Press Releases
BALLY’S CORPORATION TO ACQUIRE PREMIER U.S. REGULATED SPORTSBOOK TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM BET.WORKS

Proprietary Technology Stack Key Step In Bally’s Transformation To Become Premier Vertically Integrated Omni-Channel U.S. Gaming Provider
Acquisition Enables Significant Expansion of Sports Betting and iGaming Initiatives
Bally’s Corporation announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Bet.Works, a U.S. based, sports betting platform provider to operators in New Jersey, Iowa, Indiana and Colorado, for $125 million, subject to adjustment. Upon acquiring Bet.Works’ proprietary technology stack and turnkey solutions, which include marketing, operations, customer service, risk management and compliance, Bally’s will become the premier, full-service, vertically integrated sports betting and iGaming company in the U.S. with physical casinos and online gaming solutions united under a single, preeminent brand, thus enabling it to launch its B2B2C business model.
Half of the Bet.Works purchase price will be paid in Bally’s common stock, which Bet.Works shareholders have agreed to hold for at least a year.
The Bet.Works acquisition represents the latest step in Bally’s long-term growth, development and unification strategy. Over the past two years, Bally’s has engaged in strategic and opportunistic expansion of its gamingand entertainment properties, which will include14 casinos across 10 states once all pending transactions are completed. In addition, Bally’s recently acquired its iconic brand, which is synonymous with U.S. gaming and entertainment, and commensurate with the premier properties and amenities that define the Company’s portfolio.
The Bet.Works acquisition, which complements these initiatives, will provide Bally’s with a suite of advanced omni-channel products, platforms, software and content solutions that will enable it to deliver unrivaled sports betting and iGaming offerings to customers on a national scale. According to investment research by major Wall Street analysts and management estimates, the U.S. sports betting and iGaming market is expected to grow to $12 billion by 2025 and reach $50 billion at maturity. Bally’s estimates that the U.S. sports betting and iGaming market will reach $2.6 billion this year.
“This is the next step in our Company’s evolution,” said Soo Kim, Chairman of Bally’s Corporation’s Board of Directors. “By combining our expanding national footprint of casinos, the recently acquired Bally’s brand, and Bet.Works’ proprietary technology stack, we have evolved in just a few short years from a regional casino operator into the first U.S. gaming company committed to serving our customers with an omni-channel approach, combining the best of our physical properties with a superior online experience.”
Following the acquisition, Bally’s will form two distinct operating divisions: “Bally’s Casinos,” which will be comprised of Bally’s physical gaming and entertainment properties, and “Bally’s Interactive,” which will include new and existing contracts for sports betting and iGaming, including all of Bet.Works’ sports betting operations.
George Papanier, President and Chief Executive Officerof Bally’s Corporation, commented, “We are very excited to welcome Bet.Works to the Bally’s family. Owning Bet.Works’ superior technology platform will not only give Bally’s a long-term margin advantage online, but, more importantly, will also allow us to evolve our interactive product suite to go where sports betting and iGaming customers are headed quickly. David Wang and his team at Bet.Works have already demonstrated impressive growthand the ability to execute while creating a differentiated platform. We are very pleased to bring this technology to our more than 14 million active customers who will experience Bally’s Casinos and Bally’s Interactive as a unified brand with a single player card and rewards system.”
David Wang, Founder and CEO of Bet.Works, will serve as the CEO of Bally’s Interactive upon closing the transaction. Bally’s Interactive will integrate Bet.Works’ experienced team of over 130 employees across three offices, including approximately 90 engineers, into its interactive operations. Bally’s Interactive also plans to open a technology development center in Rhode Island by the end of 2021, initially with 25employees.
Wang stated, “We are pleased to be joining the Bally’sfamily, which has demonstrated a remarkable trackrecord of growthand diversification with a proven management team. We remain committed to creating the world’s best sports entertainment products, as well as delivering innovative and exciting solutions for sportsbetting and iGaming consumers across Bally’s national footprint. Bet.Works will continue to offer our best in class solutions to our existing B2B clients and our future partners in the U.S. market as we expand our reach into newly regulated states. Our turnkey solutions, which include Marketing, Operations, Customer Service, Risk Management and Compliance, combined with our dedicated launch teams, will ensure we maintain a leading position in the B2B sector while powering Bally’s Interactive. Bally’s is the perfect home for Bet.Works as it will allow us to continue to grow and innovate.
Bally’s expects to close the transaction during the first quarter of 2021, pending regulatory approval and other customary closing conditions.
