Wind Creek Hospitality has initiated a pioneering partnership with Kambi Group to launch an on-site sportsbook at its new Chicago Southland resort in Illinois. This collaboration marks a significant step for both entities, combining Wind Creek’s tribal gaming insights with Kambi’s advanced sports betting technology.

A new gaming destination opens:

Wind Creek’s latest venture, the Wind Creek Chicago Southland, started welcoming guests on November 11, 2024. The venue boasts a 70,000-square-foot gaming area with 1,400 slot machines and 56 table games. This expansive setup now includes an on-property sportsbook powered by Kambi’s Turnkey Sportsbook solution. This solution features cutting-edge betting kiosks, Bring Your Own Device technology and the highly acclaimed Bet Builder.

The sportsbook integration is crafted to complement the casino’s modern amenities seamlessly, enhancing the overall customer experience. Brent Pinkston, Chief Operating Officer at Wind Creek Hospitality, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, “With the opening of our new Wind Creek Chicago Southland property, it was essential we partnered with a leader in B2B sports betting provision such as Kambi. We are committed to delivering world-class entertainment solutions to our guests, and Kambi’s proven track record and innovative technology will help us to deliver a best-in-class sportsbook product.”

The agreement includes a clause for potential future online expansion, highlighting both parties’ forward-thinking approach. This strategic move is set to broaden their market reach and adapt to evolving consumer preferences in the digital age.

Kambi’s CEO, Werner Becher, mirrored this sentiment in the company’s press release: “We’re delighted to partner with Wind Creek Hospitality to bring our industry-leading sportsbook technology to Wind Creek Chicago Southland. This deal not only showcases the trust tribal operators place in Kambi but also our continued commitment to delivering superior sports betting experiences. We look forward to collaborating closely with Wind Creek to offer an exciting sportsbook at their new venture in Chicago.”

Broader implications and prospects:

This partnership underscores Kambi’s role as a preferred B2B sportsbook provider in North America, particularly among tribal operators. It also comes on the heels of Kambi’s recent Q3 2024 report, which showed a modest revenue increase, and their ongoing expansion, which includes a contract with VIP Play for the ZenSports brand in Tennessee.

Notably, the timing of this partnership is strategic, following closely after Wind Creek confirmed its impending acquisition of Birmingham Racecourse and Casino, which is expected to be finalized by early 2025. This move is part of a broader expansion strategy that saw Wind Creek in the headlines earlier this year due to a penalty they faced for underage gambling violations.