Boyd Gaming and the FanDuel Group are resurrecting one of the most iconic brands in gaming, with plans to create online casinos and sportsbooks branded with the historic Stardust name.
Boyd Gaming owned the legendary Stardust in Las Vegas before closing it in 2006 to make way for the ill-fated Echelon, a victim of the Great Recession that subsequently was sold to Genting Corp., which is slated to open Resorts World Las Vegas on the site later this year.
Boyd and FanDuel last week announced plans to launch Stardust-branded online casinos/sportsbooks in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
“While the resort has been gone for more than a decade, the Stardust brand is still as well-known and popular as ever,” said Keith Smith, president and CEO of Boyd Gaming, owner of the Stardust brand, in a statement. “We are excited to work with our partners at FanDuel to launch our first real-money online casinos and are confident this legendary brand will give us a significant advantage in connecting with players looking for a distinctive online gaming experience.”
Boyd own 5 percent of FanDuel, which will operate the online sportsbook.
According to the statement, FanDuel plans to rebrand its existing Betfair Casino in New Jersey under the Stardust brand, and bring the brand to Pennsylvania as a new market entry. Pending final regulatory approval, the casinos are expected to launch by next month, with mobile apps available for iOS and Android.
“The new Stardust Casino will retain all of the great games that customers love on Betfair Casino, while incorporating a new stylish look that captures the glitz, glamour and nostalgia of old Las Vegas,” said Amy Howe, president of FanDuel Group, in a statement. “Stardust Casino allows us to take a market-leading product to the next level, creating a unified platform across New Jersey and Pennsylvania.”
“Online gaming is clearly a compelling growth opportunity for our industry and our company,” Smith said in February, according to CDC Gaming Reports. “By partnering with a proven market leader like FanDuel to pursue these opportunities, we are generating immediate and growing profits from digital gaming today while maintaining flexibility to explore the many opportunities available to us to ensure that we are well-positioned for the future.”
