Buffalo Wild Wings is looking at the possibility of adding sports betting as an offering at its 1,200 restaurants around the country, CNN reported this week.
The U.S. Supreme Court essentially struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act in May, siding with the state of New Jersey that the law, which limited sports betting to one state – Nevada, was unconstitutional, according to USA Today.
Since the ruling, New Jersey, Delaware, and Louisiana have legalized sports gambling, CNN said. Additional expansion now falls to statehouses around the country, John Decree, head of North America equity for Union Gaming, a boutique investment bank that focuses on the gaming industry, told CNN.
In the meantime, Buffalo Wild Wings, which broadcasts sporting events on multiple big screen televisions inside its restaurants that caters to groups of sports fans, is trying to get ahead of the curve with the announcement.
"As the largest sports bar in America, we believe Buffalo Wild Wings is uniquely positioned to leverage sports gaming to enhance the restaurant experience for our guests," a company representative told CNN Thursday. "We are actively exploring opportunities, including potential partners, as we evaluate the next steps for our brand."
Until the state's act, there is no possible way of knowing what, if any, role an establishment like Buffalo Wild Wings can play in sports betting, Decree said.
"We're still waiting for state legislatures and regulators to hash out licensing rules, so it's unclear how they'll (Buffalo Wild Wings) have opportunity to participate," Decree told CNN. "It'll be hard for them to try to get licensed in every state that allows it. There's a lot of legal costs and time involved."
CNN wrote that one way the restaurant could get in on the action would be reaching an agreement with some sports books that would allow people to put money on their account in one of their restaurants were the state permits sports gambling.
Privately-held Arby's purchased Buffalo Wild Wings for $2.9 billion earlier this year.
"Buffalo Wild Wings is one of the most distinctive and successful entertainment and casual dining restaurant companies in America," Paul Brown, chief executive of Arby's Restaurant Group, said in February about the purchase, according to the Dayton Daily News.
"We are excited to welcome a brand with such a rich heritage, led by an exceptionally talented team. We look forward to leveraging the combined strengths of both organizations into a truly differentiated and transformative multi-brand restaurant company," Brown continued.
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