The Cahuilla Casino and Hotel on Tuesday said it has partnered with Sparket’s Social Betwork software to offer free-to-play wagering pools for the Big Game on February 13 (AKA Super Bowl LVI).
The two parties said users may participate online leading up to the event and in person on gameday via the Sparket app.
Players at the top of the leaderboard will earn onsite rewards such as free drinks, food and slot play, Cahuilla Casino noted.
Sparket said it offers select partners its software to provide user acquisition via multiple channels. Its patent-pending software is pursuing GLI certification in 2022 for real money esports betting, live events and more. The company said it features self-setting odds that limit operator exposure.
“We see the importance of social engagement in sports betting,” Daniel Salgado, Cahuilla Tribal Chairman, said in a statement. “It will play a paramount role in providing a more interactive and enjoyable experience during sports coverage, including allowing friends to challenge each other in a friendly wager. The potential of pari-mutuel betting pools will help diversify the sports wagering market in esports as well as traditional sports.”
Aaron Basch, CEO of Sparket, added the company is “excited to be partnering with Cahuilla Casino Hotel, an experienced tribal operator in California who will help us navigate the expanding sports and esports landscape in the state. Our Social Betwork platform will enable their users to access new wagering types, initially via free-to-play games. By utilizing pari-mutuel odds as a form of peer-to-peer wagering, Sparket's application will enable Cahuilla Casino Hotel to offer better odds and provide more options to their customers in the near future.”
Sparket is a Los Angeles-based startup that in the past year has completed its initial fundraising efforts, inked a deal with US Bookmaking, and held a live esports event during Comic Con weekend in San Diego.
The Cahuilla Band of Indians opened Cahuilla Casino in 1996. In 2019, the tribe began building a brand-new casino and adding a hotel, rebranding as Cahuilla Casino Hotel. On May 27, 2020, Cahuilla Casino Hotel opened a new property that nearly tripled the size of the original facility. It features a 15,000-square-foot casino with expanded gaming options to include the addition of table games, an American-style restaurant and a 58-room hotel.
