On Wednesday, sportsbook operator William Hill and Affinity Gaming revealed plans to open a new William Hill branded sportsbook at Iowa’s Lakeside Hotel and Casino in Osceola.
This news came just moments after the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (IRGC) finalized sports betting regulations and confirmed a launch date for 15 August.
The sportsbook, which is currently under construction, is set to open its doors on 15 August 2019, the same day that sports betting in Iowa can begin.
What will the sportsbook look like?
The William Hill sportsbook will be located on the lower level of the Affinity Gaming property.
Once construction of the sportsbooks is complete, patrons will have access to William Hill’s mobile betting app, in-play betting and self-service kiosks.
The sportsbook will feature 14 65-inch viewing monitors with 4K LCD displays along with two 86-inch viewing monitors with 4K Ultra HD displays.
David Grolman, president of retail operations for William Hill US said: “Our new sportsbook at Lakeside Hotel and Casino expands our long-standing partnership with Affinity Gaming. We have operated their sportsbooks in Nevada for many years and look forward to providing exciting new experiences to resort guests and sports fans in Iowa.”
William Hill has a long-standing relationship with Affinity Gaming after entering a long-term agreement with the company in 2012. Under the 2012 agreement, William Hill operates sportsbooks at five of Affinity’s Nevada properties.
David Monroe, VP and general manager for Lakeside Hotel & Casino, added: “We are partnering with William Hill to provide our guests with an exciting entertainment experience for football season and beyond. William Hill has long been the gold standard for sports betting, and we look forward to partnering with them as soon as we are able to take the first bet.”
William Hill in Iowa
This partnership will mark the fourth William Hill branded sportsbook in the Hawkeye State.
On 16 July 2019, William Hill struck a deal with Eldorado Resorts. Under the agreement, William Hill will operate sportsbooks at Isle Casino Hotel Bettendorf and Isle Casino Hotel Waterloo.
Back in January, William Hill secured its first sports betting partner in Iowa after entering a sports betting agreement with Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino.
Sports betting in Iowa
Iowa officially legalized sports betting in May, after Governor Kim Reynolds signed SF 617 into law.
The legislation authorized land-based and state-wide mobile sports wagering. However, state law prohibits sportsbooks from accepting bets on events involving Iowa’s college teams.
Iowans will be required to register an account with a sportsbook in person, regardless of whether they plan to bet on mobile devices. However, this will only be the case up until 1 January 2021, after that date bettors will be able to register remotely from anywhere within the state.
Elsewhere in the US, Penn National has announced market-access partnerships with DraftKings, PointsBet, theScore and The Stars Group.
