The 10 sports wagering windows at the new FanDuel Sportsbook inside Meadowlands Racetrack are using IGT software to take bets.
That’s because a deal struck between International Game Technology (IGT) and FanDuel Group centers around IGT providing its top-rated sports betting software platform to the sportsbook that opened at the track July 14.
Of course, FanDuel and Meadowlands are also hoping to take the sportsbook online. When they ultimately do, this deal means they will also be taking IGT software with them.
IGT is quickly emerging as one of the leading software platform providers in the burgeoning legal and regulated US sports betting market.
IGT and the US sports betting market
The company is a longtime partner of MGM Resorts. It provides the sports betting software platform for MGM’s live and mobile sportsbooks in Nevada.
Plus, IGT now provides the software platform for the Race & Sports Book at Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City that began taking sports bets June 14.
FanDuel Group CEO Matt King said making the decision to employ the top sports betting software platform in the business was an easy one:
“When we evaluated sports betting platform provider partners in the US, IGT was the ideal choice, based on the Company’s proven history in the space and the quality, reliability and flexibility of the sports betting technology that it has deployed for customers around the world.”
New Jersey sports betting is on the march
The IGT-FanDuel deal comes together following a flurry of activity surrounding the emerging NJ sports betting market.
In May, the US Supreme Court sided with the Garden State in its case claiming the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) is unconstitutional.
This lifted the federal ban on sports betting and allowed states to pass legislation making it legal. New Jersey did exactly that June 11. The first sportsbooks to open in the state started taking bets just days later.
But that was not the end of it. Sportsbooks quickly started to make deals and plan partnerships to make their way into the fledgling market.
UK bookmaker Paddy Power Betfair (now FanDuel) and US fantasy sports operator FanDuel also struck a deal to merge Betfair US operations with FanDuel in an effort to target the US sports betting market.
The newly merged Betfair-FanDuel entity then signed an agreement to run sports betting at the Meadowlands. The first-ever FanDuel Sportsbook opened as planned last week, and it’s only a matter of time until an NJ online sports betting site emerges.
The Fanduel Sportsbook open for business
Meadowlands is a half hour drive from Midtown Manhattan. Because of that, Betfair and FanDuel executives believe it can become the top-grossing sports betting venue in the country.
IGT Sports Betting VP Enrico Drago said the plan is to offer a world-class sports betting experience:
“IGT’s sports betting technology combined with the expertise of FanDuel represents two experienced, complementary sports betting companies coming together to create a reliable, world-class sports betting experience in New Jersey.”
Using IGT software, the FanDuel Sportsbook took in over $1 million in bets over its opening weekend.
The 5,300-square-foot sportsbook, built inside Meadowlands’ Victory Sports Bar & Club, has space for almost 500 people. There are 10 betting windows and 27 TVs. However, there are also plans to expand in the immediate future.
The plan includes making space for 650 people. Plus, adding five more betting windows and 38 TVs by the time the NFL season kicks off in September.
There are also plans to add self-service betting kiosks and various other retail services.