Iowa: Grand Falls Casino debuts online sports betting

Grand Falls Casino launched Friday elitesportsbook.com an online sports betting service, a few days prior to the opening of an in-house sportsbook at the casino floor this weekend.

Bettors can make a variety of different wagers on professional and college sports from their phone or computer, as long as they have an internet connection, a device and are currently in Iowa. Casino officials and site operators have set up geolocation services to ensure users are within state borders before they wager.

The wait is over! Online sports betting with ELITE Sportsbook is here. Active Resort Club members can log in, fund accounts, and place bets at the link in bio! Not a Resort Club member? Stop by the Resort Club to… https://t.co/AFPSOp667t

— Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort (@GFCasino) 27 de agosto de 2019

Iowa lawmakers legalized sports betting earlier this year, becoming the 11th state to officially allow this practice. Located right at the Iowa-South Dakota border, Grand Fall was one of a number of properties that jumped at the opportunity to open sportsbooks, then quickly announced a massive $10 million expansion centered around a new sports gambling area, Argus Leader reports.

“I think people will really like the ease of that site,” said Sharon Haselhoff, general manager for Grand Falls. “People do have to be in Iowa to make their bets.”

In-house Sportsbook

The opening of sports betting venue at the casino floor was expected to occur earlier this month, but the United Kingdom-based contractor they hired to run it was late to apply for a license.

Grand Falls staff plan to open a temporary in-house sportsbook Saturday through Elite Sportsbook, allowing people on the casino floor to make NFL futures bets ahead of the 2019 season. Bettors will be able to wager on games in the casino’s VIP area, between the poker and high-stakes rooms.

The U.K. firm sent in its application Tuesday, Haselhoff said. Grand Falls leadership is looking forward to the partnership, but the approval process could take a couple of months.

Since it’s already authorized to take sports bets, including for its online service, Grand Casino doesn’t have to wait for Betfred to open an in-house sportsbook Tina Eick, director of operations for the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission.

“They would be one option,” Eick said. “Certainly, the facility has the option to be licensed through themselves.”