FanDuel Sportsbook Entering Nevada Market Through Las Vegas Casino

Global bookmaker FanDuel Sportsbook is set to enter the Las Vegas market with a branded sportsbook inside one of Las Vegas’ most-storied downtown casinos.

At its Aug. 10 meeting, the Nevada Gaming Control Board is scheduled to consider a license application to brand the small sportsbook at the Fremont hotel-casino under the FanDuel name, according to Nevada Independent reporter Howard Stutz.

Mobile App Requires Approval

This sportsbook branding effort will not include licensing for FanDuel to operate a mobile app in the state, the Nevada Independent reported.

Sports betting is legal in Nevada, but bettors are required to register the app in person at a brick-and-mortar gaming location. 

Two of the nation’s largest online bookmakers, FanDuel and DraftKings, have not been licensed to operate mobile apps in Nevada.

In May, DraftKings took steps to expand its reach by acquiring Golden Nugget Online Casino. 

The deal does not include ownership of the privately held Golden Nugget hotel-casino in downtown Las Vegas and other Golden Nugget casinos nationwide. 

DraftKings also owns the Vegas Sports Information Network, known as VSiN, which uses various formats, including mobile and broadcast platforms, to provide sports betting analysis.

Boyd-FanDuel Alignment

The Fremont is owned by Las Vegas-based Boyd Gaming, which has a 5% stake in FanDuel, whose parent, Flutter Entertainment, is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland.

Though the Fremont’s sportsbook will operate under the FanDuel brand and use FanDuel sports betting odds, Boyd employees will continue to staff the sportsbook, according to the Nevada Independent.

Boyd Gaming spokesman David Strow told the website a FanDuel Sportsbook “would be a great addition to the Fremont and the downtown area.”

Fremont’s Storied Past

The Fremont, one of downtown Las Vegas' longtime casinos, first opened in 1956. 

At one time, the Fremont and other casinos formerly controlled by the Argent Corp. were illegally overseen by oddsmaker and Chicago Outfit associate Frank “Lefty” Rosenthal.

In addition, Ida Devine, a Hot Springs, Arkansas, native and Mafia courier, transported illegally skimmed casino profits decades ago from the Fremont to mobster Meyer Lansky in South Florida. 

Her journey began at the now-demolished passenger train station located where the Plaza hotel-casino now stands on Main Street.

Renovation Underway

The Fremont is undergoing a $50 million renovation and expansion, which is expected to be completed within months. The exterior of the hotel tower was repainted about a year ago.

The Fremont sportsbook’s current small size is in contrast to the large sportsbook at Circa Resort a few doors down on Fremont Street. Circa opened in late 2020 as an adults-only resort with a sportsbook billed as the world’s largest. 

In addition to other properties in Southern Nevada, Boyd Gaming operates the Main Street Station and California hotel-casinos in downtown Las Vegas. The Fremont is the only downtown Boyd property with a sportsbook. 

Including Nevada, Boyd Gaming operates 28 brick-and-mortar properties in 19 states. The company also owns the Boyd Sports wagering app.