888 Holdings announced its launch of the Sports Illustrated Sportsbook in the state of Virginia last week. The successful launch makes Virginia the second state, following Colorado, where the SI Sportsbook is available.
The new SI Sportsbook Virginia app and website are powered by official data from almost all major sports leagues, including the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, NASCAR, and the English Premier League. Users will enjoy in-app features like frequent promotions, in-play betting, wager recommendations, and BetFeed. The new interface, developed by 888 Holdings’ advanced technology, has created a faster and simpler experience for sports bettors.
Joining the Virginia Sports Gambling Market
Sports Illustrated announced its partnership agreement with 888 Holdings in June 2021 and quickly brought its new app to market in September for Colorado residents. SI Sportsbook then obtained a Virginia sports betting license in November 2021, joining 12 other online sportsbooks currently operating in the state.
Yaniv Sherman, SVP Head of US at 888, stated that 888 Holdings was over-joyed to receive a license to operate in Virginia. Sherman believes the market has significant room for growth.
“There is a growing sports betting fanbase in the state, and I firmly believe that SI Sportsbook, supported by our partners at Sports Illustrated, will offer a unique and differentiated experience to our customers, which will be well received,” said Sherman.
888 Holdings was able to join the online sports betting market by teaming up with Virtual Entertainment Partners (VEP). VEP is a small, female, and minority-owned company.
Because of 888 Holdings’ partnership with VEP, they will devote significant contributions to communities across the Old Dominion state, specific to areas with high minority populations.
A statement by The Authentic Brands Group, a parent company of 888 Holdings, reflects their support of the local community in Virginia. Stating 888 Holdings “has committed to making significant contributions to communities across Virginia, specifically minority communities, to drive meaningful value, opportunity and diversity for Virginians.”
The Future of 888 Holdings SI Sportsbook
888 and Sports Illustrated hope to expand to other states and currently have licenses in Delaware, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. The future expansion will help SI Sportsbook join the ranks of other online betting operators like DraftKings, BetMGM, FanDuel, and BetRivers.
The website partnered with Global Payments’ igaming solutions, utilizing its VIP Preferred Online ACH System to provide payments and withdrawals for SI Sportsbook. Global Payments has partnerships with most US sportsbooks, providing instant access to funds via their encrypted, secure platform.
This debut in Virginia is a huge milestone for 888 Holdings and will likely shape the future of their growth. 888 Holdings US President Howard Mittman shared his excitement and goals for the company: “We are delighted to launch SI Sportsbook in Virginia. Following the success of its debut launch in Colorado last September, this is an important milestone for both ourselves and our partners. With its growing base of sports betting fans, we believe Virginia will play a significant role in the continued development of SI Sportsbook over the coming months.”
“Expanding further in the US market is an important part of our ambition to become a global online betting and gaming leader, and we look forward to introducing the brand to players across the state.”