Boyd Interactive takes control of Resorts Digital Gaming

Garance Limouzy September 24, 2024

Boyd Interactive has acquired Resorts Digital Gaming, the digital gaming division of Resorts Casino in Atlantic City. This deal, finalised on 1 September, represents an undisclosed investment and includes the transfer of Resorts Digital’s internet gaming affiliate casino license to the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE).

In recent years, Resorts Digital has consistently outperformed its brick-and-mortar counterpart, accumulating over $573 million in revenue during the first eight months of 2024, compared to just $109 million for the physical Resorts Casino.

As part of this agreement, Boyd Interactive gains control of the online gaming platforms ResortsCasino.com and MoheganSunCasino.com, along with an unused sports betting skin. These brands are expected to complement Boyd’s existing Stardust Online Casino, which currently operates under a market-access agreement with Borgata Hotel Casino in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Ontario.

Cross-promotion

The deal’s framework, initially established on May 15, ensures that Resorts Digital will operate under the sports betting and internet gambling licenses held by Resorts Casino. This arrangement allows for ongoing collaboration and cross-promotion between the two entities, with Resorts Casino marketing the ResortsCasino.com brand to its physical patrons while the online platform promotes the Resorts Casino Hotel to its users.

Regional presence

Mark Giannantonio, president of Resorts, expressed enthusiasm about the acquisition’s potential, asserting, “We are confident that this transaction will propel Resorts Digital’s proven success to a new level through the scale of Boyd Interactive.” Boyd Interactive’s acquisition comes as New Jersey continues to be a leading state in the online gaming industry.

This acquisition aligns with Boyd Gaming’s strategy to establish a regional iGaming presence nationwide. “The acquisition of Resorts Digital Gaming allows us to leverage our scale and market-leading platform to elevate its success over the last decade,” explained a Boyd Interactive representative.

Expending operation

Boyd Interactive is a relatively new player within Boyd Gaming’s expansive portfolio, which includes 28 properties across 19 U.S. markets. The company previously made headlines in 2022 when it acquired Pala Interactive for $170 million, subsequently rebranding it as Boyd Interactive.

Boyd Gaming CEO Keith Smith (pictured above) has reported promising growth within Boyd’s online segment, citing a successful partnership with FanDuel that continues to yield positive results. Expectations for the online segment’s EBITDA for the entire year have been adjusted to between $65 million and $70 million.

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