Sports betting season is about, to begin with, the start of the NFL season on Thursday evening. Many sportsbooks have rushed to launch by kickoff because of the lucrative nature of football betting. Sports Illustrated Sportsbook by 888 Sports is live now in Colorado in time for football.
Very few people expected the launch to occur by the opener, but the two groups worked endlessly to accomplish the goal. It’s going to pay dividends for the book in the opening week of the season with the massive matchups on the slate.
SI Sportsbook is Live
Colorado is the first state where Sports Illustrated Sportsbook is live. SI and 888 have plans to expand the book in the future but focused on CO for the initial launch. Colorado is one of the most competitive markets for sports betting in the United States, but there is an appetite for betting. This is why books have continued to make headway in the state.
Sports Illustrated Sportsbook is giving bettors $50 in free bets to those who make at least a $10 initial wager on the site. The minimum odds to redeem the offer is -200, and the free bets will be credited initially.
If you make this bet in the NFL opener on Thursday, you will have seven days to utilize the bonus. Some other great parts about Sports Illustrated Sportsbook are the single-game parlay feature and the SI Specials. This is the book’s take on weekly bonuses, boosted parlays, and special bets.
SI Sportsbook will launch in Iowa, Indiana, and New Jersey in the coming months. There are plans to expand to ten other markets by 2022-23. With the Sports Illustrated brand behind the sportsbook, the platform is set up for success. 888 Sports is a reputable gambling operator, so the combination of the two should create a strong partnership.
Yaniv Sherman, 888 senior vice president, spoke following the launch. He said,
“We are proud to launch the SI Sportsbook in Colorado. We strongly believe we have developed a unique and differentiated sports wagering experience that combines the power of our proprietary technology platform with one of the most impactful sports media brands for nearly 70 years. By partnering with Sports Illustrated, we have created a strong platform that enables us to build our U.S. position through Sports Illustrated’s extensive brand footprint. This provides an opportunity to cost-effectively acquire customers and build a profitable business over time.”
Working Since June
The partnership between 888 and Sports Illustrated was made in June. Sports Illustrated will help enhance the sportsbook through more betting content within the magazine. There will also be a gambling-themed magazine in the future to help promote the platform.
Sports Illustrated Sportsbook will be using official NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, NASCAR, and Premier League data. This deal will also help 888 Sports grow its presence in the United States.
Even though Sports Illustrated is the face of the book, it will be a way for 888 to drop its European reputation and enhance its American sports coverage for its other platform in the nation.