BetMGM and Casino Del Mar have extended their sports betting services by introducing a mobile app in Puerto Rico, representing BetMGM’s second non-mainland market for U.S. sports betting.
History Made
BetMGM partnered with Casino Del Mar at La Concha Resort to become the first retail sports betting operator in September of last year and has now taken the next step into the highly lucrative digital sports betting realm. With mobile operations in 20 U.S. states, as well as Ontario, Canada, the Island of Enchantment is the company’s latest stronghold.
BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt said via a BetMGM news release, “BetMGM is ecstatic to become the first operator to deliver mobile sports betting to Puerto Rico. This great collaboration between local officials and Casino del Mar provides a safe, responsible, and entertaining product accessible from anywhere on the island.”
The Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Gaming Commission (PRGC) Jaime Rivera Emmanuelli is optimistic about the growth of the online sports betting market in his territory when he said, “Puerto Rico will quickly catch up with the states that have legalized sports betting.
“The island has the appeal of drawing a broad and culturally diverse audience while having the security, controls, and regulations that the United States requires of its jurisdictions.”
In-Person Sign-Ups Required
The PRGC requires that all customers must sign-up in person for their mobile BetMGM account at the Casino Del Mar sportsbook. That requirement is ostensibly a security measure but it is also used to drive traffic to the casino.
The Casino Del Mar sunk $3.5 million into its sportsbook and lounge which opened in December 2022. There are five betting windows and a dozen self-service sports betting kiosks. Sigfrido De Jesús, General Manager of Casino del Mar, shared his enthusiastic view of mobile sports betting in Puerto Rico when he stated via a press release:
“Today, Puerto Rico is once again at the forefront of the sports betting industry. In addition to being an attraction for sports fans, this will have a positive impact on the revenues of the Treasury. We are pioneers in the sports wagering industry, and we are elevating sports to the next level by developing trustworthy and user-friendly technology tools.”
Unlocking Innovations
Forming this partnership with a company as reputable as BetMGM has provided an opportunity for Casino del Mar and the government to gain insights into advancements within the betting industry.
And as beneficial as in-person signups are to the casino, it serves as an encumbrance to maximizing their customer base as some will not take the time to travel to the casino to sign up for a sports betting account in which they may only have moderate interest.
The in-person sign-up requirement was abandoned in Illinois because of this very reason but whether Puerto Rico will ultimately come to the same conclusion is unclear. Nevertheless, research has shown that online sports betting dwarfs in-person betting and averages a whopping 90% or more of all the wagers taken. Puerto Rico is expected to be no exception to the rule.
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