Hard Rock International has announced it has signed up with Gaming Innovation Group (GiG) to add an omni-channel sportsbook to its online casino. This agreement follows a Letter of Intent signed between GiG and Hard Rock on 12 October 2018.
Players in New Jersey will soon be able to place bets on sports including all-American favourites such as football, basketball, baseball, hockey, college sports, soccer and more. They will be able to play online at HardRockCasino.com, on mobile via the Hard Rock Casino iOS and Android apps, and over the counter or at terminals inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City.
Since its launch in July this year, HardRockCasino.com has rapidly reached $1m in revenue in the state of New Jersey, which only recently opened its doors to regulated online gambling. The lightening-fast success is due to Hard Rock taking its highly recognisable Hotel & Casino brand experience online through GiG’s flexible, robust and scalable technical platform service and its best-in-class front end website service GiG Magic. Players have also been able to benefit from the Wild Card Rewards system, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City’s exclusive loyalty programme.
The addition of the Sportsbook to GiG’s existing partnership with Hard Rock is a milestone agreement for the online gambling specialist who, after nearly two years of development of its sports betting platform, has won the highly sought-after tender in competition with some of the world’s major sportsbook providers.
Hard Rock has chosen the full suite of GiG’s sports betting services including GiG Sports Connect, GiG Trader and GiG Goal. There is potential to expand the partnership further in the future in other US states.
The supreme court in the US recently revoked the federal ban on US sports betting opening up for state-by-state regulation. More than 20 states with a total addressable market of around half of the US population are expected to open up by the end of 2023. The total middle market range is estimated at $6bn split 50/50 offline and online, where online will be dominated by mobile (source H2GC).
The recent update of the National Football League’s policy on commercial gaming lifted the restriction on Hard Rock’s future sportsbook operation in Atlantic City. Operators of casinos and sport books can now be naming rights partners of NFL venues, subject to certain conditions. Hard Rock International became Miami Dolphins stadium naming partner in 2016 with an 18 year agreement.
Kresimir Spajic, SVP Online Gaming at Hard Rock International, says: “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.”
Robin Reed, CEO of GiG, says: “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 sports books 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.
For further information, please contact:
Natasha Gowans, Head of Communications GiG
About Gaming Innovation Group (GiG):
Gaming Innovation Group Inc. is a technology company providing products and services throughout the entire value chain in the iGaming industry. Founded in 2012, Gaming Innovation Group’s vision is ‘To open up iGaming and make it fair and fun for all’. Through the ecosystem of products and services, GiG is connecting operators, suppliers and users, to create the best iGaming experiences in the world. Gaming Innovation Group operates out of Malta and is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol GIG.
For more information about GiG and our services also see:
About Hard Rock International
With venues in 74 countries, including 185 cafes, 27 hotels and 12 casinos, Hard Rock International (HRI) is one of the most globally recognized companies. Beginning with an Eric Clapton guitar, Hard Rock owns the world’s most valuable collection of music memorabilia, which is displayed at its locations around the globe. Hard Rock is also known for its collectible fashion and music-related merchandise, Hard Rock Live performance venues and an award-winning website. HRI owns the global trademark for all Hard Rock brands. The company owns, operates and franchises Cafes in iconic cities including London, New York, San Francisco, Sydney and Dubai. HRI also owns, licenses and/or manages hotel/casino properties worldwide. Destinations include the company’s two most successful Hotel and Casino properties in Tampa and Hollywood, FL., both owned and operated by HRI parent company The Seminole Tribe of Florida, as well as other exciting locations including Atlantic City, Bali, Cancun, Daytona Beach, Ibiza, Orlando, Shenzhen and San Diego. Upcoming new Hard Rock Cafe locations include, Maldives, Manila, Malaga, Georgetown, Fortaleza, Rosario and Chengdu. New Hard Rock Hotel, Casino or Hotel & Casino projects include Berlin, Budapest, Dublin, London, Los Cabos, Maldives, New York City, Ottawa, Sacramento, Dalian and Haikou in China. In 2018, Hard Rock International was recognized as a Forbes Magazine Top Employer for Women. For more information on Hard Rock International visit www.hardrock.com.
