Saginaw Chippewa Gaming Enterpirses, Michigan’s leading tribal gaming operator, has entered a partnership with Kambi Group, which will provide their state-of-the-art retail and online sports betting technology to the operator.
The agreement opens the way for Saginaw Chippewa Gaming Enterprises to implement Kambi’s technology at its two live sports betting venues: the Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort in Mount Pleasant and the Saganing Eagles Landing Casino & Resort in Standish. The operator is also looking to launch an online sportsbook using the Kambi betting platform.
The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, which owns Saginaw Chippewa Gaming Enterprises, will benefit from a number of Kambi-powered products and services such as the Kambi Kiosk, Bet Builder, and Bring Your Own Device technology, all used with success at other Kambi-powered venues.
The agreement is the next step in Kambi’s continuing efforts to partner up with tribal communities and bring its products to as many people in the US as possible through such partnerships. Similar deals have already made in states like Arizona and Connecticut.
“A key part of Kambi’s strategy has been to partner with market leaders and local heroes, and Saginaw Chippewa Gaming Enterprises certainly fulfils those criteria,” said Kambi CEO Kristian Nylén. “Through its popular Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort and Saganing Eagles Landing Casino & Hotel properties, Saginaw Chippewa Gaming Enterprises has established a formidable brand and a large customer database in Michigan.
“At Kambi, we know what it takes to create a leading sportsbook product and we look forward to helping Saginaw Chippewa Gaming Enterprises deliver exciting sports betting experiences to its patrons.”
Kambi Group’s Arizona partnership
The partnership in Michigan is not Kambi’s first deal with tribal casino operators.
Earlier this month, Kambi announced a partnership with the Tohono O’odham Nation of Arizona, the owners of the Desert Diamond Casinos, which provided the operator with similar products and services.
The Tohono O’odham Nation was one of 10 tribal communities that received operating licenses in Arizona for sports wagering by the Arizona Department of Gaming.
The partnership will allow the tribe to launch on-property sports betting in several of their live properties before the end of the year, along with an online sportsbook set to launch at a slightly later date.
The Desert Diamond Casinos was given access to the same technologies and services as Saginaw Chippewa Gaming Enterprises, enabling them to offer the full scope of the sports betting experience that Kambi-powered sportsbooks can provide.
Amended agreement with Mohegan Tribe
Last July, Kambi amended their partnership with Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment (MGE), a Mohegan Tribe company that owns and operates the Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut.
Under the amendment, Kambi will receive the full amount of revenue that was initially forecast for the duration of the original agreement, which was made in 2019.
The amendment will allow MGE to partner with other companies to launch sports betting from tribal casino property and online, while ensuring that Kambi’s forecasted revenue will not be impacted.
Kambi said that it is in separate discussions with MGE over exclusive sports betting alliances in other jurisdictions where MGE has market access.
Online sports betting launched in Connecticut last month.
