Sportsbook solutions specialist Kambi has signed an agreement to provide its online and on-property sportsbook to Mohegan Sun. The MGE integrated entertainment resort, located in Connecticut, is among the most successful gaming destinations of its type in the western hemisphere and one of only two Native American tribes operating commercial casinos in the state.
According to a statement from Kambi the firm was selected, following a competitive process, in part due to its “…track-record of lawful and responsible delivery in the US, including the quality and flexibility of its sports wagering products, trading and risk management capabilities and unrivaled speed to market – both online and on-property”.
Introduced in 1996 by the Mohegan Tribe of Connecticut, Mohegan Sun has since built a global reputation for its first class gaming and entertainment facilities, consistently being ranked among the world’s top resort and entertainment destinations.
The 3.5 million square foot property is situated in south-eastern Connecticut, where 60% of the state’s tourism is located, and boasts both Casino of the Earth & Casino of the Sky, a state-of-the-art poker room and three major entertainment venues.
Since the repeal of the federal sports betting ban in the US last May, Kambi has built a leading position in two of the largest states to have regulated thus far; New Jersey and Pennsylvania, as well as processing the historic first legal online wager in the country outside of Nevada.
While sports wagering has yet to be regulated on an intrastate basis in Connecticut, Mohegan Sun supports pending state legislation to legalize the activity as early as this year. Under existing tribal-state agreements between the Mohegan Tribe and the State of Connecticut and similar agreements with the other federally recognized tribe in the state, commercial casino games are operated exclusively by the two federally acknowledged tribes.
In the meantime, the Kambi Sportsbook will be integrated into Mohegan Sun’s iPro gaming platform to power a free-to-play sportsbook, enabling patrons to familiarize themselves with the product ahead of a regulated real-money launch.
Kristian Nylén, Kambi Chief Executive Officer, said: “Kambi’s strategy in the US is to partner with the biggest and best gaming operators each state has to offer. In Mohegan Sun, not only have we partnered with one of the two largest casinos in Connecticut, but also one of the leading gaming and entertainment destinations across the whole of the country.”
Aviram Alroy, VP of Interactive Gaming for Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment, said: “Mohegan Sun’s goal is to utilise our brand and strong presence in the state and after a long vetting process, we found that Kambi was best positioned to complement that, as they’re the most sophisticated and comprehensive Sportsbook out there. That, along with a highly experienced and responsive team, placed Kambi well above the competition in the selection of a sports betting strategic partner in Connecticut.”
The deal expands Kambi’s roster of customers in the US, with DraftKings, Rush Street Interactive, Greenwood Gaming and Entertainment and 888 already offering the Kambi Sportsbook in New Jersey and/or Pennsylvania.
