Gaming Innovation Group is to add an omni-channel sportsbook to the New Jersey facing online casino of Hard Rock International, following the signing of a letter of intent just last month.
Lauded as a “milestone agreement” for GiG, who has been developing its sports betting platform for almost two years, Hard Rock is to be one of Atlantic City’s final entries into the Garden State’s sports betting scene.
Making up the new offering is to be the full suite of the Malta headquartered organisation’s services, including GiG Sports Connect, GiG Trader and GiG Goal, with the offering set to be available online at HardRockCasino.com, on mobile via iOS and Android apps, and over the counter or at terminals inside the property.
Robin Reed, CEO of GiG, explained: “I am proud and delighted to have signed this agreement with our partner Hard Rock, our first inroad to sports betting in the exciting US market. It also headlines our continually strengthening partnership with Hard Rock, across our igaming ecosystem.
“It was a highly competitive pitch against the best sportsbooks in the world, all vying to open up the US market. Hard Rock choosing GiG to power its Sportsbook is a clear statement as to the quality of our cutting-edge sports betting services at this very early stage of their roll-out.
“Hard Rock is a strong brand with scale, wide reach and with the same high ambitions as us. We look forward, with excitement, to continuing to support Hard Rock’s expansion and geographical growth.”
Hard Rock, whose NJ online casino recently topped the $1m monthly revenue barrier for the first time, could also be set to target commercial partnerships within the NFL, as the firm is currently two-years into an 18-year stadium naming partnership alongside the Miami Dolphins.
Under the terms of the expanded agreement, there is also potential to expand the partnership to further US states in the future.
Kresimir Spajic, SVP online gaming at Hard Rock International, added: “The forthcoming launch of the Hard Rock Sportsbook in New Jersey, will mark another step towards becoming a significant player in the national and international sports betting and online gaming industry.
“In the past few months GiG has proven to be an innovative, capable, flexible and trustworthy partner. Such qualities together with vanguard sportsbook technology and services enabled GiG to win our New Jersey Sportsbook RFP.
“We are positive that the extension of our partnership with GiG together with “skin” partnerships with leading international operators, will enable Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City to reach its ultimate goal of becoming New Jersey’s sports betting and online gaming market leader.”
