bet365 has officially exited from the American Gaming Association, marking bet365 as one of the many significant online betting companies departing from the United States gambling organization. Both bet365 and the AGA confirmed this transition.
bet365 stated that a misalignment in priorities was the motivation behind the announcement. As a digital-first company, the emphasis of the AGA on brick-and-mortar-based casinos does not align with the business model of bet365 being solely online. bet365 did emphasize they will continue to foster positive relationships with both regulators and industry partners.
This decision reflects a growing trend of operators leaving the Association. DraftKings, FanDuel, and Fanatics Betting and Gaming all have recently experienced exits that are largely based on differences of opinion regarding the responsiveness of predictive markets and how they should function in the industry.
Although bet365 is no longer with the AGA, they are still expanding in the U.S. market. They continue to make significant efforts to grow the business including the building of a major headquarters in Denver, and the start of operations in multiple new jurisdictions. Additionally, their online casino presence in markets such as New Jersey and Pennsylvania has seen about 50% year-over-year growth.
The decision by bet365 creates further separation between digital and traditional land-based companies in the U.S. gaming industry.
