Nevada regulators Thursday signed off on expedited licensing to ensure a Carson City casino has a race and sportsbook operating at the start of the football season.
The Nevada Gaming Control Board held a special session to recommend the Nevada Gaming Commission approve Boomer’s Sportsbook to operate at Casino Fandango in the state’s capital. It’s Boomer’s fourth sportsbook to open since August 1 and applications are pending with regulators for three more openings.
The licensing application was scheduled for the September meeting of the Board and Commission ahead of Fandango’s month-to-month agreement with William Hill expiring by the end of September.
Joe Asher, president and CEO of Boomer’s, told the Board and Commission that Casino Fandango gave William Hill two-months’ notice as a courtesy, instead of the one-month notice that either party could use to end an agreement. But rather than accept the extra month, William Hill terminated the agreement at the end of August.
Asher told regulators he hated to ask for an expedited review of the licensing, but the casino owned by Olympia Gaming wanted to ensure it had a sportsbook operating on Sept. 1 ahead of the NFL season kicking off.
“There were a couple of phone calls back and forth between Fandango and William Hill and William Hill sent the notice of termination on one month’s notice. Like, you can’t break up with me, I’m going to break up with you first,” Asher said in a response to a question from Commissioner Brian Krolicki. “The import of that would have been no sportsbook at Casino Fandango for the first month of the football season.”
Krolicki said he understood the need for the expedited review to be prepared for the NFL season for the casino’s customers. “That is a wonderful relationship that the regulators are doing their best to assist the industry where we can so you can succeed,” Krolicki said. “The entry was a splash.”
There will be a manned-sportsbook and two kiosks at Casino Fandango.
Boomer’s launched first at The Commercial in Elko, followed by Ellis Island just off the Las Vegas Strip and Casino Valle Verde in Henderson.
Asher told the Commission the launch has gone well and attracted customers with their signup offer of matching first-time deposits up to $250. Boomer’s is also launching their advertising campaign ahead of the football season.
Asher told the Commission that as another lure to attract customers, Boomer’s is implementing a -105 line on all NFL games instead of the traditional -110.
“We think this will be very attractive to customers and give them a compelling reason to sign up for a Boomer’s mobile account.” Asher said.
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