- Boyd Gaming has announced a long term deal with IGT for sports betting technology at their Nevada properties.
- Boyd Gaming owns 12 gaming properties in Southern Nevada.
- 9 of the 12 have reopened following the mandated closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
IGT has very quietly become a serious player in the nascent US sports betting market and hardly a month goes by when they don’t announce that they’ve extended their reach even more. This month won’t be one either–the company has announced a long term deal with Boyd Gaming to supply retail and mobile sports betting technology at their Nevada properties.
More specifically, Boyd Gaming will leverage IGT’s PlaySports platform at their Nevada gaming properties. IGT will also service Boyd Gaming’s online and mobile wagering needs. IGT will also supply Boyd Gaming with self service kiosks to be installed at their Nevada locations. Boyd Gaming owns twelve gaming properties in Southern Nevada though only nine are open at this time.
The properties that remain closed following the shutdown of the gaming industry in Nevada due to the COVID-19 pandemic are the Eastside Cannery on Boulder Highway, the Main Street Station in downtown Las Vegas and the Eldorado in Henderson. Boyd has put the Eldorado’s gaming and liquor licenses into ‘non-operational’ status and will keep the Water Street property closed indefinitely. The Main Street Station will reopen when market conditions in downtown Las Vegas improve. The future of the Eastside Cannery is unknown at this time. The Cannery buffet has long been a favorite among ‘locals’ but the future of the casino buffet is also in doubt.
Enrico Drago, IGT PlayDigital Senior Vice President, offered these comments about the partnership with Boyd Gaming in Nevada:
“IGT and Boyd Gaming will create a dynamic omnichannel sports betting product that is sure to stand apart in Nevada, the most mature and high-volume sports betting destination in the U.S. IGT’s PlaySports platform enables Boyd Gaming to differentiate its sports betting product in meaningful ways that position them to attract new players and grow revenue in the segment.”
According to the press release announcing the deal it sounds like the overall Boyd Gaming sports betting experience will be upgraded significantly:
In addition to offering players a more robust and progressive sports betting program, the PlaySports platform will allow Boyd Gaming to offer improved backend system navigation, and seamlessly update app content in line with real-time data and betting trends. Players will also be able to enjoy a range of new bets, features and conveniences.
Boyd Gaming has long made sports betting a corporate priority. At one point, they owned and operated the Stardust Hotel & Casino–the Stardust sportsbook was during its time the most influential in Nevada. Their marquee property in Nevada is now The Orleans and the sportsbook is a focal point of the property.
Boyd Gaming and IGT have had a sports betting relationship since 2018. The PlaySports platform powers sports betting at the Boyd Gaming properties in Pennsylvania (Valley Forge Casino), Mississippi (IP Biloxi and Sam’s Town Tunica), Iowa (Diamond Jo Dubuque, Diamond Jo Worth) and (Blue Chip Casino, Belterra Casino Resort).
