Proactive gaming operators like William Hill and FanDuel are partnering with existing casinos in new states to gain the first-mover advantage. Close to two dozen states in the US have legalized sports gambling and others are expected to join the bandwagon in 2020.

FanDuel and William Hill working in advance

Fantasy sports company FanDuel announced last week that it has struck a partnership deal with Cordish Cos., a Baltimore-based hotel, casino, and entertainment Development Company. The firm has several such properties spread across the US. The two aim to offer legal wagering in Maryland whenever it gets legalized.

British giant William Hill’s US subsidiary also partnered with a Casino Miami recently. The two partners aim to start a sportsbook and race venture in the state of Florida. However, FanDuel’s parent company Penn National Gaming is taking the lead in this field by moving into new and untapped markets.

New and upcoming deals

Kevin Hennessey, director of publicity at Bookies.com, said,

“FanDuel Group’s goal is to have a nationwide footprint and to bring the FanDuel Sportsbook to more customers across the country.”

He added that the company aims to open the markets up in the country but on reasonable commercial terms. Hennessey said,

“Partnering with Cordish allows us to further pursue sports betting and online gaming opportunities across the United States as they present themselves.”

He added that the deal would help them get atop two large casino builds in the country.

The alliance is expected to launch in Live! Casino & Hotel and Entertainment Districts properties of Cordish located in Pittsburg and Philadelphia. According to Max Bichsel, Group VP of US Business at Gambling.com said that the FanDuel and Cordish deal aims to create a mutually beneficial agreement between core competencies of both parties.

He said that FanDuel is a market leader in fantasy sports in many states, while Cordish has a significant presence in Maryland and Pennsylvania. The premium LIVE! Casino brand by Cordish will also be enriched because of the experience with the new state-of-the-art sports betting options.