Ocean Casino partners with Elys’ USBookmaking on sports betting services, retail solutions

Ocean Casino Resort has partnered with interactive gaming and sports betting company Elys Game Technology, the Atlantic City casino announced on Thursday. Under the new agreement, USBookmaking, Elys’ sports wagering subsidiary, will provide Ocean trading management services and future retail solutions.

The partnership is scheduled to begin in March 2022, according to a press release. USBookmaking will provide its solutions to the gambling facility pending regulatory approval from New Jersey’s gaming regulators.

"We are excited to partner with USBookmaking to capitalize on their expertise, offering a best-in-class experience," said Bill Callahan, Interim Chief Executive Officer for Ocean Casino Resort. “The addition of a renowned organization such as USBookmaking should only serve to bolster our land-based wagering product."

Elys is currently operational in both online and retail channels throughout Italy via approximately 1,200 web-shops, and is now live in North America with 6 tribal casino customers. The company plans to process applications to offer sports wagering throughout its betting platform in the U.S. and Canada to casinos, as well as independent business venues.

"The Atlantic City market may be competitive, but with Ocean as our partner, USBookmaking is more than ready to take on the challenge,” said Vic Salerno, President of USBookmaking. 

The subsidiary “looks forward to deepening its relationship” with the casino over the next few years. The commencement of betting transactions at the venue is subject to both parties obtaining the required platform certification and Casino Service Industry Enterprise License from the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement.

“We are delighted to partner with Ocean,” said Michele Ciavarella, Executive Chairman of Elys Game Technology. “We are just starting our global expansion plan and fully expect to see rapid adoption of our advanced Elys Gameboard betting technology in the United States and Canada in the coming months."

The company expects to leverage its advanced technology, which has proved to be successful in the highly-competitive European market, to quickly expand in the North American market. This, coupled with “the extensive experience” of the USBookmaking team, positions the business to deliver “a highly entertaining and competitive” sports wagering product.

Following the partnership announcement, Ocean is now set to reveal details about “a new entertainment experience.” These will be unveiled next year and follow a recent announcement of a resort reinvestment of more than $75 million over the next year.

As part of this reinvestment, Ocean will add more than 460 guest rooms and suites. This comes on the heels of a series of property improvements deployed throughout 2021, including a redesigned casino floor with new high-limit experiences.

The venue, which spans over 20 beachfront acres on the Atlantic City Boardwalk, currently features 1,399 guest rooms and suites, 135,000 square feet of gaming entertainment, 1,720 slot machines, 108 gaming tables, and 160,000 square feet of meeting and convention space.

About 90,000 square feet of outdoor space and several signing options, plus a 40,000 square foot spa, are also part of its offerings. It also offers both land-based sports wagering and online gaming with the state of New Jersey through its real-money gaming sites.

Earlier this week, Bill Callahan was approved by state officials as interim CEO of Ocean. Callahan, who has more than 25 years of experience in the casino industry, previously worked in top positions at Ocean, as well as in Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, where he acted as vice president of relationship marketing for 17 years.