Online Hard Rock Sportsbook Iowa to shut down

In-person bets will be allowed to continue.

Sioux City’s Hard Rock Hotel & Casino has announced that Hard Rock Sportsbook Iowa, the digital sportsbook of the resort, is shutting down, though bets can still be placed in-person at the retail sportsbook at the casino. 

The announcement of the end to online sports wagering at Hard Rock Iowa comes as a result of a change of ownership, and the casino has said any remaining funds in players’ accounts will be sent out to those who placed bets through a check sent out in the mail. 

Any players wishing to place further wagers at the digital sportsbook, on the website and app, have until November 28, the last day they can do so, before it is taken offline one month later on December 28. 

Back in September 2019, Gaming Innovation Group (GiG) agreed an extension to its deal with Hard Rock International in order to launch the sportsbook in Sioux City, with players wagering $1.2m on sports at the Hard Rock in the sportsbook’s first full month. Online sports betting at the casino came shortly after, in December of that year. 

Data from the Iowa Racing & Gaming Commission shows that net receipts of Hard Rock’s sports wagering in September were significantly lower than every other casino in the Hawkeye State, while net receipts on the casino’s online sports bets were $31,857.25 in the red. 

In other news relating to Hard Rock, New York Mets owner Steve Cohen released details of plans to obtain a downstate New York City casino license and build an $8bn casino complex next to Citi Field, which Hard Rock International and SHoP Architects would build. 

Ciaran McLoughlin

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