888 Casino Finds Another Major Break in the US Gambling Scene

888 Casino first entered the American gambling scene way back in 2013. They became the first ever online only casino to operate with an online gambling license in the US. Eight years later in 2021, 888 Holdings has now started making their way deeper into the US gambling scene after securing a partnership with Sports Illustrated.

This Was a Long Time Coming

Current CEO Itai Pazner confirmed in June that 888 has signed a deal with Sports Illustrated. The primary goal is to strengthen their presence across the US market by launching their own sportsbook before the NFL. After 888’s big foray into the US gambling market back in 2013, this would be their second big move; something which was long pending.

Most target markets in the United States are not familiar with the 888 brand yet, despite their eight-year long presence in the nation’s online gaming and gambling market. As stated openly by Pazner, this deal is a direct reflection of their intent to change that.

How Big is 888 Casino in the UK?

Established decades ago in Gibraltar, 888 Casino was first known as Casino-On-Net (1997-2010), founded together by the Shaked Brothers and the Ben-Yithaq Brothers. The name was changed in 2010 to 888 Casino, which was anticipated. The partners had already established a brand around the 888 moniker by then, so it only made sense that they would eventually change their prime establishment’s name to match the 888 Holdings PLC brand name.

Today, 888 Holdings is one of the largest and oldest online gambling and betting establishments in not just the United Kingdom, but also the world in general. The group generated roughly US$850 million or £614 million in revenue last year. The 888 casino has a 25 million+ player base spread across the globe, thanks largely to the trusted range of comprehensive gambling options they provide.

Some of the biggest and the most popular slots available at the 888 Casino are Gonzo’s Quest, Millionaire Genie, Starburst, Casino Reels, Invaders Megaways, Mad Max Fury Road, Rich Wilde and the Amulet of the Dead, Tropicool, Valley of the Gods 2, and Dr. jackpot and Mr. Wild to name just a few. They have all the traditional casino games like roulette, blackjack, craps onboard too. Then there is the world famous 888 Poker online services which offer the best online poker experience. As they own rights to the WSOP Franchise, 888 Casino online poker tournaments are the world’s most prestigious poker competitions online. For those looking to get a feel of being in a real casino, the 888 Live Casino features are extensive.

Check this 888 Casino review for more information on the casino’s present offers, new player bonuses, VIP Tier systems, collection of games, security protocols, fair play standards, regulatory standards, customer support, withdrawal rules, and more. It should help newcomers further understand why 888 casino is as big as it is in these parts.

Although their 888 Online Casino is still the company’s biggest source of pride and revenue, 888 Holdings does have several other revenue streams spread across Europe. They are finally putting in some real effort to make a move and create more revenue streams in the US market which they entered in 2013.

ABG and 888 Teaming Up with Big Plans

Authentic Brands Group (ABG) owns Sports Illustrated and, for them, this is a strategic step to unite two different types of resources to gain footing into the sportsbook market. 888 Casino will be using their own global online gambling network to put Sports Illustrated’s impressive assets in the US to good use. As disclosed by Pazner, 888 casino is already in the process of planning and/or taking the following steps:

A team of marketing experts, product managers, and trading experts from 888 will be joining Sports Illustrated’s content creators at their NYC office

888 Casino’s cloud-based, Online World Series of Poker (WSOP) framework will enter Pennsylvania soon, which does not have any equals in the state

3 of 888’s most successful products in the UK will be introduced to the US market, namely Poker 8, Orbit, and Spectate Sports

More states that allow online gambling will be gaining access to the famous 888 Casino

ABG and 888 Looking Steady Growth

Looking for steady, sustainable growth in US, rather than sudden and unsustainable expansions, 888 will initially release the new sportsbook to Colorado, New Jersey, Indiana and Iowa. Both ABG and 888 will be taking it slow for now, limiting their growth to two to three new states per year. The plan may change, but taking a look at how long they waited to make a move, it would be safe to assume that 888 Holdings is not the type of company to make unplanned, impulsive moves

Given the kind of success 888 Holdings already enjoys in the UK and nearly all of Europe right now, it is understandable why they are not in a hurry. However, it’s also true that after a hiatus of eight years in US, the deal and the consequent steps were necessary for the 888 Group to finally start making their presence felt in the country.