Pennsylvania’s Mohegan Sun Pocono casino and the Malta-based Kindred Group have recently entered into a new “strategic partnership” that will see them venture into the Keystone States gambling expansion opportunities. The five-year deal which can be extended for an additional two five-year terms marks Kindred Group’s– formerly known as Unibet Group – plans to establish a strong presence in the United States’ sports betting industry. As revealed during the presser, Kindred plans to venture into both online and land-based sports betting in the state with the possibility of expanding to offer online casino gaming as well.
Mohegan Sun is still considered to be one of the most lucrative gaming facilities in the state and its venture into the sports betting market did not come as much of a surprise even though the partnership was the very first confirmation that the casino was indeed interested in the emerging legal and regulated sports betting market. Kindred is, of course, a worth partner but some of the features it offers will not be part of the deal. These include its successful recreational player-oriented poker client which cannot be a part of the deal simply because Mohegan Sun withdrew its application for an online poker license at a Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board meeting on November 28, 2018.
“Finding a strong partner who shares Kindred’s dedication to customer experience and values has been critical and I am delighted that we have found just that in Mohegan Sun Pocono,” Manuel Stan, the senior vice president of Kindred US said in a statement. “I am confident that Kindred and Mohegan Sun Pocono will offer customers in Pennsylvania a truly great online sports betting and casino experience.”
The partnership was not a surprise as well since Kindred was apparently the only potential partner that fit a description that was given by Mohegan Sun representatives during a November 2018 presentation. However, it remains to be a great choice which is certainly going to shake up the gaming industry in Pennsylvania. According to Aviram Alroy, the VP Interactive Gaming at Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment, the move to align with one of the best online casino and sportsbook operators is going to allow the casino to offer the “best in class experience” to existing consumers while simultaneously attracting new players.
Kindred’s Plans for the United States
Representatives from the Kindred Group have expressed excitement and pride to the extension of their fingerprint in the United States through the partnership with Mohegan Sun to offer their services on the largest state to regulate both online sports betting and online casinos. The partnership is, however, not Kindred’s first foray into Pennsylvania – the company was already in a strategic partnership with Kambi, another gaming operator that has a strong presence in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. In the Keystone State, Kambi’s sportsbook technology is used in the South Philadelphia Turf Club, Sugarhouse Casinos, Rivers Casino and Parx Casino.