Caesars Entertainment kicked off the week with a major announcement that the company is finally offering a sportsbook app that combines the company closer with its sportsbook operator William Hill. Tom Reeg, CEO of Caesars Entertainment said:
“We are excited to launch our new comprehensive marketing campaign for Caesars Sportsbook. The rebranded and upgraded offerings for our Caesars Sportsbook will provide customized offers, flexible limits, a wide range of betting lines, and an intuitive user experience. Caesars Sportsbook also brings players into an empire of play where, win or lose, every wager gives them more through our award-winning Caesars Rewards.”
This isn’t news to Nevada sports bettors. Caesars Sportsbook by William Hill app has been available in Nevada since last year. The current Caesars Sportsbook by William Hill app will have a new look and link to Caesars Rewards. This app is entirely separate from the new Caesars Sportsbook app outside of Nevada.
Unfortunately, Nevada is not one of the states that will be able to use the new Caesars Sportsbook app. The Nevada Gaming Control Board still makes customers sign up for sportsbook app accounts in person at a land-based sportsbook inside of a casino.
The new Caesars Sportsbook app will work only in states with remote signup. Illinois and Washington, DC are the only two other areas that won’t be able to use the new Caesars Sportsbook app.
Sportsbooks inside of Caesars’ casinos will become Caesars Sportsbook. The sportsbooks operated by William Hill outside of Caesars will remain William Hill and will still have their own app.
Don’t expect to see changes at William Hill locations at the Cosmopolitan, The Venetian, Sahara, etc. There are still more than 100 William Hill sportsbooks throughout the state.
In-person sportsbook registration in Nevada
All funding of digital gambling accounts in Nevada must take place in person at a casino. Prior to this year, this was only the case for opening sportsbook accounts. This is also the case for opening a cashless gaming account at Resorts World Las Vegas and any other casinos that offer this digital solution.
An in-person registration has never been convenient for Nevada sports bettors. Having to visit a casino to set up an account takes time and effort. Since the repeal of PASPA in 2018, sports bettors have been able to set up sports betting accounts online and on a mobile device in most states that have legalized this kind of gambling.
It looked as if the Nevada Gaming Commission was taking steps forward to allow the convenient way to open a sports betting account last year. There was even a public workshop scheduled to advance the topic on the schedule. Unfortunately, the study group was canceled and hasn’t been rescheduled.
This could be a tipping point
Caesars isn’t the only Nevada-based casino operator not to bring its latest sportsbook technology to the state. BetMGM uses different technology and odds everywhere in the US that isn’t Nevada. Boyd Gaming uses Fanduel as its sportsbook app everywhere outside of Nevada. The company uses the B-Connected Sports app in Nevada.
This could be a tipping point for remote account registration in Nevada. Caesars Entertainment and MGM Resorts make up the vast majority of casinos on the Vegas Strip. The two companies might have some influence in the governmental gaming commission.
Forcing tourists to set up additional sports betting accounts is inconvenient and certainly causes interested bettors to spend less money. The two largest casino operators in the state may have something to say to the powers that be at the Nevada Gaming Commission about potential lost income.
