Betfred granted sports betting license for Mohegan Casino Las Vegas

British bookmaker company Betfred has been granted a sports betting license by the Nevada Gaming Commission (NGC) to operate a sportsbook at the Mohegan Casino Las Vegas, which has been open for nearly two years. The decision was made a day after the Nevada Gaming Control Board recommended its approval.

Betfred plans to quickly open a retail sportsbook at the off-Strip Mohegan Casino Las Vegas, which includes a Virgin hotel. The operator announced on Twitter that they will start accepting bets before the Super Bowl on February 12.

Betfred COO of US operations Bryan Bennett announced plans to launch a mobile betting app in Nevada later in the year.

The retail sportsbook at Mohegan Casino Las Vegas is ready, equipped with large TVs and the capability to show multiple games or events. However, no bets can be placed yet as the machines to take wagers are yet to be installed.

The sportsbook will operate under the Betfred brand, but its employees, including cashiers, will work for Mohegan. The sportsbook manager will report to a Betfred executive.

Long wait for licensing approval

Betfred’s licensure is a significant and much-anticipated accomplishment for Mohegan Casino Las Vegas.

The Virgin Group, owned by Richard Branson, bought the Hard Rock Casino in 2018 and made a deal with Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment to run a 60,000-square-foot casino on the property. This made Mohegan the first tribal operator of a casino in Las Vegas.

The casino and hotel underwent renovations in February 2020 and reopened in March 2021.

Mohegan had previously made an agreement with Betfred to run the sportsbook at Mohegan Casino Las Vegas, according to general manager Joe Hasson. He explained that Betfred committed to a “substantial” investment in constructing the physical sportsbook and completed the work in a timely manner.

“Any number of delays found their way into a complicated critical path, most notably COVID-19 and long distances between Betfred and the great state of Nevada,” Hasson said.

Betfred announced the company would pay out Super Bowl futures bets on the Cincinnati Bengals as winning bets, even if they still need to win the AFC Championship game to reach the Super Bowl.