888 Holdings Ready to Dive Into US Sports Betting Market: 'Well Prepared'
Among those European-based bookmakers ready to enter the U.S. market following the landmark decision by the Supreme Court Monday, 888 Holdings.
The company has already positioned itself by partnering with US-based firms, mostly on the casino and poker side, to offer state-run online gambling.
“888 has been keeping a very close eye on regulatory developments in the US and welcomes today’s announcement as an important step forward in the potential regulation of the US market. The potential for sports betting in the US is significant and, as the only operator in all three regulated US states*, we believe 888 is uniquely positioned to exploit the potential growth opportunities in the US market that today’s ruling opens up.”
The high court struck down a federal law that had barred betting on football, basketball, baseball and other sports in most states. States that want to take advantage of the ruling now will generally have to pass legislation to allow sports books to open. Some, including New Jersey, which brought the case to the Supreme Court, have a head start.
For 888 Holdings, this would'nt be the first foray into the U.S. market beyond the current sporadic state-by-state legalization of online poker and casinos. Prior to 2006, 888 Holdings' Casino-On-Net was among the most popular online casinos catering to the U.S. market before federal legislation forced their abrupt exit.
- Gilbert Horowitz, Gambling911.com
