Elys Game Technology Corp (NASDAQ:ELYS, FRA:3UW, NEO:ELYS)., an interactive gaming and sports betting technology company, and Grand Central LLC, which operates the Grand Central Restaurant & Bar in the Adams Morgan area of Washington DC, announced the official opening date of October 4, 2021, for patrons to place real-money sports bets within the restaurant’s premises.
As previously reported, the District of Columbia’s Office of Lottery and Gaming (OLG) has granted a Class B Operator license to Grand Central to operate a sportsbook within the Grand Central Restaurant & Bar, as well as a Management Services Provider License.
The company said it will commence licensed sportsbook operations in the United States with the opening event.
“This moment has been eagerly awaited by our team and shareholders for the better part of three years and we are very pleased to share this significant milestone event with Brian Vasile and the team at Grand Central, along with all of our partners and CBE businesses in Washington DC that were instrumental not only in preparing our technology and product delivery but also staff training and diligently planning for a successful opening,” Elys Game Executive Chairman Michele Ciavarella said in a statement.
“We expect that Grand Central and the integration of legalized sports betting operations within the restaurant venue could be a valuable template for numerous other small businesses across North America and provide an important live location for Elys to showcase its world-class, end-to-end sports betting technology and services also to casino operators, restaurant chains and other small business entrepreneurs.”
Ciavarella noted that the venue could serve as “a model for regulators across the US and Canada” to see how this turnkey solution could be applied in their jurisdictions to help drive economic development.
Elys is currently operational in both online and retail channels throughout Italy through approximately 1,200 web-shops and is now live in North America with 6 tribal casino customers.
The company said it is planning to process applications to offer sports wagering through its betting platform to “large and small casinos and independent business venues in the US and Canada”, representing “one of the most exciting long-term growth opportunities for Elys”.
The provisional OLG’s Standard Management Services Provider License granted to the company expires August 26, 2022.
Contact the author Uttara Choudhury at uttara@proactiveinvestors.com
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