The Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe announced it will offer in-person sports betting at its 7 Cedars Hotel and Casino in Sequim, Washington by August 1, in time for the National Football League season. 7 Cedars Chief Executive Officer Jerry Allen said the tribe expects to sign a 5-year to 7-year agreement with a publicly traded sports betting company to operate the sportsbook.
Allen said, “We have an agreement in principle that we’re putting into writing. It will set all the odds and lines. We really want this open by August to get a running start at the NFL season, the biggest part of all in the sports betting business. The NFL is the kingpin. It wears the crown, so to speak.”
The tribe will spend $750,000 to $850,000 on the sportsbook, Cedar Sports, including $500,000 on two 21-foot and 22-foot TV screens. “We’ve ordered sportsbook-style theater seating as a complement to the stage area,” Allen said, plus six $6,000 to $8,000 self-service sports betting kiosks throughout the casino and hotel.
Allen said he’s bringing back former 7 Cedars Casino Manager Bill Matsko to serve as sportsbook manager to build interest among casino clientele and “manage the atmosphere” at Cedars Sports. A famed sportscaster, Matsko is the play-by-play voice for the Las Vegas Raiders football team and is host and managing editor at Vegas Stats and Information Network. “He’ll be a large presence in lot of media campaigns for sure. His personality and how to tout sports is really important. This is the sizzle around the steak. You’ve got to make it sizzle for someone to come to 7 Cedars to make a bet,” Allen said.
At Cedars Sports, persons aged 18 and over can wager on professional sports and events, except for minor league events, the Olympics, international sports and in-state collegiate events. Geofencing will assure mobile sports wagering occurs only on casino premises. “We’ll probably take a $50,000 ceiling is my gut feeling,” Allen said.
At least a half-dozen tribal gaming operations in Washington offer sports betting, including Muckleshoot Casino Resort in Auburn, Emerald Queen Hotel and Casino in Fife and Snoqualmie Casino in King County, the first to offer sports wagering under the new state law.
Washington Gambling Commission spokesman Kevin McCarty said sports wagering has been added to 19 tribal compacts among the state’s 29 tribes.
