Bally’s makes Kansas market entry with Boot Hill Casino agreement
Casino operator targets forthcoming sports betting legislation with Sunflower State operator partnership
Bally’s Corporation has inked a multi-year market-access agreement with Boot Hill Casino & Resort in Dodge City, Kansas.
Pending passage of sports betting legislation in the Sunflower State, Boot Hill has committed to “timely and effectively” implementing the Bally Bet mobile sportsbook.
Bally’s will look to attract bettors to the Boot Hill Resort via its existing media partnership with Sinclair Broadcast Group, which includes 19 regional sports networks (RSNs).
The agreement takes the number of states in which Bally’s operates sportsbooks in to 14.
Bally’s also operates sportsbooks in Colorado, Delaware, Iowa, Illinois, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, New Jersey, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Virginia.
In addition, Kansas represents the third state where Bally’s does not maintain a land-based casino and would establish its market presence exclusively through the Bally’s online platform.
Bally’s president and CEO George Papanier said he was “extremely excited” to work with Boot Hill Casino on the new sportsbook offering.
“This relationship, which marks the 14th state in which customers can access our omni-channel platform, provides a significant opportunity for Bally’s to enter into yet another attractive mobile sports betting market,” Papanier explained.
“With the approval of pending sports betting legislation in the state, we can’t wait for Kansas sports fans to engage in our best-in-class online sports betting offerings,” he added.
All gaming in Kansas, including the Boot Hill Casino & Resort, is owned and operated by the Kansas Lottery.
The arrangement, as required by law, would license, transfer, or lease the necessary Bally’s mobile sportsbook elements to the Lottery to offer Kansas sports fans a premium sports betting platform.
In April, efforts to legalize sports betting in Kansas stalled when the Kansas House Committee of the Whole voted against an amended version of sports betting bill SB 84, despite it having passed a senate vote by 26-12 in March.
The Kansas legislature has since adjourned and will not reconvene until next year.