USA
With US sports in full swing, we’ve seen an increased focus on sports betting features centered around the NBA, NHL, and the NFL. I’ll examine that and other exciting news items relevant to players, bettors, and industry professionals.
TLDR: a Bite-sized Overview:
- BetRivers launched a new gamification feature called “PropPacks.” The new feature is reminiscent of booster packs in trading card games with RNG elements, where cards pair with the games in wagered SGPs, where bettors can win bonus rewards at no extra cost.
- Caesar’s launched the new “Horseshoe” online casino brand. While Horseshoe is one of the oldest gambling brands in the US, it only debuted online last month. It introduces a new classic-style online casino that leverages Caesar’s technology and rewards program.
- NHL becomes available as a fixed-odds virtual sports product. Virtual sports are fictional and RNG-based, and they could potentially appeal to both casino players and sports bettors, providing a value-added cross-selling opportunity.
Innovative Gamification From BetRivers With PropPacks
Timing the NBA season premiere, BetRivers released a new innovative promotional feature called “PropPacks.” The feature is reminiscent of booster packs from trading card games like Pokémon, where players can acquire random cards with different rarities and usability.
Bettors who wager $10 or more on eligible Same Game Parlays (SGPs) can receive up to three PropPacks per game for one or both teams in the game. Each pack contains player cards, and if a featured player on a card manages to beat the lines on the card, the bettors can win bonus credits and other useful rewards. Rewards are increasing more valuable based on the line value, ranging from 20+, 30+, 40+, and 50+ points.
This new PropPacks feature is a lot of fun and works perfectly in the gambling framework. Draws from card packs are RNG-based, and the rewards are free of extra cost, adding value for bettors.
Caesar’s Entertainment Launched Classic Online Casino Brand Horseshoe
Horseshoe, a classic casino brand launched in 1951, debuted in October when Caesar’s Entertainment launched the Horseshoe online casino in Michigan. This new online casino leverages Caesar’s technology stack and its award-winning loyalty program, Caesars Rewards ®.
The Horseshoe brand stands out among top competitors with its classic casino look and feel and iconic horseshoe iconography. The Horseshoe online casino launched with several exclusive branded games, including Horseshoe Rising Rewards, 2x3x Horseshoe, Horseshoe 3 Coin Cowboy, and Horseshoe Slick Riches LuckyTap.
Already in October, the brand launched in three different states: Michigan, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. An aggressive expansion in highly contested markets. However, looking at other similarly branded casino platforms, Horseshoe has an edge with better performance and a modern user interface and navigation. In my experience, other classic-style casinos suffer from outdated technology and insufferable UX and performance.
NHL Fixed-Odds Virtual Sports Betting Expected to Become Available During Q4
The National Hockey League (NHL) has signed a licensing agreement with B2B gambling provider Inspired Entertainment to offer fixed-odds Virtual Sports games featuring the NHL logo and NHL Club jerseys and names.
The turnaround for an official launch is expected to be quick. Launching already in Q4 of 2024, it is expected to be a viable addition to North American sportsbooks.
Virtual sports is a niche gambling product that doesn’t drive much revenue. It rather acts as a value-added experience to offer a more competitive product for brands, and it can help fill the void of sports betting experiences during dry periods of the year. Considering the fictional elements and RNG nature of virtual sports, a case can be made that it’s a product that is more suitable for casino players and could assist in cross-selling gambling products between sports bettors and casino players.