Could 2022 Be The Year Nevada Sports Betting Apps Allow Remote Account Registration?

Corporate earnings calls offer a lot of information to the investment community. The vast majority of the topics discussed during these calls are financial. They have little impact on the day-to-day customer experience. Every now and again, there’s some actionable information that sheds light on plans that will directly alter how consumers use those products.

This is a long way to say, a couple of casino corporations recently shared some information that will affect Nevada sports bettors. Both Caesars and Red Rock Resorts (AKA Station Casinos) are both planning to have new sports betting platforms for Nevada in 2022.

These new platforms could be the first steps toward creating new technology that would allow for remote sports betting account registration. These new platforms also offer much larger betting menus and promotions for sports bettors around the US.

Caesars plans to bring Liberty to Nevada

Caesars currently has two separate sports betting platforms. There are currently eight states using its Liberty platform. This powers the Caesars Sportsbook and Casino app that launched around most of the country in August.

This app technology is proprietary to Caesars. The company is now planning to use the Liberty platform in all jurisdictions next year. Currently, the Caesars sports betting apps in Nevada, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C. do not use the Liberty platform.

During Caesars’ third-quarter earnings call, Caesars CEO Tom Reeg said:

“(W)e expect to complete the migration of our legacy up to Washington, D.C., Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Illinois to our Liberty platform in 2022.”

During the call, Reeg touted that Caesars’ share of the handle in the states using the Liberty platform “has increased to 12% through September.” Caesars would certainly like to increase how much money is wagered on its sports betting app in Nevada and the other jurisdictions.

The Liberty platform for Caesars wasn’t available in Nevada upon launch because the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) requires new sports betting app customers sign up for an account in person at a land-based sportsbook inside of a casino. The platform didn’t work with NGCB requirements upon launch.

Reeg didn’t mention if the software would be changing for Nevada or if the policy requiring in-person account signup will be different. Fingers are crossed that Caesars is predicting a change in policy and Nevada will soon have the same kind of sports betting menus and technology available elsewhere in the country.

Station Casinos’ new sports betting solution in 2022

Station Casinos is changing its Nevada sports betting platform with a little more urgency. There’s no question that the Las Vegas locals casino operator will change to its mobile and retail sports betting platform.

The switch from Stadium Technology to GAN is in response to a glitch that caused the NGCB to file a complaint against Station Casinos earlier this year after the company took nearly 350 wagers it shouldn’t have accepted over the past few years.

GAN recently announced it’s building a new infrastructure for all of Station Casinos’ sports betting platforms in Nevada. This new platform will be used for the STN Sports mobile app and inside the casino at the sports betting desks and kiosks.

Not only will this be a new platform for Station Casinos but this will be a new operating system for a Nevada casino. STN Sports will be the only Nevada sports betting app to use the GAN platform.

GAN’s new platform must be approved by the NGCB before it rolls out publicly. This should be another significant upgrade for Station Casinos’ sports betting products.

Station Casinos has been one of the sportsbook operators fighting against remote sports betting account registration for years. The company prefers customers walking into its casinos to possibly generate additional revenue from restaurants, bars and other casino games.

GAN should be able to build a platform that can accept mobile account registration. In a perfect world, GAN will be preparing Station Casinos for the inevitable change to a more convenient sports betting solution.

More new sportsbook operators coming to Nevada in 2022

2022 can be a transformational year for sports betting in Nevada. Caesars and Station Casinos shouldn’t be the only new sports betting apps available.

Betfred is still awaiting approval to open its retail sportsbook inside Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. The company already operates its online sportsbook in Colorado and other states.

Bally’s Corp. purchased the Tropicana this year. The company will bring its sports betting platform to Nevada when the deal closes early next year.

The Venetian was also sold earlier this year. Apollo Global Management, Inc. will operate the casino. William Hill currently operates the sportsbook at The Venetian but there’s no guarantee that will continue under new ownership in 2022.

Station Casinos sold Palms to San Manuel earlier this year. The company is planning to make some changes to the sportsbook when it reopens in the first half of 2022. William Hill last operated the Palms sportsbook before it closed in 2019. Like The Venetian sale, there’s no guarantee the company will resume operations when Palms reopens.

MGM Resorts is looking to sell The Mirage. Similarly, Caesars plans to sell one of its Vegas Strip casinos. There are many potentially interested in the properties from both companies. Each sale should bring a new sportsbook operator to the Vegas Strip.

There will be an influx of new sportsbook operators in Nevada next year. That number will be even larger if the NGCB approves remote online sportsbook account set up.