Casino and racetrack operator JACK Entertainment has teamed up with developer and supplier of B2B software for the gambling industry GAN to deploy the latter’s platform to support sports betting and online casino gaming, should the two practices become legal in Ohio.
JACK Entertainment currently operates JACK Cleveland Casino in downtown Cleveland and JACK Thistledown Racing, a thoroughbred racing and gaming property in North Randall, Ohio.
The recently penned sports betting and real-money online gaming deal represents an extension to JACK Entertainment and GAN’s existing partnership. JACK Entertainment has been a client of GAN’s Simulated Gaming Enterprise Platform since October 2016. The platform has been powering the casino operator’s playJACK.com social casino operation.
The expanded deal between the two companies will see GAN deliver its Enterprise Platform, including the US-patented iBridge Framework linking the GameSTACK Internet Gaming Ecosystem to the casino management system deployed by JACK Entertainment at its Ohio properties.
GAN also said that under the terms of the recently penned deal, it would operate its platform from “intra-State infrastructure entirely deployed in the State of Ohio.”
News about the extended agreement between GAN and JACK Entertainment arrived as the casino operator announced that it has also joined forces with European sports betting technology provider Kambi to deploy its wagering products if athletic wagering becomes legal in Ohio at some point.
Regulated US Expansion for GAN
Commenting on their extended deal with JACK Entertainment, GAN COO Jeff Berman said that it moves GAN into a new state with “an existing client of Simulated Gaming and once again demonstrates the strategic value of GAN’s technology Platform which offers clients the ability to build an online community of Simulated Gaming players well in advance of real money Internet gambling regulation.”
Adam Suliman, Vice President of Sports and Digital Gaming at JACK Entertainment, added that they are excited to make “this important step with GAN” and that they are confident in the quality of the product they will be offering if online gambling and sports betting become legal in Ohio.
The legalization and regulation of sports betting is currently under discussion in the state Legislature. However, it seems now and for now that the practice will take at least another year to be authorized on the territory of the state.
Two sports betting bills have been introduced recently. However, state lawmakers need to resolve several important issues before advancing any of the two legislations or any other piece that might emerge during Ohio’s current legislative session.
One of the most pressing issues before legislators is related to the authorization of betting on collegiate sports. The state’s Inter-University Council, a coalition representing 14 Ohio universities and colleges, recently urged lawmakers to exclude college games from any betting legislation. However, proponents of the idea that Ohio residents should be allowed to wager on college sports have pointed out that the state would lose precious revenues, if it bans betting on college sporting events.
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date on the day’s top casino news stories
