BetMGM said on Thursday that users of its mobile application for sports wagering in Nevada can now move their digital wallet to other jurisdictions where the business offers betting services. This implies that gamblers who open a BetMGM account in Nevada can use it to access any of the other 28 North American states where the gaming corporation is present.

For instance, a bettor who creates an account with BetMGM at one of MGM Resorts International's casinos on the Las Vegas Strip may use that account to place bets when visiting Arizona, Louisiana, Michigan, Ontario, Canada, or any other location where BetMGM has licenses to provide sports wagers.

"Through its operation and partnership with MGM Resorts International and powered by Entain’s technology, this innovative feature makes BetMGM the only legalized sports betting app to allow Nevada residents and visitors to wager in the state and carry their funds to BetMGM mobile markets nationwide,” according to a press release.

Customers who create BetMGM accounts in Nevada and then travel to another state where the app is available will see a pop-up notification within the app that gives them the option to choose the version of the app that corresponds to the state they are now in. Therefore, if a Nevada account holder uses the BetMGM app while visiting New York, they will see a notification directing them to a menu where they can choose to switch to the New York version of the app.

Increased Convenience for Bettors in NevadaIn a way

The BetMGM announcement is significant because it represents the first operator with obvious ties to Nevada to use technology to eliminate the need for its Nevada accountholders to open fresh sports betting accounts when they visit other states.

However, the convenience side of the equation has a cap. For those who wish to wager from their cellphones in Nevada, there is still an onerous in-person registration requirement. This means that bettors must visit a land-based casino and complete the necessary paperwork. Many people believe that Nevada's requirement for in-person registration will prevent mobile sports betting from becoming more popular there.

The state is suffering financially as a result of that restriction. For instance, in 2023, sports bettors in Nevada made $1.7 billion more bets than their counterparts in Arizona, but the latter made $77 million more in revenue as it allows new account registrations via computers and mobile devices.

According to some analysts, Arizona's revenue edge over neighboring Nevada in sports betting may increase to $100 million to $200 million per year if the Silver State does away with its requirement for in-person registration.

Who Else Might Be a BetMGM Fan?

The fact that BetMGM can connect Nevada wallets to wallets in other states is a significant advancement in mobile sports betting technology, and it may encourage competitors to make limited attempts in the same direction. Only two of the biggest Nevada sportsbook companies, BetMGM and Caesars Sports, operate in numerous other states, so it seems to reason that Caesars would want to imitate the BetMGM system.

Boyd Sports, Circa, and STN Sports are some of the other major sportsbook providers in Nevada. Boyd and STN exclusively accept wagers from Nevada, so there's no need to connect wagerers' accounts to accounts from other states.

The two biggest US online betting companies, FanDuel and DraftKings, do not have a license in Nevada.