- Golden Nugget Online Gaming (GNOG) has obtained market access to offer mobile sports betting and online casino wagering.
- The company signed an agreement with Greenbrier Hotel Corporation.
- Golden Nugget Online Gaming is in the process of taking the company public to be traded on the NASDAQ exchange.
Golden Nugget Online Gaming–also referred to by the clever acronym GNOG–has signed a deal with Greenbrier Hotel Corporation that gives them market access to West Virginia’s sports betting and online casino market. As always, this is subject to regulatory approval.
The Greenbrier Hotel Corporation owns and operates an eponymously named property in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia that ranks among the swankiest gaming properties in the country. The Greenbrier Hotel was built in 1858 and the resort dates back to the 1700s. 27 US Presidents have visited the property which has a hidden emergency bunker intended for Congress to use in the event of a disaster. It’s not exactly hush hush anymore and guests can tour the Cold War relic.
The gaming experience is also unique by US standards and an anathema to the egalitarian ‘we welcome anyone as long as they have cash’ policy of most casinos. Entree to the casino is limited to certain members of the hoi polloi:
The Casino Club is open only to registered overnight guests as well as attendees of an event or convention when more than 400 rooms are occupied. Unlimited Casino Club access is also available through membership in The Greenbrier Golf & Tennis Club (from $1,908 annually) and The Greenbrier Sporting Club (homes from $1M).
And don’t think you’ll see any obese, hairy dudes wearing tank tops here. They’ve got an actual dress code meaning that any obese, hairy dudes will at least be well appointed. Being as it is West Virginia, denim is allowed thus minimizing the swank quotient:
Before 7:00pm:
Resort attire is required (collared sport shirts, sweaters, jackets, dress
slacks and walking shorts). If denim is your attire preference, wellkept denim in a dark shade is ours.
After 7:00pm:
Business casual attire. Jackets are required for gentlemen. If denim is
your attire preference, well-kept denim in a dark shade is ours. Men’s
hats and baseball caps are not permitted.
The games are basically what you’d find at any Las Vegas casino and there’s even a retail sportsbook operated by FanDuel. The Greenbrier also offers mobile betting with FanDuel, BetMGM–and now Golden Nugget. Golden Nugget…er….GNOG….gets to offer mobile sports betting and casino games in West Virginia under The Greenbrier’s licence and in return Greenbrier Hotel Corporation gets a percentage of the gaming revenue ‘subject to minimum royalty payments’.
GNOG CEO Tilman Fertitta had this to say about his company’s move into West Virginia:
“The partnership with The Greenbrier is an important milestone for the Golden Nugget online gaming expansion plans. We look forward to providing West Virginian players with our best-in-class product.”
Fertitta owns a ton of stuff and is a legit billionaire. He’s also one of the more interesting, quick witted and quotable billionaires. He owns the five Golden Nuggets casinos across the US, the NBA’s Houston Rockets and Landry’s Inc. which is the parent company of what seems like every restaurant chain in America including Bubba Gump Shrimp Co, Morton’s The Steakhouse, Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House, The Palm, McCormick & Schmick’s and a personal favorite, Jake’s Grill in Portland, Oregon.
Also weighing in on the ‘GNOG to WV’ deal is Thomas Winter, President of GNOG:
“We are excited to partner with The Greenbrier and bring our award-winning online gaming offerings to the Mountain State. Across New Jersey, Michigan, Pennsylvania and now West Virginia, Golden Nugget will have access to all four privately operated online casino markets in the country.“
The Greenbrier got their quote in as well courtesy of property president Dr. Jill Justice:
“The Greenbrier is excited about this new partnership and adding to the incredible casino offerings already in place for our guests, members and friends throughout West Virginia. Golden Nugget has proven itself as a market leader in the industry, and we’re confident it will deliver a product that matches the lofty standard that defines America’s Resort.”
GNOG is being spun off from the rest of Fertitta’s holdings and once the financial minutiae is dealt with will trade on the NASDAQ. If you want to know more about the ‘blank check’ company aka SPAC merger that is taking GNOG public you can do so at these links:
SPAC ALPHA: LANDCADIA HOLDINGS II–GOLDEN NUGGET
SPAC INSIDER: LANCADIA HOLDINGS II TO ACQUIRE GNOG
GNOG will become the sixth online sports betting app in West Virginia joining FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, William Hill and Betly Sportsbook. Were it not for the state’s restrictive licensing of gaming operators West Virginia would be a top five sports betting jurisdiction with low fees, statewide mobile betting and a reasonable 10% tax rate.
(I think I’m supposed to tell you that I own stock in Landcadia Holdings II which trades under the ticker symbol LCA. Once the deal is finalized they’re changing the ticker symbol to GNOG)
