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Top gaming companies MGM Resorts International and Boyd Gaming will partner with each other to expand online and mobile gaming in the United States. The partnership will allow each company to operate in jurisdictions where the other company has a license.
So, MGM and Boyd will have access to 15 different states. Four of those states already offer mobile and online gambling. Seven of them either currently feature sports betting or will have sports betting by early 2019.
What states will MGM and Boyd occupy?
Here is a look at what states the two companies have a presence in as well as the legal status of both sports betting and online gaming:
| State | MGM and/or Boyd? | Legal status of sports betting | Legal status of online casino and poker |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | Both | Legal with mobile | Online poker only |
| Maryland | MGM | Expect bill in 2019 | None |
| Massachusetts | MGM opens Aug. 24 | Expect bill in 2019 | None |
| Michigan | MGM | Bill introduced this year | Bill introduced in 2018 |
| Mississippi | Both | Legal and about to launch land-based wagering | None |
| New York | MGM (pending) | Land-based commercial casino betting is legal, not launched | Online poker bill introduced in 2018 |
| Illinois | Boyd buying property from MGM | Bill introduced in 2018 | None |
| Indiana | Boyd | Bill introduced in 2018 | None |
| Iowa | Boyd | Bill introduced in 2018 | None |
| Kansas | Boyd | Bill introduced in 2018 | None |
| Louisiana | Boyd | Bill introduced in 2018 | Bill introduced in 2018 |
| Pennsylvania | Boyd (pending) | Legal pending finalized regulations | Will launch early 2019 |
| Ohio | Boyd (pending) | Bill introduced in 2018 | None |
| Missouri | Boyd (pending) | None | None |
| New Jersey | MGM | Legal and launched with mobile pending | Both online poker and online casino legal |
MGM and Boyd have worked together before
The partnership will not be the first collaboration between the two companies. Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City opened its doors in 2003 as a joint venture between the pair.
MGM bought Boyd out of its share of Borgata in 2016. However, there were obviously no hard feelings on either side.
“We are excited to team yet again with Boyd Gaming on this unprecedented partnership, which allows us to fully engage with the almost 30 million M life Rewards members throughout the country,” said Jim Murren, MGM Resorts Chairman and CEO. “We look forward to expanding our entertainment options for guests beyond their visits to our land-based resorts.”
Murren’s counterpart at Boyd,President and CEO Keith Smith, echoed those sentiments, saying:
“Our industry is evolving, providing opportunities for growth through new forms of gaming like online and mobile gaming. Thanks to our partnership with MGM Resorts, Boyd Gaming will have the opportunity to potentially add an online presence in five additional states, positioning us for significant future growth as our respective companies take a leadership role in our industry’s evolution.”
MGM had a very busy weekend
The announcement of the partnership came on the heels of another joint venture announcement. MGM will now work with GVC Holdings on sports betting.
GVC owns bwin.party and is the parent company of Ladbrokes Coral as well. GVC and MGM will each contribute $100 million to the new joint venture
The deal gives MGM a strategic technology partner for sports betting. In turn, GVC now finds itself with a foothold in five states for its sports betting platforms.
The deals create questions in Pennsylvania
Interestingly, a gap in MGM’s portfolio is Pennsylvania. The gaming giant has no properties in the Keystone State. It allegedly tried to purchase Sands Bethlehem casino in PA last year though.
However, Boyd does, or will soon. The company announced a deal to buy Valley Forge Casino Resort late last year.
Pennsylvania will soon launch legalized sports betting, and several of its casinos have applied for sports betting licenses. Valley Forge is one of the properties who applied.
Before the sale, rumors suggested GVC would partner with the property to offer sports betting and online gaming technology. What remains unclear is whether Boyd would honor the deal.
Additionally, GVC and Boyd already have an existing relationship. GVC partnered with Boyd (and MGM) for the Borgata online casino.
So, Boyd may not have any problem with GVC partnering with Valley Forge. It’s possible that this pair of announcements simply clarifies a strong exchange of work between three major gaming companies.
Photo by Ken Wolter / Shutterstock.com
