This is a developing story and will be updated.
DraftKings Sportsbook is officially getting into the land-based sports betting business, via a casino in Mississippi.
After being the first operator to launch online sports betting in New Jersey in August, DraftKings Sportsbook is making its first foray into operating a retail sportsbook this Friday.
DraftKings + Mississippi =
DraftKings announced on Monday that it had reached an agreement with Scarlet Pearl Casino Resort in D’Iberville, Miss., to officially open DraftKings at Scarlet Pearl Sportsbook. DraftKings reported that it had received its license from the Mississippi Gaming Commission, among other required regulatory approvals.
The sportsbook is a remodel of Scarlet Pearl’s existing PRL Bar.
“We’re thrilled to be working with Scarlet Pearl Casino Resort, whose leadership has a high bar for quality and a forward-thinking approach to sports betting; a perfect fit for DraftKings,” said Matt Kalish, Chief Revenue Officer and co-founder of DraftKings. “We’re excited to bring and offer an innovative sports betting experience to sports fans in one of the largest and most competitive gaming markets in the U.S.”
DraftKings has three betting windows to start, but soon DK will also offer:
- An on-premise mobile sports betting app.
- On-site sports betting kiosks.
Nicholas Sfanos is directing operators for DraftKings; he previously ran sportsbooks for Station Casinos throughout Nevada.
More about Scarlet Pearl and Mississippi sports betting
The casino is a sizable one on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, with nearly 1,200 slot machines and just shy of 40 table games.
It’s a little late to the party for Mississippi sports betting, which has been live at a variety of casinos since the summer.
There are already two dozen other sportsbooks launched in the state. However, offering online wagering off-property remains illegal.
DraftKings competitor FanDuel is already live in the state courtesy of a partnership with Boyd Gaming.
DraftKings designs in the US
DraftKings would like to have a presence in every state with legal sports wagering, but this is just its second launch. Its other plans:
- It has a deal with Del Lago Resort in New York to offer sports betting eventually.
- It has applied for a license in West Virginia but has no partner to do so.
- It also likely hopes to find a way to operate in states that either have laws on the books or will, such as Pennsylvania and Nevada.
DraftKings has been easily outpacing other operators in the NJ sports betting industry in terms of revenue.