In the new era of sports betting, the union of pro teams and casinos makes perfect sense. The latest partnership involves Seneca Resorts & Casinos and the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League through the team’s owner, Pegula Sports & Entertainment. The deal comes on the heels of a similar arrangement with the NFL’s Buffalo Bills, also owned by Pegula.
The agreement with the Sabres happens as Seneca prepares to make sports betting available at its three tribal gaming properties. Customers will be able to place wagers on ice hockey, football, basketball and other sports.
Melissa Free, Seneca Gaming Corp.’s senior vice president of marketing, told SportsPro.com, “Sportsbooks will bring so much more excitement to the fans and Seneca Resorts & Casinos is thrilled to be in the epicenter of all that energy.”
Last month the Seneca Sports Lounge opened at the Sabres’ KeyBank Center, which has the capacity to introduce sports betting in the future.
“The lounge has become a popular destination for premium ticketholders at KeyBank Center this season,” said Dan Misko, PSE’s senior vice president of business development. “We look forward to the opening of the sports lounges at Seneca’s three properties, which will create another attraction for Bills and Sabres fans.”
The Seneca Nation is planning to open three new sportsbooks in the upcoming weeks. This includes a new sportsbook at the tribe’s casino in Buffalo. This new partnership with the Sabres could allow Seneca Resorts to open a fourth sportsbook. The Sabres’ KeyBank Center has Seneca Sports Lounge in the arena. It is possible that the Seneca Nation could open a new sportsbook in the KeyBank Center itself.
“The Seneca Sports Lounge has become a popular destination for premium ticketholders at KeyBank Center this season. We look forward to the opening of the sports lounges at Seneca’s three properties, which will create another attraction for Bills and Sabres fans,” said Misko.
