- Details
- By Tribal Business News Staff
- Gaming
IGNACIO, Colo. — The Southern Ute Indian Tribe’s Sky Ute Casino created a partnership with iGaming and technology providers to launch a sportsbook focused on the U.S. esports market.
Under the deal, Ignacio, Colo.-based Sky Ute Casino will open esports betting with GameCo LLC, a Las Vegas, Nev.-based video gaming firm, and sportsbook solutions provider U.S. Bookmaking, also based in Las Vegas.
The betting service will use the Chameleon iGaming platform via GameCo’s partner, Vancouver, British Columbia-based FansUnite Entertainment Inc. and its Askott Entertainment subsidiary, according to a statement.
Courtesy photo.Billed as the first “real money” sportsbook for esports betting, the new offering is aimed at a younger demographic of online gamblers, the companies said.
“Esports mobile betting has always been on the horizon and now the Sky Ute Casino Resort is excited to enter the arena,” casino Assistant General Manager Travis Garlick said in a statement.
Sky Ute Casino had ongoing relationships with U.S. Bookmaking and GameCo. Garlick said Sky Ute chose the slate of partners “to provide a unique customer experience that will infuse the world of esports with the excitement of the casino industry.”
FansUnite and GameCo linked up in September to launch a turnkey esports betting platform for the U.S. market.
GameCo CEO Blaine Graboyes said in a statement that the partnership was a key step in “moving the industry forward by providing the first-ever dedicated esports book in the U.S.” The company is seeking other partners to bring esports sportsbooks to additional markets with a goal of “capturing revenue from an untouched segment in the U.S. online casino market,” according to Graboyes.
Sky Ute Casino Resort in southwest Colorado has been temporarily closed since March 23 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to its website.
In addition to the casino, the 1,500-member Southern Ute Indian Tribe’s enterprises are involved in oil and gas production, natural gas gathering, real estate development, housing construction and investment funds.
