Another Mississippi sports betting domino fell Monday as IGT announced a deal to power two Boyd Gaming sportsbooks.
IGT will provide the sports betting platform for IP Casino in Biloxi and Sam’s Town in Tunica. Boyd and IGT enjoy a previous relationship, so this deal extends the partnership into legal sports betting’s newest market.
What the deal does for Mississippi sports betting
Mississippi sports betting launched last week when MGM Resorts properties Beau Rivage and Gold Strike opened operations. Those two sportsbooks were the first to accept sports wagers under a 2017 law change that made sports betting legal in Mississippi.
This agreement between IGT and Boyd will put IGT’s systems into IP and Sam’s Town to accept standard and in-play wagers. Like all Mississippi casinos, the Boyd properties will only accept wagers on their property — specifically the sportsbook.
That is because Mississippi sports betting remains restricted to the physical location of a casino by state regulation. Mobile wagering is allowed, but only while on the grounds of a casino. Geolocation technology in your smartphone ensures bets cannot be placed elsewhere within the state, which differs from mobile-friendly Nevada and New Jersey sports betting.
The companies said they will work toward bringing IGT’s kiosks into play for sports betting in the future.
IGT extends its sports betting reach
The Boyd announcement represents the next step in a major push into the US legal sports betting market for IGT.
The company previously inked a deal last month with FanDuel Sportsbook to power its operation at Meadowlands Racetrack in New Jersey. IGT also works with Borgata in Atlantic City.
IGT also put in the lone bid to operate Rhode Island sports betting as the state’s official vendor. It will receive a 32 percent cut of revenue in exchange for its services.
What they’re saying about the IGT/Boyd deal
Vincent Schwartz, Boyd Senior VP of Operations:
“The expansion of sports betting is an exciting growth opportunity for our company, and we are pleased to offer this new gaming entertainment product to our Mississippi customers via IGT’s proven, user-friendly technology.”
Enrico Drago, IGT Senior VP, PlayDigital
“IGT invested significant time and resources to ensure that our modular sports betting solution was market-ready for the rapidly evolving U.S. sports betting market, and that our customers in the various states could benefit from it as soon as regulation allows. IGT’s momentum in U.S. sports betting is exciting.”
