Key Takeaways:
- Caesars Windsor reviews sports betting trends, leading to adjusted sportsbook operating hours and minor staffing changes, though all staff are retained.
- Despite expectations, the popularity of online sports gambling overshadows in-person betting.
- The future of in-person sportsbooks remains promising, offering unique experiences compared to online betting.
In an unexpected turn, Caesars Windsor is scaling back its sportsbook staff hours, a move that contradicts the initial optimism about sports betting's potential to boost employment at the casino. This development comes after a "careful review of our sports betting trends," as stated by a casino spokesperson, leading to an adjustment in the Caesars Sportsbook's operating hours to align more closely with guest preferences. Despite these changes, the casino has managed to retain all affected staff members.
The sportsbook, which launched in January 2023 following the legalization of single-event sports betting in August 2021, was anticipated to drive significant foot traffic and, by extension, create numerous job opportunities. Kevin Laforet, the casino's CEO, had highlighted on opening day how the sportsbook was expected to increase employment across various roles within the casino. However, the current operational hours of the sportsbook have been set from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. daily, reflecting a scaled-back approach.
Jessica Welman, editor of Canadian Gaming Business, points out that online sports gambling has become overwhelmingly more popular than physical sportsbooks, largely due to the convenience of mobile betting. This trend is echoed by the steady quarterly growth of online betting in Ontario, illustrating a burgeoning market that has quickly overshadowed its brick-and-mortar counterpart.
Despite this shift towards digital, both Welman and Greg Warren, a reporter for Canada Sports Betting, believe there is still a place for in-person sports betting. Warren notes that in the United States, revenue from both in-person and online sportsbooks has been seen to grow simultaneously, suggesting that the two can coexist peacefully due to the distinct experiences they offer. Welman adds, "There will always be a space for brick-and-mortar casinos to create that attraction."
Caesars Windsor also operates its own online gaming app, although the spokesperson did not comment on whether this has led to any business increase. As the casino adjusts to the evolving landscape of sports betting, the future of its sportsbook and its staff remains a topic of interest, particularly among industry watchers and the casino's employees alike.
As of now, Unifor Local 444, which represents workers at the casino, has yet to comment on these developments. The situation at Caesars Windsor serves as a microcosm of the broader challenges and opportunities facing the gambling industry as it navigates the digital age, balancing the allure of traditional in-person betting with the convenience and growing preference for online gambling.
