Kindred to launch Unibet in Pennsylvania following licensing partnership

Kindred has announced plans to launch its Unibet brand in Pennsylvania after agreeing a strategic partnership with local casino operator Mohegan Sun Pocono.

Kindred said it will offer online sportsbook and casino under the Unibet brand, and a Unibet sports betting lounge at the Mohegan Sun Pocono property.

The initial phase of the strategic partnership covers five years with the possibility to extend the collaboration for two additional five-year terms.

Kindred is partnered with Scientific Games for its US platform and  Kambi for its sportsbook.

“We are excited and proud to extend our US footprint into one of the largest US states to regulate both online sports betting and casino,” said Kindred’s SVP, USA Manuel Stan.

“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. I am confident that Kindred and Mohegan Sun Pocono will offer customers in Pennsylvania a truly great online sports betting and casino experience,” Stan added.

Kindred said the deal was part of its process to secure regulatory approval in Pennsylvania.

Mohegan Sun Pocono is located outside Plains, Pennsylvania, and was the tenth largest property in the state by table game revenue in 2018.

The property initially applied to offer online sports, casino and poker but dropped the poker application back in November last year.

Aviram Alroy, VP of interactive gaming at Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment, said: “We’ve aligned with one of the best online casino and sportbook operators in online regulated markets which will allow us to offer best in-class experience to our existing customers as well as attracting new ones.”

“Introduction of the Kindred offering to the market is a great positive for Mohegan Sun as well as the state of Pennsylvania.”

Pennsylvania online operators are expecting to go live at some point in Q1, although the regulator has yet to specify a go-live date.

Kindred said it will continue to invest in growing its US operations where “market conditions support a sustainable business model”.