Latest News
ACR POKER’S HUGE ONLINE SUPER SERIES XL MAIN EVENTS KICK OFF THIS WEEKEND, AWARDING $4.25 MILLION GUARANTEED

Phase 1 of the $150,000 GTD Survivor Flips starts today and first Mystery Bounty Multi-Flight Day 2 gets underway this Sunday, September 21st
ACR Poker’s biggest-ever tournament series, Online Super Series (OSS) XL, is in full swing and this weekend the action really heats up with the colossal Main Events kicking off on Sunday, September 21st, offering $4.25 million total guaranteed.
Players can take their shot at the $2 million guaranteed ($2,650 buy-in), the $1.5 million guaranteed ($1,050 buy-in), and the $750,000 guaranteed ($215 buy-in) Main Events. Day 1A starts this Sunday, September 21st, Day 1B is on Sunday, September 28th, and Day 2 is on Monday, September 29th.
The flagship series boasts over $50 million in guarantees and runs until Tuesday, September 30th. It has a range of events catered to players of all bankrolls from as little as $0.55, which include the $0.55 Micro PKO, $6.60 Early Special, and $22 Euro Mini Special.
Adding further excitement is the high-energy Survivor Flips tourney ($130 buy-in), offering a $150,000 guarantee. Phase 1 and Steps Flips run from today (Wednesday, September 17th) to Sunday, September 21st at 3:00pm ET. Phase 2 is a regular tournament on September 21st at 3:05pm ET where all players start in the money.
There are also four Mystery Bounty Multi-Flight events, including two $500,000 GTD ($109 buy-in) events, with the first having its final flight and Day 2 this Sunday, September 21st. The $200,000 GTD ($33 buy-in) and $100,000 GTD ($5.50 buy-in) events have their final flight and Day 2 on Sunday, September 28th.
“OSS XL has already delivered incredible action, with huge fields, dramatic final tables, and amazing wins for players at every level but there’s still so much to come,” said ACR Pro Chris Moneymaker. “The Main Events are always the highlight of the series, and this weekend promises to be the biggest stage yet for anyone looking to make their mark.”
Finally, to add further sweat, ACR Poker’s Leaderboard Contest is awarding $65,000 in cash and tourney tickets across three tiers. The High Stakes ($104.50 buy-ins and above) will award a $15,000 top prize, while the Mid Stakes ($16.50 to $88 buy-ins) and Low Stakes (under $15 buy-ins) will award $7,500 and $4,000, respectively.
For further details on OSS XL, read the ACR Poker blog or visit ACRPoker.eu.
International News
1/ST CONTENT and Italy’s MASAF form new partnership ahead of the Breeders’ Cup

Distribution deal sees leading racing provider for the Americas extend its scope into Italy’s local pool betting via governing body for horse racing
1/ST CONTENT, the pre-eminent provider of premium North and South American horse racing content and a key division of 1/ST, has continued to grow its international footprint in a new partnership with the Italian Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry (MASAF) in the run-up to the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, one of the true highlights on the global racing calendar.
The deal now opens a breakthrough gateway for local pool betting on North American, South American and Turkish racing in Italy – and was soft-launched over last month’s 100th edition of the Hambletonian at The Meadowlands, NJ. This milestone renewal, the pinnacle of harness racing and a format of the sport which is particularly popular with Italian racing fans, fostered immediate fan engagement, as reported by MASAF this month via https://www.grandeippicaitaliana.it/.
The agreement kicks off with the 2025 flagship finale at the Breeders’ Cup World Championships in Del Mar (31 October – 1 November) and brings many of the premier stateside races to Italy, including the Pegasus World Cup (24 January) and the Triple Crown contests of Preakness 151 (16 May) and the Belmont Stakes (6 June). In the aggregate, 1/ST CONTENT’s extensive content portfolio maps approximately 90% of all North American racetracks, alongside South American and Turkish venues, neatly complementing Italy’s domestic sporting action with a reliable source of fast-settling betting content between 18:00 and 05:00 CET.
Italian and North American horse racing currently enjoy a strong reciprocal bond, thanks to three of Italy’s leading jockeys in Frankie Dettori, Umberto Rispoli and Antonio Fresu plying their trade in North America. These three Italian ambassadors were recently introduced to a mainstream global audience via Netflix’s acclaimed Race For The Crown.
1/ST CONTENT’s worldwide experience and customer base for pools betting features the Americas, Morocco, Italy, Singapore, Australia, Turkey, Sweden, France, New Zealand and Hong Kong. As a result, by leveraging 1/ST CONTENT’s unparalleled expertise in capturing and streaming elite live-racing events, bettors across Italy can now enjoy a best-in-breed international racing experience.
Key features of the deal include but are not limited to:
- Comprehensive Coverage: exclusive signals of all racetracks in the United States, Canada, South America and Turkey, ensuring an extensive and diverse range of racing content for Italian audiences.
