FanDuel Marks Atlantic City Retail Betting Debut with Bally’s Casino Sportsbook

Sports betting operator FanDuel has ventured into the Atlantic City gambling market with the launch of a temporary sportsbook at Bally’s Atlantic City Hotel & Casino.

The temporary facility will remain operational until a permanent sportsbook, currently under development, is launched.

The new FanDuel Sportsbook features six live odds boards, ten IGT PlaySports self-service betting kiosks, and three live betting windows. The facility takes bets on all major US and international sports. It is directly accessible from Atlantic City’s Boardwalk and is located on the main casino floor.

The self-service kiosks at the betting facility operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Attendants at the live betting windows are available from 12 pm to 10 pm Monday through Friday and from 10 am to 10 pm Saturday and Sunday.

Permanent Sportsbook Coming Spring 2021

Bally’s Atlantic City’s owner, Bally’s Corporation (formerly Twin River Worldwide Holdings) said that construction is underway on the permanent facility. The company expects the permanent FanDuel Sportsbook to open doors in the spring of 2021. It will span 4,100 square feet and will feature 34 IGT PlaySports self-service betting kiosks, five live betting windows, a luxury 80-seat lounge with 30 reclining club chairs, massive LED video walls broadcasting sporting events, and a food and beverage menu offering self-service craft beer, among other things.

Commenting on the launch of their temporary sportsbook at Bally’s, FanDuel Vice President of Retail, Keith Wall, said that “while they are eager to get up and running with our temporary sportsbook,” they also cannot wait until they launch the permanent location and “showcase to Atlantic City why FanDuel is the number one sportsbook in New Jersey.”

FanDuel already operates a retail betting facility at the Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Expanded Partnership

News that FanDuel was gearing up preparations to enter Atlantic City’s retail betting market emerged in October when the operator announced it had expanded its existing partnership with Bally’s Corporation (then Twin River) to open a sportsbook inside Bally’s.

Bally’s Corporation bought the Boardwalk hotel-casino from Caesars Entertainment earlier this year for $25 million. In a separate deal, the casino operator purchased from Caesars the worldwide rights to the Bally’s brand for $20 million and announced plans to utilize it across all of its holdings.

In November, Bally’s Corporation received regulatory approval from New Jersey regulators to operate its newly acquired Atlantic City casino and committed to a $90 million renovation and expansion of the property that was one of the glitziest resorts in the past but has lost a lot of its luster over the years.

The opening of a new sportsbook is part of the property’s refinement. Bally’s previously shared a William Hill-branded betting facility with Caesars-owned Wild Wild West.

Commenting on the newly opened temporary sportsbook, Bally’s Corporation President and CEO George Papanier said that they are very excited to announce the opening of the new facility and that it is one of the many planned capital improvement project at Bally’s.

Mr. Papanier went on to say that they are looking forward to implementing the winning combination that his company’s nationwide expertise in gaming and casino operations and FanDuel’s “market-leading sports betting acumen and globally recognized brand” has proved to be and to provide their Atlantic City guests with “unrivaled sportsbook experience.”