Boyd Gaming has made a significant acquisition by purchasing Atlantic City’s Resorts Casino Hotel’s digital gambling arm. The exact amount of the transaction has not been disclosed by either party. The deal was finalized on September 1, as confirmed by Resorts President Mark Giannantonio.
The acquisition will see Resorts Digital becoming a part of Boyd Gaming’s digital subsidiary, Boyd Interactive. This means that Boyd’s portfolio will now include Resorts Digital’s iGaming brands such as ResortsCasino.com and MoheganSunCasino.com, along with an unused sports betting skin. Rather than rebranding these sites, Boyd plans to retain their existing identities and operate them under Resort’s New Jersey iGaming licenses.
As part of the deal, Boyd and Resorts will engage in cross-promotion activities. Boyd will promote Resorts Casino Hotel to its online customers through its new acquisition of ResortsCasino.com, while Resorts will market Boyd-owned digital brands to customers who visit the Resorts Casino property in person. This cross-marketing strategy is expected to benefit both companies in the long run.
Resorts Casino will also maintain its relationships with established iGaming partners such as DraftKings, ESPN Bet, Penn Gaming, and PokerStars. The acquisition of Resorts Digital is seen as a significant move for Boyd, as Resorts Digital outperformed the physical Resorts casino in terms of revenue in the first eight months of 2024.
By acquiring digital assets instead of retail ones, Boyd Gaming is continuing its strategy of building a profitable regional iGaming business integrated with its existing nationwide portfolio. The company previously owned 50% of Atlantic City’s Borgata Casino before selling its stake to MGM Resorts International.
Following the acquisition, Boyd expressed its belief that the purchase of Resorts will drive growth in New Jersey’s online gaming market. New Jersey has been a leading state in iGaming, and Boyd looks forward to expanding Boyd Interactive through the state’s online gaming market.
Overall, the acquisition of Resorts Digital by Boyd Gaming represents a strategic move to strengthen its presence in the lucrative iGaming industry. The partnership between the two companies is expected to result in mutual benefits and long-term success for both parties.