For nearly three decades, Joe Asher has been a central figure in the nationwide expansion of legalized sports betting.
Now, he’s challenging the larger industry he was once a part of.
Asher, 57, plans to launch Boomer’s Sportsbook — which will be Nevada’s only non-casino-owned sports betting operation — by the start of the fall football season.
“I know there is an appetite from independent casino operators for an independent sports book,” Asher said in an interview.
For smaller casinos, Asher’s pitch is that having an independent operator avoids corporate gaming giants — potential competition — from managing the sportsbook inside their property and having access to their customers. For sports bettors, independent books often provide different betting lines on games, such as a half-point in one direction or better moneyline odds.
