FanDuel Sportsbook appears to finally be about to enter the Nevada market.
Boyd Gaming is planning on bringing its nationwide sportsbook partner to Las Vegas with a retail-only sportsbook at the Fremont Casino and Hotel.
This has been in the works since last year when FanDuel (and Draftkings) filed for gaming licenses with the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB). That process will take another step forward next week when FanDuel and its associated companies appear before the NGCB.
On Aug. 10, the NGCB will listen to representatives of FanDuel, Flutter, Betfair and Boyd Gaming. After the companies present their cases to operate in Nevada, the NGCB will give its recommendation on whether or not FanDuel and its executives should be able to proceed.
If all goes well for FanDuel and its associated companies, the Nevada Gaming Commission (NGC) will give final approval before the end of the month. In theory, a FanDuel Sportsbook could be open at Fremont Casino as soon as next month.
PlayNevada reached out to Boyd Gaming for comment. David Strow, Vice President of Corporate Communications for Boyd Gaming shared the following:
“We believe the FanDuel Sportsbook would be a great addition to the Fremont and the downtown area, and we look forward to sharing more details following the receipt of required regulatory approvals.”
This will be a retail-only FanDuel Sportsbook at Fremont Casino. FanDuel will not offer Nevada online sports betting if the company receives this approval.
The only location in Nevada to bet with FanDuel will be at the retail location inside Fremont Casino.
The FanDuel Sportsbook will be part of an overall casino floor expansion at Fremont Casino.
No online betting for FanDuel
Nevada residents have been clamoring for access to FanDuel since the company opened for business in 2018. FanDuel Sportsbook started with retail and online sports betting in New Jersey. The company has since expanded and is available in 15 states around the country.
The notion of FanDuel coming to Nevada is exciting but guests in Las Vegas will only have part of the experience. Unfortunately, the online sportsbook operator won’t be bringing its superior technology and mobile betting promotions to Nevada.
Boyd Sports mobile bettors will not find FanDuel odds of their apps. The Boyd app will continue to offer the same betting menu and odds.
The offerings for FanDuel and Boyd Sports are similar. IGT provides the sports betting menu and odds for both companies.
On the bright side, this is a small step forward to new sportsbook operators entering the Nevada market.
Baby Steps for other major sportsbooks
Many of the newer sportsbook operators have avoided opening in Nevada. The Silver State still has a restrictive registration requirement where new customers must visit a retail sportsbook to sign up for an account.
Most states that have legal sports betting around the country allow mobile account registration. The online sportsbooks have software that is fine-tuned for mobile registration.
Nevada is a small state compared to New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, etc. Most of the new sportsbook operators aren’t in a rush to spend money to create software that will only be used by a limited number of players.
This isn’t only an issue for new companies. BetMGM and Caesars use different software for their Nevada sports betting apps than in states around the rest of the country. WynnBet doesn’t offer its odds on the Wynn Nevada sports betting app.
The FanDuel Sportsbook retail location in Las Vegas could be a small but important step forward … if it gains approval next week. If profitable, operators not in Nevada could also start dipping their toes in the water.
Will DraftKings be next to head to Las Vegas?
DraftKings could be next to enter Nevada in some form or another. Similar to FanDuel Sportsbook, the company started the licensing process last year.
There was a retail component connected to the deal when DraftKings purchased Golden Nugget Online Casino last year. The deal allows sportsbooks at Golden Nugget casinos to be rebranded as a DraftKings Sportsbook.
Golden Nugget Lake Charles in Louisiana is the first of the properties to offer DraftKings. Retail sports betting at the Louisiana casino is a bit different than in Las Vegas. The sports betting counter at this casino is located inside a bar and restaurant.
Neither DraftKings nor Golden Nugget has announced plans for a Nevada sportsbook yet. However, Golden Nugget casinos in Las Vegas and Laughlin could someday see the DraftKings branding and odds similar to how FanDuel offers a scaled-back service at Fremont Casino.
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