The Maryland-based Cordish Companies. went big this week, teaming with FanDuel Group to bring sports betting to its Live! Casino & Hotel properties around the country.
Two Pennsylvania properties at either end of the Keystone State should be among the first beneficiaries.
The Cordish and Fanduel partnership plans on pursuing both retail and online sports wagering. In the case of Pennsylvania, FanDuel Sportsbook already operates online in the state via its partnership with Valley Forge Casino. So in the instance of Live! Casino and Hotel and its pending mini-casino project, it would only be a retail betting partnership.
In fact, the company has recently said it hopes to have a platform operating in the Pennsylvania online sportsbook space even before its retail book begins in Philadelphia. However, nothing about this current deal will result in an online sportsbook option for the Philly Live! brand.
Cordish and FanDuel are big players
As mentioned, not only is FanDuel up and running online in Pennsylvania, it is also the market leader in the state by a wide margin. The New York-based FanDuel operates brands across gaming, sports betting, media, and daily fantasy sports, including FanDuel, Betfair, DRAFT, and TVG.
Cordish’s more than a dozen Live! properties currently host more than 55 million visitors a year. Cordish is known for developments that combine elements such as entertainment, gambling, resorts, and dining.
Sports betting stalled in Cordish’s home state
Attempts to bring sports betting to Cordish’s home state of Maryland, where they have three gambling properties, are stalled by a legal opinion requiring a statewide vote to enable such wagering,
Sports betting is planned for Cordish’s Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia and at Live! Casino in Westmoreland County, near Pittsburgh. Both properties are getting built out and both are planned for opening next year.
Matt King, CEO of FanDuel Group, explained the pairing:
“With ten decades of experience, The Cordish Companies have created the model for world-class integrated sports, gaming, entertainment and hospitality destinations. This partnership allows us to capitalize on the incredible success of sports betting to date and bring FanDuel’s top sports betting operations to Cordish destinations across the United States.”
The partnership plans to pursue sports betting retail licenses and online gaming opportunities across the country as legalized sports betting spreads.
Cordish Principal Joseph Weinberg commented:
“We are excited to partner with FanDuel to bring our customers the premier sports betting experience in the country, including unique promotions and sports engagement opportunities that will only be available at Live! properties.”
Philadelphia Live! plans
In Philly, Cordish is building a Live casino project which adjoins the stadiums of the city’s sports teams. Venues for the Flyers, Sixers, Phillies, and Eagles are within walking distance. Those sports locations draw 8.5 million visitors each year.
The property, which will have a hotel, also has easy access to both I-76 and I-95.
Weinberg said in late October that the Live! Philadelphia location is “one of the spectacular locations in the country.”
The finished casino should hold:
- 2,200 slot machines and electronic table games
- Retail sportsbook
- 150 table games
- 200-room hotel
- An esports arena
- Restaurants
- Entertainment spaces
- Parking garage
- Valet service
The project should open before the end of 2020.
Pittsburgh Live! plans
Near Pittsburgh, the Cordish Companies are building a 100,000-square-foot mini-casino at the Westmoreland Mall in Hempfield Township.
The location is directly off Route 30, about 30 miles from Pittsburgh
There isn’t an exact date for the opening but the launch should be sometime next summer.
