The Puerto Rico Gaming Commission granted the first sports betting operator license that will allow online betting for the first time on the island, Orlando Rivera, the regulatory body’s executive director, announced.
The first property to receive its gaming license is the Casino del Mar at the La Concha Resort in Condado, which has partnered with BetMGM. The license is temporary and was granted especially to capitalize on the upcoming Super Bowl this Sunday, he said, as reported by News is my Business.
BetMGM now is accepting wagers at the San Juan-based beach resort through 12 kiosks and five betting windows. A full-scale BetMGM retail sportsbook is set to open at La Concha Resort later this year. BetMGM plans to launch its mobile betting app in Puerto Rico in the months ahead as well.
“This is a monumental day for BetMGM as it marks the launch of our first operation outside of the U.S. mainland,” said BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt. “Casino del Mar delivers exceptional guest experiences and is an ideal partner as we look to extend our brand in Puerto Rico.”
Sigfrido de Jesús, Casino del Mar’s General Manager, said, “We are very excited to kick off sports betting at Casino del Mar through this important strategic alliance with BetMGM. In Puerto Rico, there is a wide base of sports fans who will now add the possibility of becoming winners to the excitement of their favorite sports games and matches.”
“Sports betting represents a new business model for everyone on the island, especially for the capital city, which will be the first municipality with this type of activity,” Rivera said. “This will represent an important collection for the treasury and an economic flow for local businesses.”
Additionally, the executive confirmed that there are leagues that have shown interest in these bets, namely the Puerto Rico Superior Basketball League and the Professional Baseball League.
In order to incorporate this betting modality, Casino del Mar partnered with BetMGM in September 2021. Initially, betting will only be available for the Cincinnati Bengals vs. the Los Angeles Rams at the Casino’s facilities. Online betting will be available at a later date.
It is estimated that at maturity, sports betting could generate US$60 million annually to the Government of Puerto Rico. The Gaming Commission said it will guide the new betting modality in Puerto Rico in order to ensure that the betting activity complies with all legal parameters.
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2022/02/10/61339-betmgm-at-casino-del-mar-goes-live-with-puerto-rico-39s-first–temporary-sports-betting-license
