Operator News
US – Penn National signs up William Hill to run M Resort’s sportsbook
By Phil - 6 March 2019
William Hill will replace a rival sportsbook operator at the Penn National Gaming-owned M Resort in Henderson, Nevada, subject to regulatory approvals.
The new partnership will provide bettors access to William Hill’s innovative wagering technology, including its award-winning mobile sports betting app and live in-play wagering menu.
Subject to regulatory approval, William Hill expects to assume operation of the race and sportsbook in May 2019. It will extend William Hill’s presence in Nevada to a market-leading 115 sportsbooks. William Hill also provides sports betting technology and risk management services to Penn National Gaming properties in Mississippi, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
“We are excited to expand our partnership with our friends at Penn National to operate the sports book at The M. It is a fabulous property, serving the Henderson and Southern Highlands areas, as well as guests from out of town, and we look forward to bringing our market-leading product to these customers,” said Joe Asher, CEO of William Hill Us.
“We are delighted to be teaming up with William Hill at M Resort,” said Ameet Patel, Sr. Vice President of Regional Operations for Penn National Gaming. “We have an active sportsbook at M Resort and we think our guests will benefit greatly from William Hill’s expertise.”
The deal will replace the sports book previously run by CG Technology.
A spokesperson for CG said the 10-year agreement with M Resort was expiring and the companies could not come to terms on a new deal. He said CG will operate the M Resort sportsbook through April 30 so “there will be no disruption with customers.”
“After 10 years at the M Resort our lease will end on April 30th,” the company said. “We will be fully operational until then. We would like to thank M Resort’s management team and employees for their support during our partnership.”
In 2012 M Resort’s sportsbook was brought into a federal law enforcement investigation where CG Technology’s former incarceration Cantor Gaming saw its Vice President and Director of Risk management Mike Colbert arrested for accepting illegal bets some of which were placed at M Resort.
CG had to pay a settlement figure of $16.5m with the US Department of Justice in 2016 to avoid criminal prosecution. M Resorts was not owned by Penn at the time. CG still runs sportsbooks at other Penn National properties including Tropicana Las Vegas.
Opened in March 2009, the M Resort Spa Casino is situated on over 90 acres at the southeast corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and St. Rose Parkway. The resort features over 92,000 square feet of gaming space including 1,900 slot machines, 64 table games, 14 poker tables and a race and sportsbook. M Resort also offers 390 guest rooms and suites, nine restaurants, five destination bars, more than 60,000 square feet of meeting and conference space, a 4,700 space parking facility, a state-of-the-art spa and fitness center and a 100,000 square foot events piazza.