- Cutting-Edge Technology: high-quality, immersive broadcasts, providing viewers with an unparalleled access to live racing and informative content that both engages the seasoned viewer and educates those unfamiliar with the sport.
- Enhanced Viewer Engagement: accompanying innovative marketing strategies, promotions, and engagement initiatives, enhancing the overall viewer experience and speaking to a dedicated racing community in Italy
Simon Fraser, Senior Vice President International at 1/ST CONTENT, said: “We’re thrilled to be working as a partner with MASAF on a program to rejuvenate their horse racing audience and breathe new life into the Italian industry. Our collaboration marks a cornerstone from which we can build together to ensure that racing is competitive with other betting options and further expands 1/ST’s global reach.”
Remo Chiodi, Director General for Horse Racing at MASAF, added: “This partnership is part of a broader framework aimed at strengthening relations between Italy and the United States in the horseracing sector: it is a path that consolidates ties between the two countries, enhances both our national excellence and international achievements, and opens up new opportunities for growth and exchange. It is a step that also involves breeding and training, while highlighting the image of Italian racing excellence in the United States, represented by our most renowned jockeys competing overseas.
“Thanks to this agreement, major American racing events will be broadcast free-to-air on EQU TV, expanding the television offering and allowing betting on the races within a fully integrated system. After years of challenges, Italian racing is redefining the entire sector to restore our sport to a position of strength, both at home and abroad.”
Gambling in the USA
Iconic Online Games Set for Land-Based Debut Through Collaboration of Gaming Arts and Evolution

Gaming Arts, LLC and Evolution, through its dedicated land-based slot games partner Bluhare Studios, announced a landmark collaboration to adapt a select group of Evolution’s most celebrated online slot titles for the land-based Class III gaming market. This partnership combines proven game mechanics, strong brand recognition, innovative features, and Gaming Arts’ suite of high-performance MOD EX cabinets to deliver products designed to meet the expectations of today’s land-based casino players.
The first wave of releases is scheduled for Q4 2025 in North America and will be available across Gaming Arts’ latest cabinet line-up: the MOD EX J55, MOD EX 227, and MOD EX 337. Four titles will lead the launch, each carrying a strong legacy in online gaming along with exciting new enhancements for the casino floor.
Divine Fortune has been a global standout since its debut, ranking as the number one title for Evolution in the United States. Performing well in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and in all states it can be found online. It’s no surprise it has inspired successful online sequels such as Divine Fortune Megaways and Divine Fortune Black. Now, this player favorite will make its long-awaited land-based debut. Developed in collaboration with Gaming Arts, Divine Fortune Ascensionbuilds on the success of the original with a fresh twist, introducing an all-new three-pot perceived persistence feature designed to heighten engagement.
Starburst, released in 2012, is one of the most recognizable slot titles in online gaming history and Evolution’s top performer globally. With its simple yet captivating gameplay, it has remained a staple for over a decade, inspiring sequels such as Starburst XXXtreme and Starburst Galaxy. Starburst Supernovareimagines this classic with a multiplayer-enabled format, launching as part of a two-game multi-pack. Both titles will feature a new perceived persistent bonus mechanic that culminates in a hold-and-spin feature, adding a fresh layer of excitement to an already proven brand.
This collaboration also creates new opportunities for integrated marketing campaigns across both online and land-based platforms, reinforcing brand engagement and building stronger connections with players.
“We are thrilled to be working with the Evolution team, which has long been an industry leader in creating compelling content for online gambling markets. This partnership allows us to work with two of Evolution’s most celebrated titles and bring them to a brand new player base”, said Greg Colella, Chief Product Officer, Gaming Arts.
“Bringing these iconic titles to land-based casinos represents a major step forward for Gaming Arts,” said Rob Ziems, CEO of Gaming Arts. “This collaboration goes beyond simply combining Evolution’s exceptional game brands with our latest MOD EX hardware. We are working closely with Evolution to effectively adapt these classics for land-based play while also innovating and modernizing them to create fresh, engaging experiences that will truly resonate with today’s casino players.”
Todd Haushalter, Chief Product Officer at Evolution, said: “Since the beginning of online gaming, content has traditionally flowed in one direction; from land-based casinos to online. That approach made sense, as it brought proven experiences to digital audiences. What excites us now is reversing that trend by taking some of the most successful games in the history of online gaming and bringing them to land-based casinos. Evolution is thrilled to be at the forefront of this shift. This collaboration allows us to bring our world-class IP to the incredibly talented team at Gaming Arts, and watching them work their land-based magic to adapt and reimagine our games has been truly inspiring.”
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