One week after the first tribal casino sportsbook opened in Michigan, there’s movement from one of its neighbors.
Four Winds Casinos will partner with Kambi to supply sportsbook technology at its three southwest Michigan casinos.
The announcement came Wednesday, one week after FireKeepers Casino in Battle Creek launched Dacey’s Sportsbook.
Dacey’s is the only sportsbook currently open statewide with the Detroit casinos closed.
No word on sportsbook plans for Indiana location
The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi, one of Michigan’s 12 federally recognized Native American tribes, operates Four Winds.
Kambi will install its suite of on-property sports betting products in the flagship New Buffalo location, as well as smaller casinos in Dowagiac and Hartford, with an online launch to follow.
“We are excited to partner with Kambi to bring sports betting to Four Winds Casinos and take the gaming experience we offer guests to the next level,” said Frank Kennedy, senior vice president of gaming operations for Four Winds Casinos, in a release. “We look forward to announcing the details of the sports betting options we will offer at our Michigan locations in the near future.”
The release did not specifically detail plans for the fourth Four Winds location in South Bend, IN.
Kambi powers Greektown sportsbook in Detroit
Headquartered in Malta and listed on the First North Growth Market at Nasdaq Stockholm, Kambi is among the world’s biggest sports betting providers.
Among its more than 20 clients include:
- 888 Holdings
- ATG
- DraftKings
- Kindred Group
- LeoVegas
- Penn National Gaming
- Rush Street Interactive
In addition, Kambi also powers the Greektown Casino Sportsbook in Detroit. The Penn National property opened its sportsbook March 11 on the first day of regulated Michigan sports betting.
Kristian Nylén, the chief executive officer of Kambi, said in a release:
“We are very proud to be entering this partnership with the Pokagon Band and its Four Winds Casinos. They are a leading operator in the Midwest and share our commitment to providing customers with consistently engaging experiences. Kambi has established itself as the trusted partner to Tribal casino gaming enterprises that wish to leverage the strength of their brand to truly capitalise on the sports betting opportunity, and we are excited to be supporting Four Winds as they look to fulfil their online and on-property ambitions.”
No plans announced for sportsbook branding
PlayMichigan followed up with a public relations firm that represents Four Winds with hopes to learn more about the sportsbooks.
However, nothing further was shared about branding, more partnerships, or when a sportsbook will open at Four Winds Casinos.
After about three months of closure during the COVID-19 pandemic, the three Four Winds locations in Michigan reopened June 15.
Prior to reopening, Four Winds laid out some forward-thinking safety strategies during an industry webinar about the post-shutdown casino world.
