Although it was issued a Sports Wagering Certificate of Authority last month, Majestic Star Casino has not received approval from the Indiana Gaming Commission to operate a retail or mobile sportsbook yet.
That’s not stopping Spectacle Entertainment, Majestic Star’s owner from throwing out a timeline for the launch of its online sportsbook.
According to the Chicago Tribune, John Keeler, Spectacle’s vice president, and general counsel, said it would be applying for an online betting license.
In fact, Keeler was so bold as to say:
“We should be ready for that by the Super Bowl.”
By launching a mobile sports betting app, Spectacle can stay active in the Indiana sports betting market, even when it’s focusing on its future move to Gary and its rebrand to Hard Rock Casino.
Is Hard Rock Casino in Indiana in trouble?
The new Hard Rock is expected to open its doors on Dec. 31, 2020.
This leads to a serious question of whether or not the new casino will be ready by its proposed start date. It has been six weeks since the state approved Spectacle’s move and the new site shows no signs of construction at all.
As far as opening its new retail location next to the Borman Expressway, it appears that Spectacle has a ways to go. Not only has construction not begun, but the plot of land is still basically untouched. There are weeds and debris everywhere.
Apparently, there is nothing to worry about. According to the Northwest Indiana Times, Keeler said:
“[The] project is not in trouble.”
Keeler noted that this delay in breaking ground on the new site is because of the need to secure adequate funding for the new casino.
The approximately 225,000 square-foot Hard Rock will showcase:
- Massive gaming floor with over 2,000 slots and table games seats
- Hard Rock Café,
- A 2,000-seat music venue
- Sportsbook
This end result is far off in the future, though. Keeler mentioned that several investors are likely to fund the project, however, the details of this information are a bit cloudy.
Because Spectacle is a private company and it doesn’t need to disclose any of the financial particulars in the deal.
Based on the current situation, it’s tough to tell if Gary’s newest casino will be ready in time. Indiana sports bettors should stay tuned, though, as Spectacle and others in the state prepare to launch additional online sportsbooks in the near future.
Indiana sports betting
The first month of sports betting in Indiana has been an exciting time. After several sportsbooks debuted within the first few days of legal wagering, the Hoosier State finished September with 13 total retail sportsbooks.
According to the Indiana Gaming Commission, Indiana sportsbooks accepted over $35 million in wagers during its first month of operation.
Then as the calendar turned to October, online sports betting launched with the first two Indiana online sportsbooks:
- DraftKings Sportsbook
- BetRivers Sportsbook
Of course, it is hard to sit on the sideline for the majority of the football season. If Spectacle is able to launch an online sportsbook in time for the Super Bowl would be huge.
There are only two online options available at the moment. That means Spectacle still has some time to join the Indiana market before it becomes too crowded.
