Tag Archives: CDI

Bet365 to enter Pennsylvania with CDI deal

Bet365 to enter Pennsylvania with CDI deal

Bet365 is set to expand into Pennsylvania, having entered an online sports betting and igaming market access deal with Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI) subsidiary Presque Isle Downs & Casino.

The agreement, CDI said, is consistent with its strategy to exit the online sports and casino business, with the operator seeking to monetise its online sports and igaming market access rights and focus on growing the TwinSpires online horse racing wagering business.

CDI revealed in February last year that it was to switch its approach to operations in the online casino sector but would retain retail sportsbook operations in its casinos.

Read the full story on iGB North America

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CDI pens deal with FanDuel

CDI pens deal with FanDuel

Horse racing and casino operator Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI) has signed a content and sponsorship agreement with Flutter-owned FanDuel.

The multi-year deal involves multiple areas of FanDuel’s business – including its sports wagering, advance deposits wagering (ADW) and television verticals. Under the terms of the deal, CDI will provide B2B technology and services for FanDuel’s sportsbook’s pari-mutuel wagers on horse racing features.

It will also be possible for US-based FanDuel users to place bets on horse racing content at a CDI property, as well as allow FanDuel access to broadcast CDI content on the operator’s newly announced television network. The deal also has provisions providing FanDuel with non-exclusive Kentucky Derby sponsorship rights.

CDI subsidiary, United Tote, will be paid by FanDuel to facilitate the pari-mutuel wagering sections of the agreement. CDI has previously entered into an agreement to sell 49% of United Tote to the New York Race Association, in a..

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Michigan names 888 as Hannahville tribe’s sports betting provider

Michigan names 888 as Hannahville tribe’s sports betting provider

The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) has approved 888 Holdings subsidiary VHL Michigan LLC as the new online sports betting provider for the Hannahville Indian Community.

The Hannahville tribe initially entered into a platform agreement with Churchill Downs Incorporated’s (CDI) TwinSpires B2B sports betting business, but were forced to find a new supplier following CDI’s announcement that it would be re-orientating to provide a more focused horse racing product.

The community operates the Island Resort and Casino in Harris, Michigan – with the tribe’s online site continuing to trade under the Sports Illustrated brand name.

MGCB executive director Henry Williams said: “The Hannahville tribe is the first operator in Michigan to change platform providers since internet gaming and sports betting began here in January 2021. The tribe has found another experienced partner, and I wish them continued success.”

[Read full story on iGB North America]

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Churchill Downs considers turning TwinSpires into B2B product

Churchill Downs considers turning TwinSpires into B2B product

US gaming business Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI) has announced plans for its online betting platform TwinSpires to offer B2B support for sportsbooks wishing to add a horse racing vertical, following the Q1 announcement that CDI would be exiting the online sports betting and casino businesses.

CDI chief executive officer William Carstanjen made the announcement in the company’s Q2 earnings call to investors where he outlined the TwinSpires B2B horse racing strategy.

“We intend to be a leading distributor of horse racing content, either directly to convert to customers of TwinSpires or under a B2B model that enables the online distribution of horse racing content to millions of new customers who have opened online sports wagering accounts.”

Carstanjen pointed to the retail horse racing operator’s extensive institutional knowledge of pari-mutuel wagering as a key USP for the business:

“Given our expertise and extensive knowledge of pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing, we have th..

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CDI to drop online betting and igaming businesses in 2022

CDI to drop online betting and igaming businesses in 2022

Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI) has revealed that it will abandon its online sports betting and online gaming business within the next 6 months, in what it described as the “next step forward” for the company.

The news came as part of an earnings call for CDI’s 2021 financial results. Its online product TwinSpires – which includes horse racing as well as sports betting and igaming – brought in $431.7m in total revenue for the year. However, TwinSpires also accounted for $325.4m in costs.

Bill Carstanjen, CEO of CDI, explained that the company’s sports betting and online gaming business had not performed as expected, emphasising the competitiveness of the space.

“When the US Supreme Court overturned the federal ban on sports betting in May of 2018, we had high hopes for the potential to build a profitable business in this space,” said Carstanjen. “Our initial strategy was to leverage a variable cost technology model and be disciplined in our marketing spend with a focus on bottom ..

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