In Florida, Rush Street Interactive has been named the exclusive official sports betting partner of Magic City Jai Alai in Miami. RSI’s sports betting platform BetRivers has exclusive access to Magic City Jai Alai’s official league data and streaming feeds for bettors to watch and bet on during live games in real time.
Since opening in 2018 at the Magic City Casino, Magic City Jai Alai has run more than 4,000 matches. Officials have taken major steps to protect the integrity of the matches and improve the sport’s reputation by conducting training programs for and background checks on athletes, staff and officials, and by hiring an independent integrity firm to monitor and analyze all wagering and event activity.
RSI Chief Executive Officer Richard Schwartz commented, “Magic City Jai Alai is pioneering a new fast-paced format for the sport, which has long been a betting favorite and has a storied history in Florida dating back to the 1930s. As a result of these modern matches transitioning away from the traditional parimutuel style of play into a brand new fixed-odds betting format where every point matters, customers can wager directly on head-to-head matchups, set by set or even point by point, just like in tennis and table tennis.”
Magic City Chief Operating Officer Scott Savin added, “From day one, we’ve made it our mission to create an innovative and modern-looking league where the integrity of the game and its athletes have been our focus to earn and retain our bettors’ trust. Working closely with the RSI team, we’re pioneering a new twist on an old favorite.”
With the recent launch of jai alai betting via BetRivers at sportsbooks in Illinois and Iowa, Savin said he expects the sport to see a “major resurgence.” Other markets are expected to be added soon, he said.
Meanwhile, the Casino @ Dania Beach recently announced it will end jai alai operations on November 28. The once-popular sport that previously attracted 7,000 to 10,000 fans per match now draws 100 or less. General Manager Arnaldo Suarez said, “It is with a heavy heart that we say a fond farewell to the sport of jai alai in Dania Beach. Generations of fans have enjoyed this exciting sport in our fronton for almost 70 years.” However, he added, “People’s behavior and entertainment liking has changed over the past 20 to 30 years.’
