It has been announced via release that Xpressbet and Balmoral Park have entered into an affiliate partnership.
The release states that the entities will work to promote online wagering to Illinois residents, as well as to bring awareness to Balmoral and its sister track, Maywood Park, with Xpressbet’s customers and racing fans.
Two of the most popular and heavily-wagered harness tracks in the nation, Balmoral and Maywood host nearly 200 live racing cards each year, with Thursday and Friday night racing at Maywood and Saturday and Sunday night action at Balmoral. In addition, Balmoral and Maywood own and operate nine off-track wagering facilities in the Chicago-area, which offer daily simulcast wagering.
“We realize Advance Deposit Wagering is still unfamiliar to many horseplayers, and we feel this partnership will help bettors that are curious about online wagering get started with Xpressbet,” Xpressbet President Ron Luniewski was quoted as saying in the release. “With the help of Balmoral’s passionate, experienced and knowledgeable team, we’re looking forward to promoting both live and online wagering to racing fans in Chicago.”
Xpressbet and Balmoral each believe that creating smarter, more informed horseplayers is the key to generating interest and handle in horse racing. Consequently, Xpressbet and Balmoral’s expert teams of handicappers will collaborate to produce helpful handicapping resources for horseplayers, including wagering guides for top harness and Thoroughbred events, as well as tip sheets, free picks, handicapping articles and videos.
“Along with Balmoral, Xpressbet is committed to growing the industry by both enhancing the experience for existing fans and attracting new audiences to the sport,” Luniewski added. “This requires a seamless and integrated on-track and online experience. Providing additional free handicapping information to horseplayers is one way to achieve this, but it is also achieved through offering enhanced services, such as allowing customers to deposit and withdraw cash from their online accounts at customer service locations in Balmoral, Maywood and all nine of their OTBs. This level of convenience, common in other industries, will help horse racing build a stronger and more loyal customer base.”
“Partnerships like these are ultimately of great benefit to the industry,” Balmoral Park General Manager Jim Hannon was quoted as saying. “By affiliating with Xpressbet, we are able to pool our financial, human and intellectual resources to target racing fans and horseplayers in a more strategic and consistent fashion. This will generate more handle and interest in all facets of horse racing, both Thoroughbred and harness, which is to everyone’s benefit. We’re excited to begin working with Xpressbet and look forward to growing racing’s fan base.”
(With files from Balmoral and Xpressbet)