IGaming has come on leaps and bounds in recent years. Where once consumers were limited by a distinct lack of choice, now there are an array of options – in part at least due to industry innovation. The latest trend to sweep the world of iGaming comes courtesy of Unibet, who have launched the first-ever professional sport-themed casino games ever in the U.S.

In a collaboration with the Philadelphia Eagles and Pala, Unibet has launched the ‘Eagles Blackjack’ and ‘Eagles Online Slot’ games. In doing so, they will be providing fans with a truly immersive, and truly unique experience. The blackjack card is especially ground-breaking, as it’s the first of its kind.

After the Eagles chose to go into partnership with Sportsbook, Unibet, a part of the Kindred Group, helped make the franchise themed game a reality. It will initially be available on the Unibet Betting and Casino mobile app, exclusively for customers in Pennsylvania.

"The partnership with the Philadelphia Eagles is truly special and this is a great testimony of how two perfectly aligned organizations can deliver fantastic innovative products for their fans and customers. I am extremely proud of the work done by both teams to release the first-ever professional themed sports casino game in the United States, and this is just the beginning", claims Manuel Stan, SVP Kindred US. Check out the Casino Zone page for top rated online casinos.

Catherine Carlson, Senior Vice President of Revenue and Strategy for the Philadelphia Eagles added: "We are excited to collaborate with a forward-thinking partner like Unibet whose innovation continues to create new and exciting online opportunities for our fans.

As the online gaming industry continues to emerge and expand in the marketplace, our partnership with Unibet takes us to a whole new level and allows us to be on the forefront of industry firsts, such as being featured in the country's first professional sports-themed casino game."

Kindred Group played a crucial role in helping to get the joint venture up and running. The group is one of the world's leading online gambling operators, as they are located in Europe, US and Australia, offering over 27 million customers across 12 brands a great form of entertainment in a safe, fair and sustainable environment.

The company, which employs about 1,700 people, is even listed on the Nasdaq Stockholm Large Cap – which goes some way towards explaining why they were so pivotal in getting the sports-based casino off the ground.

Unibet has stated that the Eagle-branded slot game is set to launch later this year, though no specific date has yet been muted.

The state of Pennsylvania has steadily rose in recent years to become one of the most gambling-friendly regions in the whole of the U.S. In fact, such is its popularity in PA, that it is now tied second on the Wedge Index – just behind New Jersey. The fact that Barstool Sports, a popular online content provider, focused heavily on the Pennsylvania market when they launched their betting app earlier this year, speaks volumes of its relevance in the national gambling landscape.

A collaboration of this nature looks likely to be the first of many, it just so happens that Philadelphia was fertile ground for the first to originate from.

One could imagine the likes of the New York Giants, or perhaps even the Las Vegas Raiders eventually trying something similar. For now, though, all eyes turn to Unibet, to see if their big bet on the world of sports turns out to be a masterstroke or a misfire.

Given Kindred Group’s peripheral involvement, it’s a near certainty that Wall Street will also be keeping tabs on this venture.