Buffalo Wild Wings 'actively exploring' sports betting
Buffalo Wild Wings exterior on February 1, 2018 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Buffalo Wild Wings)
MINNEAPOLIS (KMSP) - Buffalo Wild Wings is “actively exploring” sports gambling opportunities as part of the restaurant chain’s future.
“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 spokesperson said in a statement to Fox 9. “We are actively exploring opportunities, including potential partners, as we evaluate the next steps for our brand.”
The Supreme Court ruled in May that individual state Legislatures could decide whether or not they wanted to legalize sports betting, and so far just New Jersey and Delaware have done so. More states, including Minnesota, are expected to follow.
While states work to create a legal framework for the industry, the Fantasy Sports Trade Association says nearly four out of every five fantasy sports players are expected to become sports betters--leading to estimates that up to $12.4 billion in annual revenue could be made.
"There’s going to be this big wave of consumer demand and new products--and [everyone is trying to figure out] what moves they're going to make to take advantage of it,” said Peter Schoenke, president of Rotowire. Told Fox 9 at the FSTA Conference in Minneapolis in June.
Buffalo Wild Wings, founded in 1982 and headquartered in Minneapolis, operates more than 1,240 locations around the world.