands Iowa Sports Betting Deal As Catfish Bend Casino Prepares to Deliver Sportsbook Services

Iowa’s Catfish Bend Casino in Burlington will be providing sports betting services deployed via technology provided to them by Australia’s operator, PointsBet.

The agreed deal has already been finalized, before the actual sports betting regulation has in fact been completed in this state whose officials are on the verge of legalizing sports wagering.

Faster Than the Speed of Law

According to the of the agreement…

…the partnership would include both in-land and mobile sportsbook operations, should both PointsBet and Catfish Bend Casino manage to secure the sports wagering licenses in Iowa in the first place.

Retail services would operate from the casino’s sports bar which features a multi-screen video and an odds display wall, as well as more casino gaming options.

As for PointsBet, the Australian company has been an active participator in the US sports betting vertical for some time now. In January, they have landed a deal to roll out their services in New Jersey’s regulated market in partnership with Meadowlands Racetrack.

Iowa’s sports betting Bill that aims to regulate this potentially lucrative market is in the hands of Governor, Kim Reynolds, who only needs to sign the legal document to turn it into a law.

Senate File 617 ed the state’s House of Representatives review with a 67-31 vote and it looks to allow in-person, online and mobile sports betting. According to the legislation, operators’ gross revenue will be taxed at a 6.75% rate and the licensee fee will cost $45,000.

First Reactions

Gary Hoyer, who is a CEO of Catfish Bend Casino’s parent company, Great River Entertainment, has said of the agreement:

“The potential legalisation of sports betting in Iowa opens an exciting new opportunity for recreational and avid players, and PointsBet’s unmatched dedication to bettors makes them the ideal partner for our brand and go-to-market plan.”

PointsBet US CEO, Johnny Aitken, added:

“Catfish Bend Casino’s executives – Gary Hoyer and Rob Higgins – are two of the most progressive and forward-thinking operators in the industry. We knew they were the perfect match for PointsBet’s long-term vision of gaming in the US from day one.”

Persistence Paying Off

Burlington’s Casino idea of securing a sportsbook partner has been around for a while and was only made public in mid-April, when regarding sportsbook management in this venue.

Source:

“PointsBet lands sports betting deal in Iowa”, igamingbusiness.com, April 29, 2019.