A pair of tribes from Oklahoma and another from California have partnered with a New York gaming company to launch a sports themed betting app, called PlaySqor. It uses “first of its kind Class II sports-themed technology,” according to a news release.
Vetnos LLC designed the game to advance the reach of Class II (bingo) gaming while filling a need in tribal sports gaming offerings.
“PlaySqor targets the casual fan betting on their favorite athletes on a fast, fun fixed-odds betting platform, strategically developed with a bingo engine,” the release said.
PlaySqor “is an easy-to-learn twist on sports-themed gaming with an added layer of strategic fun,” the release said. “Traditional sports betting can be complicated, intimidating and aimed at a small percentage of possible players, but the PlaySqor games are easy to understand, and the entry point (fee) is low.”
“We wanted to give tribes an option, … especially in places where legalized sports betting hasn’t been decided,” Valerie Spicer, chief gaming officer at Vetnos, told the Tulsa World.
Developed in consultation with Class II legal experts and using a Class II-experienced independent testing lab for strict compliance with Class II technical standards, PlaySqor democratizes the sports vertical, with a fixed-odds approach to wagering.
Players can bet as little as $1 on player matchups from a variety of sports, including pro and college football, basketball, soccer, hockey, golf and others, she said.
Once app players pick various matchups, the matchup winners are then placed on a bingo-type card, where users can win money based on rows or what type of pattern of “squares” they fill, much like a tic-tac-toe board, Spicer said.
The app will be ready for business in the first quarter of next year. It will be licensed by tribes, which will also be able to customize and market the app as they wish.
“We want it to be theirs,” Spicer said.
Under PlaySqor, tribes would earn a percentage of revenue, or a “commission,” she said. And the states get none of it.
While traditional sports betting is not yet legal in Oklahoma, Class II gaming has been legal for years.
The Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma, based in Wyandotte in Ottawa County, is one of the partners in launching the app. The tribe operates the Indigo Sky Casino and Resort near Wyandotte.
“We are not one of the larger tribes, but we are strategic, forward-thinking and progressive,” Eastern Shawnee tribal Treasurer Justin Barrett said in a statement. “When tribes are able to expand and manage our gaming offerings properly, we can generate more revenue for the betterment of our people and our communities.”
The other Oklahoma tribal partner is Anadarko-based Wichita and Affiliated Tribes.
“For us, it’s important to always be looking for ways to enhance the future of our tribe and our communities,” said tribal President Terri Parton. “Because it’s Class II, there is no revenue share with the state, so tribal nations will earn more. When tribes earn more, that means more jobs and stronger communities,” she said in a statement.
The Chicken Ranch Tribe of Me-Wuk Indians of Jamestown, in central California, is the other tribal partner launching the app.
“This is an exciting time for our tribal nation partners and Vetnos,” said Vetnos founder and Executive Chairman Joshua Berkowitz in a statement.
“We set out to deliver value and opportunity to Indian Country and are committed to deepening our relationships with tribes throughout the country. Our proprietary technology platform and patented games change the landscape for tribal nations looking for a lower-risk entry point into sports gaming in a purely Class II format,” he said.
For Oklahoma to legalize in-person sports betting, the legislature more than likely would have to amend existing tribal gaming compacts, which give the state’s tribes gaming exclusivity. Many observers have said soured relations between Governor Kevin Stitt and tribal leaders has been a main obstacle regarding in-person legalized sports betting in Oklahoma.
