SI Sportsbook consumers will now have access to roughly 11,000 financial institutions in the United States through Nuvei’s platform integration with Plaid, an open banking platform.

Its Instant Bank Transfer technology will support deposits on the sports betting platform, which Nuvei claims will provide “seamless, real-time bank account funding.”

Philip Fayer, Nuvei’s Chairman and CEO, said: “Providing customers with the most convenient, secure, and fast payment experience is at the core of what Nuvei does.

“We are excited to partner with 888 to provide an iconic brand such as Sports Illustrated the ability to launch strong into the US sports betting and iGaming market, improving its player acquisition strategy through our best-in-class user experience, state-of-the-art risk management and instant payments.”

The SI Sportsbook was born in June 2021 when 888 and Authentic Brands Group (ABG), the owner of Sports Illustrated, teamed up for the magazine’s first venture into online sports betting and iGaming in the US.

With an initial debut in Colorado, the SI Sportsbook is expected to launch in Indiana, Iowa and New Jersey at a later date, with further states to follow in the coming years.

“Following the announcement of our strategic partnership with Sports Illustrated, we are thrilled to offer Nuvei’s innovative services to sportsbook fans,” remarked Yaniv Sherman, SVP Head of US at 888.

“With high growth opportunities across the US, it’s important for us to deliver a first-class betting and gaming experience which includes a diverse suite of payment options. Partnering with Nuvei enables us to enhance the player experience and further the position of SI Sportsbook as a cutting-edge platform in the market.”