The sports betting era in Oregon will begin on Aug. 27, when the Chinook Winds Casino in Lincoln City starts up their games.
“We’re expecting it to be pretty busy,” said Will Robertson, Chinook Winds director of casino operations. “There may be lines to get your bets in.”
The Oregon State Lottery, meanwhile, is starting up its own sports betting games. But in a Wednesday interview, spokesman Matt Shelby conceded that the agency will not meet its goal of starting up in time for opening of the NFL season.
“It’ will likely be two, three weeks into the season,” when the state sports games are ready, Shelby said. “Testing is going fine,” he said.
He said the holdup is designing interfaces between the sports game and the many different purchase technologies that have developed in recent years.
Both Shelby and Robertson said it’s important for sports betting to be easy and seamless, particularly in the first couple months, as customers try it out.
The state will offer an app that allows customers to play anywhere. The Chinook Winds sports betting will be only be available at the casino. The state has opted not to allow betting on college games. Chinook Winds will allow NCAA betting.
Robertson did not speculate what the casino’s early handle will be. It has set aside a 600-square space as its “sports wagering lounge.” It’s been equipped with 15 televisions so that players can see the game they bet on.
Chinook Winds hired Las Vegas Dissemination Co. as its sports betting technology provider. The company is best known as a national leader in pari-mutuel betting. In our search for a service provider, LVDC stood out from the start,” Robertson said.
Chinook Winds is owned by the Siletz tribe.