On Monday, sportsbook operator PointsBet announced that it has entered a multi-year sports betting partnership with Catfish Bend Casino in Iowa.
As part of the partnership, the casino will launch land-based and online sports betting operations once sports betting in Iowa is legalized and the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission issues the venue with a sports betting license.
As well as launching sports betting operations, both PointsBet and Catfish Bend will work together to create a “multi-faceted sports entertainment venue.”
The sports entertainment venue will be located on the Catfish Bend property and will feature a sports bar with multi-screen video and odds boards.
Johnny Aitken, PointsBet’s US CEO said: “PointsBet is thrilled to announce this partnership, enabling us to create a first-class sportsbook for Iowa’s sports bettors at one of the best casino resorts in the Midwest.
“Catfish Bend Casino’s executives – Gary Hoyer and Rob Higgins – are two of the most progressive and forward-thinking operators in the industry. We knew they were the perfect match for PointsBet’s long-term vision of gaming in the US from day one.”
Gary Hoyer, CEO of Great River Entertainment, the parent company of Catfish Bend Casino, said: “We couldn’t imagine a better sportsbook to bring to Catfish Bend Casino and the state of Iowa.
“The potential legalization of sports betting in Iowa opens an exciting new opportunity for recreational and avid players, and PointsBet’s unmatched dedication to bettors makes them the ideal partner for our brand and go-to-market plan.”
This news comes just after a sports betting bill was approved by the Iowa legislature and sent to the Governor for final approval.
On Monday, the Iowa legislature voted 67-31 in favor of passing SF 617, a bill that would legalize land-based, online and mobile sports betting in Iowa.
Iowa’s legislative session ends on 3 May 2019 giving Gov. Kim Reynolds a very short window to sign the bill into law.
