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Affinity Interactive to debut Daily Racing Form retail sportsbook in Iowa

| By Robert Fletcher
Affinity Interactive is to launch its first Daily Racing Form (DRF) branded retail sportsbook at the Lakeside Hotel and Casino in Osceola, Iowa.

Due to launch on 3 March, the sportsbook facility will enable customers at the casino to place bets on a wide range of sports and competitions.

DRF Sportsbook is run by DRF, the sister company of the Lakeside casino, and is one of a number of DRF brands owned by Affinity Interactive, alongside DRF Bets, DRF Sports and DRF Cash Grab.

DRF Bets operates as an online and mobile betting platform, while DRF Cash Grab is a free-to-play mobile sports app and DRF Sports provides fans with sports betting stats, insights and analysis across all major US sports.

The retail launch with Lakeside in Iowa comes follows the recent roll-out of the DRF Bets online sportsbook in the state.

“The opening of the DRF Sportsbook is a significant event for Affinity Interactive’s expanding platform,” Affinity Interactive chairman James Zenni said. “This opening advances our overall strategy towards becoming the prominent omnichannel gaming provider in the US.”

In January, bettors in Iowa staked $303.3m, meaning handle more than doubled year-on-year.

Amount wagered for January was up 102.9% from January 2021’s $149.5m total, figures from the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission showed.

This was driven entirely by mobile betting, with customers staking $275.9m during the month, a 128.4% jump.

Retail, on the other hand, actually declined from January 2021, with stakes down 4.5% to $27.5m.

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