Prominent online casino and sportsbetting operator, Kindred Group, has announced the signing of a deal that will see it attempt to enter the United States market via an arrangement with the recently-opened Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Atlantic City.

Pair to pursue license:

According to an official Friday press release from Kindred Group, the agreement is set to involve the pair receiving a casino service industry enterprise license from authorities in New Jersey, which would subsequently allow the Malta-headquartered firm to offer a wide range of its own iGaming innovations to local players.

Deal serves as ‘an important first step’:

The operator, previously known as Unibet Group until a 2016 name-change, is already responsible for numerous United Kingdom and Ireland-facing online casino and sports wagering domains including 32Red.com, StanJames.com, Unibet.co.uk and MariaCasino.co.uk. It stated that the arrangement with the Atlantic City casino operated by Hard Rock International ‘spans 5+5 years’ and symbolizes ‘an important first step’ in its campaign to bring its services to players in the United States.

PASPA repeal prompts action:

The iGaming firm additionally declared that is has been preparing to enter the American market ‘for a long time’ but stepped up its ‘ongoing process to secure regulatory approval’ in May following the decision from the United States Supreme Court that invalidated the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA). Manuel Stan, Senior Vice-President for its Kindred US subsidiary, described the new agreement as ‘a very exciting moment’ in its campaign to enter what he believes is sure to become ‘the largest betting market in the world.’

Stan’s statement read…

“I’m also delighted that we have been able to team up with a true lifestyle and entertainment brand and I am confident that Kindred Group and Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Atlantic City will give New Jersey customers an absolutely great sportsbetting and gaming experience.”

Hopes for ‘significant success’:

For its part, Hard Rock International is owned by the Seminole Tribe of Florida and opened its Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Atlantic City in late-June following a $500 million makeover of the property that once housed the Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort. Kresimir Spajic, the Florida firm’s Online Gaming Senior Vice-President, proclaimed that he was ‘proud’ to be partnering with ‘one of the fastest growing operators in the industry’ and hopes that the deal will ‘translate to a significant success in New Jersey.’