BlueBet's online sportsbook brand Clutchbet makes US debut in Iowa

Australian racing and sports betting operator BlueBet's online sportsbook brand ClutchBet has now made its U.S. debut in Iowa. The product joins the US sports betting landscape time for the new football season.

Iowans 21 years and older can now download the new ClutchBet app, or visit ClutchBet.com, to place wagers. The brand offers betting on thousands of professional and collegiate sporting events staged both locally and around the world, a statement reads.

In a press release, the company said that ClutchBet – a name that champions the popular sporting phrase - is "poised to make a winning play in the Hawkeye State." The sportsbook is developed on proprietary, in-house technology, and "promises a localized betting experience with compelling offers, odds, and products."

The company further explained that ClutchBet features a proprietary technology that "delivers a superior user experience"; an internal trading team offering "unique and locally tailored markets"; innovative wagering products; and customer service "designed to exceed player expectations."

Jake Francis, SVP of Operations in ClutchBet, said: "Sports fans in Iowa deserve a memorable betting experience and we are thrilled to make our U.S. debut in a state with an incredibly rich sporting history and a legion of passionate sports fans."

Jake Francis

For his part, ClutchBet's SVP Marketing, Sean Phinney, added: "The ClutchBet slogan is 'For the Win', and with its combined decades of sports betting industry experience, the ClutchBet team is determined to deliver Iowans a winning wagering product."

New players in Iowa can take advantage of ClutchBet's special launch offers, which include a risk-free bet of up to $500; a winning point spread bets on Iowa and Iowa State to be paid out at odds of +150 all season; and ClutchPicks, a section of the site offering daily boosted game odds across different sports.

ClutchBet's launch in Iowa is in partnership with the Q Casino and its owner, the Dubuque Racing Association. The sports bar at the Q Casino will be rebranded as a ClutchBet Lounge in the coming weeks, the brand noted.

In addition, ClutchBet Lounges are currently featured at the Gary Dolphins Iron Bar in Dubuque, the Leaderboard Sports Bar in North Liberty, and the Vine Tavern and Eatery in Iowa City. 

BlueBet first secured its license to operate Clutchbet late last month from the state's Racing and Gaming Commission. ClutchBet was launched earlier this year as part of BBT’s two-stage capital-light entry strategy to launch a B2C business to access the US market before launching a white-labeled Sportsbook-as-a-Solution offering. With market access in Colorado, Louisiana and Indiana, BlueBet said launching in Iowa provided a platform to execute the first stage of its strategy.

BlueBet CEO Bill Richmond said BlueBet being officially live in the US marks a “huge moment” in the company’s history: “We are thrilled to bring our sportsbook to Iowa sports fans who we are confident will respond well to our mobile-first online offering and differentiated market positioning."