Reno-based Eldorado Resorts and William Hill US recently announced they will launch sportsbooks at Eldorado’s Isle Casino Hotel Bettendorf and Isle Casino Hotel Waterloo. William Hill officials said following regulatory approvals in August, customers at the two casinos will be able to wager through the company’s mobile application, on-site kiosks and the InPlay wagering menu. The two sportsbooks will create more than 50 new jobs.
Eldorado President Anthony Carano said, “Expanding the William Hill relationship to include Iowa offers our loyal customers a full complement of gaming action and plays an important role in providing guests the unbelievable experience.” William Hill President of Retail Operations David Grolman added, “These two Iowa destinations will offer sports fans amazing new opportunities to enjoy the games and teams they love in new and exciting settings.”
Under a strategic partnership formed last year, Eldorado granted William Hill the exclusive right to operate sports betting at all Eldorado owned or managed properties in the U.S. and to operate mobile sports betting in states where Eldorado obtains a license. Currently William Hill operates sportsbooks and mobile sports wagering for casinos and racetracks in Nevada, New Jersey, Mississippi, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Rhode Island.
Isle Casino Hotel Bettendorf will offer 12 55-inch odds boards and eight 65-inch viewing monitors. Isle Casino Hotel Waterloo will have eight 65-inch odds boards and 15 55-inch viewing screens for a total of more than 46 feet of viewing monitors.
Eldorado will have a 20 percent ownership stake in William Hill, valued at $50 million’ Eldorado also received 13.4 million ordinary shares of William Hill U.S. parent William Hill PLC, which is traded on the London Stock Exchange. In exchange, the sportsbook operator will have a 25-year deal to operate facilities in the company’s casinos where sports betting in legal. Eldorado also received 13.4 million ordinary shares of
William Hill officials said the Eldorado partnership could give William Hill US access to overseeing sportsbooks at Caesars Entertainment casinos that will part of the two companies’ upcoming $17.3 billion merger, expected to close in 2020. The transaction will create the world’s largest gaming company with 60 resorts in 16 states.
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed sports betting into law this spring after both the state House and Senate passed legislation legalizing it.
Besides William Hill, Eldorado has a sports betting agreement with the Stars Group, which includes a presence on Fox Sports Network’s sports wagering application.
