The Barstool sports betting app is slated to launch in Q3 (July 1 – September 30), so it appears to be on schedule. Developed for Penn National-Barstool in conjunction with Kambi, the app is still unseen, but Kambi has a proven track record of success in the US, where it powers several high-profile sports betting apps. In a statement, Penn National Gaming, Inc., which owns Greektown, said it plans to launch its Barstool Sportsbook mobile app on iOS, Android and desktop at noon Friday. Its online casino games. Penn National intends to officially launch its Barstool Sportsbook mobile app on iOS and android, as well as desktop at 12:00pm EST on Friday, January 22, 2021 and its iCasino products will follow shortly thereafter, subject to final regulatory approvals. Barstool Sportsbook fans will have to wait a while longer for the app’s Indiana launch. There was some optimism that Barstool could have become the state’s 10th online sportsbook. However, William Hill beat the company to market, and it looks like Barstool is a few spots back in line now. Penn National intends to officially launch its Barstool Sportsbook mobile app on iOS and android, as well as desktop at 12 p.m. EST on Friday, 22 January 2021 and its iCasino products will follow shortly thereafter, subject to final regulatory approvals.
Barstool Sportsbook fans will have to wait a while longer for the app’s Indiana launch.
There was some optimism that Barstool could have become the state’s 10th online sportsbook.
However, William Hillbeat the company to market, and it looks like Barstool is a few spots back in line now.
888Sport beating Barstool to Indiana
Earlier this week, 888Sportannounced its plans to launch in Indiana during 2021.
888 will likely beat Barstool to market in Indiana, unless some unforeseen delays end up happening. That’s because the company is already ahead of Barstool when it comes to the launch process.
Online sportsbooks have to find a retail casino partner before they can launch in the state.
888 already has already teamed up with Harrah’s Hoosier Park, but Barstool hasn’t set a partnership in stone yet.
However, we already know which casinos Barstool might team up with.
Penn National Gamingowns a large chunk of Barstool, so the sportsbook will eventually line up a partnership with one of Penn’s casinos. In Indiana, that means either Ameristar East Chicago or Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg.
888’s launch progress will be ahead of Barstool until it makes its casino partnership official.
While 888 might be ahead for now, don’t expect its 2021 launch to happen on Jan. 1.
The sportsbook still needs to acquire its temporary vendor license, which is the first step in a series of regulatory hoops it’ll have to jump through before it can start taking bets.
BetIndiana launch could beat Barstool
BetIndiana is the only company that has the opportunity to beat both 888 and Barstool to market in Indiana.
It’s been almost a year since the sportsbook snagged its vendor license, so the company’s launch has been a long time coming.
Sportsbooks typically open for business within a few months of getting their license, so it’s been an unusually long wait for BetIndiana.
The company obtained its license back on Jan. 13, but a series of COVID-19-related setbacks keep delaying its launch.
Barstool Sportsbook States
BetIndiana is a small company, so it just doesn’t have the same resources as a big company like DraftKings or FanDuel to throw at the launch process.
For all we know, the sportsbook could open its digital doors in Indiana this week. On the other hand, it might take several more months to get the ball rolling.
After being stuck in limbo for almost a year, anything could happen at this point.
So BetIndiana and 888 will probably beat Barstool to market, but the question is, when will Barstool’s Indiana debut actually happen?
Barstool Sportsbook Indiana 2021
It might be a while before Barstool Sportsbook officially comes to Indiana, but we do know it’ll happen sometime in 2021.
So what’s the hold up? It comes down to the company’s priorities.
Right now, Barstool’s plan is to launch in every legal sports betting state by the end of next year.
So in other words, Indiana might not be at the top of the company’s list.
We know the sportsbook is launching in Michigan next, but everything is up in the air after that.
Currently, the betting app is only available in Pennsylvania.
Until the company provides a new update, Barstool fans in Indiana will be stuck eagerly awaiting the sportsbook’s launch.
After a rousing start to online sportsbooks and online casinos in Michigan, it’s tempting to put a lot of stock in the first batch of numbers that were released by the Michigan Gaming Control Board on Wednesday.
But there is caution to be had, as that first batch of numbers covered only the first 10 days of business.
And while it may be too early to start tallying up the losers, it may not be too early to start naming the winners.
“I think BetMGM is the most impressive,” said Matias Dorta, an associate at Roundhill Investments who spends his professional life analyzing gaming companies for the firm’s BETZ ETF, the largest sports betting ETF in the market. “They recently came out as number one in market share in Tennessee, which was surprising, and then they launched now in Michigan, and not only are they up there with the DraftKings and the FanDuels, they also finished first in online casino revenue. Very impressive.”
Barstool Sportsbook Launch Date
BetMGM, DraftKings, FanDuel, and Barstool collectively commanded over 95% of the sportsbook market.
“It’s really telling,” Dorta said. “And it’s probably something we’ll see more of as more states open up. You have to remember this is basically the first time we’ve seen these four sites start at the same time.”
Barstool sidles up
And while Dorta is impressed by BetMGM’s showing, he’s equally fascinated with Barstool hanging with the big boys, especially because Penn National Gaming officials say — and the company’s next quarterly report will likely bear this out — they are spending much less than others on marketing.
“One of the big things here is we know DraftKings is spending an arm and a leg on marketing,” Dorta said. “But what Barstool is doing for their marketing strategy is literally going into the Greektown Casino and essentially turning it into a live streaming room. And they’re running Big Cat, Portnoy, flying in Marty Mush, all out of the sportsbook, and it’s direct-to-consumer content. People are placing bets while they’re watching their favorite influencers bet at Greektown.”
And Dorta thinks Barstool’s strategy will pay even bigger dividends down the line.
“I think once lockdowns ease up, that’s really going to play into their favor, especially when football season comes around again,” Dorta said. “They can use the Greektown Casino as a place to bring over all of the Stoolies to watch games, to place bets.”
Another feather in Barstool’s cap? Accounting for promotional credits, Barstool was by far the most profitable sportsbook in the first 10 days in Michigan.
Barstool Sportsbook App
“It’s a really great sign for them,” Dorta said.
Not everyone impressed
When it comes to the … well, the not-winners in the Michigan launch?
“Basically everyone else out of the top four, but it’s way too early,” Dorta said. “Let’s wait for February’s data to come out.”
One item, however, did stand out to Dorta, and it was Golden Nugget, a top-five online casino in New Jersey that limped to a seventh-place finish in casino revenue in the first 10 days in Michigan.
“It was huge opportunity for Golden Nugget, and I need to look into what happened, but I’m guessing BetMGM, DraftKings, FanDuel decided to put more time and energy into getting their casino product out,” Dorta said. “Golden Nugget has their base established in New Jersey, but it didn’t translate — at least not yet — to Michigan. That’s probably the most surprising outcome on the online casino side.”
And while plenty of industry watchers and industry players are poring over these first numbers, Dorta cautions it’s still too early to crown winners or punish losers.
“I think we won’t really know who will dominate the market until the end of the year,” Dorta said.
But there is one massive takeaway Dorta thinks the Michigan launch lends itself to: Other states will want to duplicate the success.
“All in all, the Michigan news was very optimistic for states that are considering legalizing gambling,” Dorta said. “These are the moments when you get the conversations started in other state legislatures, looking to Michigan and saying, ‘Wow, OK, they were able to put this out pretty quickly, they are already seeing results, now it’s our turn.’ This can serve as a catalyst for other states.”
Subscribe to get the latest MI online gambling news to your inbox.
Thank you for subscribing.
Something went wrong.
We respect your privacy and take protecting it seriously