Kambi ‘closing in’ on US licences

Kambi Group is “closing in” on securing five new US sports betting licence applications that were highlighted in the company’s second-quarter trading update, according to chief commercial officer Max Meltzer.

Last month, chief executive Kristian Nylén said that Kambi had applied for licences in New Jersey and Mississippi and was working towards applying for licences in New York, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

“Our US sales director in New York is, along with others in the commercial department, consistently evaluating and trying to establish partnerships with the right partners,” Meltzer told iGamingBusiness.com.

“A combination of our speed to market, quality of product and managed services in the US has certainly caught the attention of a number of operators. So too has our strong corporate probity, an element which is playing well with companies looking for a trusted partner.

“In terms of licences, in our Q2 report we said we were in the process for five permits and we are closing in on those, but in terms of further licences we are limited, like everyone, by the pace of regulation in the US.”

Kambi has been linked with a sports betting partnership with Greenwood Gaming & Entertainment and its Parx Casino in Pennsylvania. Greenwood recently submitted an application for a licence to offer sports betting at Parx Casino and its South Philadelphia Turf Club off-track betting facility.

A Kambi spokesperson declined to comment on the possible partnership to iGamingBusiness.com.

However, one Kambi deal that has been confirmed is an agreement to provide its sportsbook and associated services to Global Gaming.

The service will be made available in all markets where Global Gaming holds a relevant licence, with plans to launch in the fourth quarter.

In addition to the core sportsbook, Kambi will provide its open-APIs and risk management processes as part of the deal.

Meltzer told iGamingBusiness.com that the new agreement tallies with Kambi’s focus on targeted clients.

“We are very selective about who we choose to work with – we have no interest in doing a stream of easy, white-label-style deals,” Meltzer said. “Essentially, prospective customers must share the same motivation we have - to offer customers the best sports betting experience possible, to be forward-thinkers, and to have the ambition to gain market leadership positions.

Meltzer added: “In our discussions, Global Gaming displayed huge enthusiasm and detailed plans of how to succeed in sports betting, as well as an understanding of the differences between a Kambi Sportsbook and those of our competitors.

“Having grown rapidly through its Ninja Casino brand, they now seek to do similar in sports betting by leveraging our flexible sportsbook, using our open APIs and empowerment features to offer their customers something truly unique.”

Image: Sam Valadi