Fubo on track for Q4 sportsbook launch after Iowa approval
President Scott Butera promises to deliver an “elevated sports entertainment experience” in the Hawkeye State by the end of 2021
Fubo Gaming has gained a license from the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (IRGC) to offer online sports wagering in the state via a market access agreement with Casino Queen.
The approval is considered an integral step for the company, with Fubo seeking to launch its first-ever mobile sportsbook by the end of Q4 2021.
Once it goes live, sports bettors in the Hawkeye State will have the opportunity to wager on the Fubo Sportsbook while watching the action via a live stream integration from fuboTV.
Designed to offer a personalized betting experience, Fubo Sportsbook intends to combine data from both the betting and streaming platforms to better understand consumer viewing preferences, before recommending relevant bets.
The company hopes to turn passive sports viewers into active participants via real-money betting.
Fubo Gaming president Scott Butera said: “As we enter the mobile sports betting market, we couldn’t be more excited to kick off this journey in Iowa.
“We thank the IRGC and Casino Queen for being the perfect partner in helping us cross the goal line and bring this sportsbook to the passionate sports fans of Iowa.
“We believe Fubo Sportsbook will provide an elevated sports entertainment experience that will bring increased interaction and engagement between sports viewing and betting,” he added.
Fubo Gaming also obtained market access agreements in four further states, including in Arizona via a partnership with the Ak-Chin Indian Community.
Elsewhere, Kindred Group has confirmed its intention to launch a Unibet-branded mobile sportsbook in Iowa after securing a 10-year agreement to operate in the state through its partnership with Caesars.
The operator’s Iowa betting app will be made available to customers on the Apple Store and Google Play Store, while Iowa is Kindred’s fifth state after successful launches in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Virginia to date. Arizona is expected to become number six.
“We are truly excited to expand our Midwest footprint via the multistate agreement with Caesars Entertainment and bring a top sports betting offering to the Iowa customers,” said Manuel Stan, SVP Kindred US.
“The Iowans’ passion for football is unparalleled and we are confident we can bring an exciting product just in time for the start of the new football season,” he added.
Iowa scrapped its in-person account registration rule in January of this year after 17 months, paving the way for US operators to offer state-wide mobile sign-ups.