- A FanDuel retail sportsbook is coming to Bally’s Atlantic City.
- Bally’s was recently sold by Caesars Entertainment to Twin River Holdings.
- Twin River has secured rights to keep the Bally’s name and branding.
A FanDuel retail sportsbook is coming to Atlantic City joining the company’s original New Jersey sportsbook at the Meadowlands Racetrack. The daily fantasy sports turned sports betting company will take over operation of the sportsbook at Bally’s Atlantic City as part of the property’s transition to the ownership of Twin River Holdings. Twin River acquired the property from Caesars Entertainment as they were looking to shed some of their assets in advance of the merger with Eldorado Resorts. Twin River has acquired the Bally’s brand from Caesars Entertainment but as part of the deal has provided the former owners rights to continue using the branding at the Bally’s Las Vegas property.
The two companies have already worked together in Colorado where FanDuel was one of the first mobile apps to launch when the state launched sports betting on May 1, 2020. FanDuel operates under the master license of the Golden Gates Casino in Black Hawk, Colorado. Interestingly, Twin River also has a relationship with FanDuel’s primary competitor, DraftKings. DraftKings’ Colorado mobile app operates under the master license of the Golden Mardi Gras property in Black Hawk and also runs the casino’s retail sportsbook. As of yet, FanDuel doesn’t have a retail presence in Colorado though that could change in the future.
The plan is to open a temporary FanDuel location at the Bally’s AC property while a permanent location is being prepared. The expectation is that the permanent location will open in Spring 2021 ‘subject to securing regulatory approvals’. The Bally’s AC sportsbook has been operated by William Hill. William Hill still has plenty of locations in New Jersey and Atlantic City–they’re at Caesar’s Palace Atlantic City, Harrah’s Atlantic City, the Ocean Casino Atlantic City and Tropicana Atlantic City as well as at the Monmouth Park Race Track.
George Papanier, President and CEO of Twin River Worldwide Holdings, said that he’s looking forward to expanding the company’s relationship with FanDuel Eastward:
“We currently already have a FanDuel Sportsbook app and online experience in Colorado at another TRWH property. They are great partners and we are thrilled to work with them in another exciting, gaming-centric market like Atlantic City. The permanent sportsbook location is going to be one of the many exciting changes we have in store for the Bally’s property – a unique location just steps away from center boardwalk where millions stroll by annually. We look forward to breaking ground on this new space as soon as the closing is final,” says Papanier.
Matt King, CEO of FanDuel Group says that the new retail presence in Atlantic City further secures his company’s status as the market leader in New Jersey:
“The FanDuel Sportsbook is the clear market leader in New Jersey and we are excited to expand our retail footprint in the state to now include Atlantic City. We are excited to get started and be a key piece in Twin River Worldwide Holdings transformation of the iconic Bally’s Atlantic City Hotel and Casino.”
The expectation is that the temporary FanDuel location will be operational by the end of 2020. It will require the approval of the New Jersey Casino Control Commission and New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement and the completion of Twin River’s pending acquisition of the Bally’s Atlantic City property.
