William Hill US announced more expansion in North America and the legalization of sports betting continues to blossom.
Prairie Meadows Racetrack & Casino in Altoona, Iowa and William Hill US recently entered into a tentative partnership, which would allow William Hill to operate a sports book at the venue if the state legislature legalizes it. The deal also would require regulatory approval.
The proposed facility would be a “first class” operation, said William Hill US Chief Executive Officer Joe Asher. The 8,600 square foot facility would be located on the casino’s fourth level near the racing center, with a new bar surrounded by video wall technology displaying sporting events and live betting odds. “We are excited about the prospect of sports betting in Iowa and are thrilled to partner with Prairie Meadows to be ready for the day when sports betting is legal in the state,” Asher said.
Prairie Meadows Chief Strategic Officer Brad Rhines added, “Once the legislative process is complete, this innovative partnership will provide many fun and unique sports betting options for our guests.”
Prairie Meadows’ casino has 1,700 slot machines, dozens of table games and a horseracing facility for live and simulcast racing.
William Hill US operates sports betting operations in all states where it has been legalized, including more than 100 sports books in Nevada.
In Nevada, the Gaming Control Board has given the OK for William Hill US to add five more casinos to its expanding stable of sports books in the state.
Pending a sign-off from the Nevada Gaming Commission, the company will take over bookmaking operations at four Golden Entertainment properties—the Stratosphere and the two Arizona Charlie’s casinos in Las Vegas and the Aquarius in Laughlin—and at the stand-alone Jerry’s Nugget in North Las Vegas.
The Control Board also approved Eldorado Resorts’ planned acquisition of 20 percent of William Hill US, which not only hands the bookmaking giant the sports books at the Eldorado in Reno and the Montbleu in Lake Tahoe, but caps a deal that will place William Hill in charge of bookmaking across Eldorado’s nationwide portfolio of 28 casinos in 13 states.
The subsidiary of UK betting giant William Hill PLC currently operates 130 books in the United States—107 of them in Nevada.
The company is headquartered in Las Vegas.
