FanDuel Sportsbook opens at Blue Chip Casino

(PRESS RELEASE) -- Boyd Gaming and FanDuel Group today announced the official debut of the FanDuel Sportsbook at Boyd Gaming’s Blue Chip Casino, Hotel & Spa in Michigan City, Indiana.

Hall of Famer Brian Urlacher placed the ceremonial first wager this morning at the FanDuel Sportsbook, just hours before the kickoff of the 2019-20 professional football season. The first official bet placed in the FanDuel Sportsbook was Urlacher’s straight bet on Chicago (as three-point favorites) over Green Bay in Thursday night’s debut game. Urlacher wagered $54, in honor of his jersey number.

“We are thrilled and honored to have a Chicago sports legend like Brian Urlacher join us to celebrate the debut of the FanDuel Sportsbook at Blue Chip,” said Ted Bogich, Executive Vice President, Operations for Boyd Gaming. “This state-of-the-art sportsbook – managed by FanDuel, one of the nation’s premier sports-betting brands – will be a tremendous addition to our first-in-class amenities, and give customers yet another reason to visit the leading regional entertainment experience we have created at Blue Chip.”

Blue Chip’s sportsbook opened just days after Boyd Gaming and FanDuel opened sportsbooks at Diamond Jo Casino - Dubuque, Iowa, and Diamond Jo Casino - Northwood, Iowa. Next week, FanDuel will open its second Indiana sportsbook at Boyd Gaming’s Belterra Casino Resort, located in Florence, Indiana.

“Today is the perfect day to open our doors in Indiana, as the regular season kicks off tonight in Chicago,” said Keith Wall, Vice President Commercial Retail, FanDuel Group. “We are excited by the opportunity to bring the FanDuel Sportsbook to the Chicagoland market, and look forward to a highly successful partnership with Boyd Gaming at Blue Chip, Indiana’s leading entertainment casino resort.”

FanDuel’s new sports betting retail location is conveniently located near the main entrance of Blue Chip, adjacent to the property’s sports bar, The Game. The FanDuel Sportsbook features five betting windows, 13 video displays along a large video wall, 13 self-service IGT PlaySports betting kiosks, two sports tickers, and ample seating for sports bettors interested in watching the game from the sportsbook. FanDuel provides its proprietary risk and trading technology that leverages the IGT PlaySports platform. Managing the location in partnership with Boyd Gaming and Blue Chip, the FanDuel Sportsbook features bets on all major U.S. sports, including baseball, soccer, football, basketball, golf, boxing, motorsports racing, and more.

The Blue Chip debut is the latest step in a rapidly expanding nationwide partnership between Boyd Gaming and FanDuel. By next week, FanDuel Sportsbooks will be in operation at five Boyd Gaming properties nationwide: Blue Chip and Belterra Resort in Indiana; Diamond Jo Casino and Diamond Jo Worth in Iowa; and Valley Forge Casino Resort in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. In August, Boyd Gaming and FanDuel also partnered to launch mobile sports betting across the state of Pennsylvania.