Bally’s has now launched its online sports betting product in a second US state.
The US gambling giant Bally’s Corporation has announced the beta launch of its BallyBet sportsbook in the state of Iowa.
This launch comes after Bally’s launched its sportsbook app in Colorado in May.
BallyBet in Iowa
Bally’s launched its sportsbook in the state of Iowa via a partnership with Elite Casino Resorts, which owns Riverside and Rhythm City Casino Resorts in the state. Iowa is one of the states where Bally’s does not own or operate a land-based casino and therefore required a market access agreement to launch its sportsbook.
Iowa is now the second US state with legal betting to where Bally’s has launched its mobile sports betting product.
The BallyBet app, which was developed by the sports technology platform Bet.Works, will allow bettors to place real-money bets on a variety of sporting events.
Bally’s completed its $125m acquisition of Bet.Works in early May, granting it proprietary access to the sports betting solution.
Adi Dhandhania, Bally’s Corporation’s Senior Vice President said: “We are very excited to have achieved yet another milestone with the expansion of our mobile sports betting platform in Iowa. As a state that has embraced legalized sports betting since 2019, Iowa was an attractive market for Bally Bet.
“We look forward to integrating Bally’s into Sinclair’s broadcast and digital programming in Iowa, providing Iowa sports fans with an engaging and creative sports betting experience, and continuing our work towards solidifying Bally’s as a leading retail sportsbook brand with the third greatest reach in terms of US legalized market access.”
Bally’s hopes to launch its online sportsbook in two more US states in 2021 and has subsequent launches planned for 2022.
This also marks the latest step in Bally’s US expansion plans which began when the operator dropped the Twin River name for Bally’s Corporation in October 2020.
What else has Bally’s been up to?
Since rebranding the operator has been on a casino buying spree, rebranded 21 Fox Sports regional networks to Bally’s Sports, and purchased several gambling businesses to flesh out its online portfolio.
In addition to purchasing Bet.Works, the operator has also acquired the daily fantasy sports company Monkey Knife Fight and the free-to-play games provider SportCaller.
The operator has also agreed on terms to acquire the UK-based online gambling firm Gamesys for $2.7bn (£2bn).
Sports betting in Iowa
Sports betting went live in Iowa in August 2019 with a law that forced bettors in the state to create and register their online betting accounts in person at one of the state’s casino sportsbooks.
This registration requirement ended on 1 January 2021, paving the way for bettors to create sports wagering accounts remotely from anywhere within the state.
It also means that online-only operators can enter the state, providing bettors with a wider selection of betting options.
