Tag: sports betting

20 Million Americans Expected to Bet on the Olympics

Posted on by Grant Mahon

The 2020 Summer Olympics starts today in Tokyo, where more than 14,000 athletes from more than 200 nations will compete in 35 different sports. Being the biggest sports event of the year, the Olympics are expected to attract hundreds of millions of viewers all around the world.

The Games are expected to be particularly popular in the US, where all the major sports competitions are currently on pause before the new season commences. Apart from sports fans, this year’s Olympics are probably going to be followed by a record number of US bettors.

As per the American Gaming Association (AGA), more than 20 million Americans are going to place at least one bet on the 2020 Olympics.

American Bettors Love the Olympics

The AGE wanted to know about the love American gamblers have for the Olympic Games. The association contracted a polling agency a few weeks ago called Morning Consult, which ran a survey on 2,200 adults from the United States.

The poll showed that about 8% of the respondents are planning to place a sports bet on an event in the Tokyo Olympics. Knowing that there are about 252 million people living in the United States in 2021, the calculation is that 20.1 million Americans are likely to make some Olympics bets this summer.

Among those who took part in the Morning Consult poll, 47% stated that they’re planning to make wagers among friends. Forty-three percent of the respondents said they’re going to make their bets at online sportsbooks, while 16% want to do it in person at one of the land-based sportsbooks.

Knowing that sports betting (online and retail) is legal and regulated only in a handful of states in the US, many bettors are planning to make their wagers offshore. The research has suggested that about 13% of American bettors are going to bet on the Olympics either via offshore betting sites or through an illegal bookmaker.

Olympics Bets Popular in the US

The Morning Consult survey showed that the Olympic sport of choice of American bettors is basketball. About 45% of the bettors will make at least one bet on basketball. No surprise there, as Team US is a heavy favorite to win the gold medal.

With Kevin Durant, Damian Lillard, Jayson Tatum, and other superstars, the dream team led by Greg Popovich is a heavy favorite at -769.

The next sport on the list is soccer, with 34% of the bettors planning to bet on this sport. The USWNT is expected to do very well in the tournament, while the men’s team is not taking part in this year’s Games.

Among those respondents who said they’re planning to get involved with Olympics betting, 28% will focus on gymnastics, while another 27% will go with track and field and swimming.

Baseball is also expected to be on the radar of the US sports bettors considering that the Tokyo Olympics will be the first Games to feature this sport since 2008. Another reason is that Team US is favored to win gold.

In fact, the US is the nation expected to win the most gold medals in Tokyo, with the odds of -1200.

Grant Mahon

Grant is the self-professed casino madman and reporter that brought this eclectic team of dedicated and talented writers together from around the world to proudly build an humble empire of authentic casino news.

Portugal’s Gambling Revenue Grows for 8th Consecutive Quarter

Posted on by Kat Orlov
  • Portugal’s gaming and sports betting revenue continues to grow in Q4 2019
  • Players spend some $941.10 million on games of chance
  • Close to 163,900 people register to bet and gamble over the period

Portugal has posted another successful quarter in Q4 2019 with online gambling revenue climbing to a new high and reaching $72.3 million over the period. The national regulator, Serviço Regulação e Inspeção de Jogos do Turismo de Portugal (SRIJ), reported growth across all main online gambling segments consolidating the country’s position as a developing iGaming market.

Sports Betting Continues to Drive Market Growth

In terms of comparing results year-over-year, Portugal managed to pull 52.1% more in pure revenue in the three months leading up to December 31, 2019. Not only that, but Q4 2019 was also the eight quarter in which the country’s market had only grown without showing any signs of slowing down.

Part of the positive development was also occasioned by sports gambling, which reached $36.88 million, or another 55.0% uptick compared to the same period a year before. Portuguese gamblers put down some $204.63 million in total bets, pushing the results up 67.5% year-over-year.

Football and basketball were the main drivers of sports betting interest in the country with both segments posting some significant improvement. Football, for example, had soared up by 74.6% more wagers compared to Q4 2018. In the meantime, Portugal has also been revving up its efforts to clamp down on illegal gambling.

Casino Products Make Steady Expansion Efforts

iGaming products also contributed a fair bit, pushing the total number of wagers placed up 49.1.% year-over-year. Specifically, players spent$941.10 million on online gambling revenue in the last three months of the year, marking another significant progress or 47.9%.

Slots topped these developments with some 69.0% of all money placed on casino products going in the way of slots over the quarter. Interestingly French roulette was the second most played game, with some 13.6% of the wagers going its way.

This indicates a maturity among Portuguese gamblers who are well aware of the inherent advantages of the game as one of the best-paying versions of roulette. Third came poker, with a 9.4% share of the market.

Poker has been a rather popular pastime in Portugal especially now that PokerStars has been part of the available options since 2016. Not only that, but Portugal is also sharing liquidity with other countries to boost the overall prize pool available for poker tournaments, something that places such as the United States still lack.

The Scope of the Portuguese Market – 12 Operators Active

Presently, the country has 12 approved gaming and betting operators that are active and hold multiple skins. The total number of licenses issued is 20 and the majority of those – 11 – are allocated to games of chances, such as the ones offered at casinos.

In the quarter, some 390,400 people placed a wager online, marking another increase. Estimated 163,900 new registration were made in the country during the fourth quarter of 2019.

Kat Orlov

Newcomer Kat is our newcomer poker aficionado whos skill not only lives on the table but flourishes on the site as through her many sources she never fails to be the first to hear of any important or exciting poker news around the world.

NIGC Issues Recommendations to Tribal Operators to Stay Compliant

Posted on by Grant Mahon

The tribal regulator of gambling matters, the National Indian Gaming Commission, has issued a list of recommendations on how to set up a sports betting business and comply with all legal prerequisites.

Regulator Advises Tribes on How to Open Sports Betting Operations

The National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) has released a new document outlining the potential difficulties that Native American tribes face in relation to rolling out sports betting operations in the united states. These difficulties, the official statement specified, had to do specifically with the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA).

NIGC Chair E. Sequoyah Simermeyer spoke about the new regulation and how it could help tribal operators to operate in the changing order after the repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA).

The lifting of the federal ban has already prompted tribal operators in places like New York, Mississippi and New Mexico to launch their operator, as per the negotiated tribal compacts with the U.S. Department of the Interior, Simermeyer explained.

However, Simermeyer also explained that to roll out sports betting, all tribes must make sure that the activity is classified as Class III gaming under their own compact.

Explaining the Business of Tribal Gambling in the U.S.

Tribes need to also understand the different ways of setting up their business, including a full control over the sports betting activity – where a tribe would be fully responsible for running business, and leasing its land to allow third-parties to run operations there.

Furthermore, tribes could also team up with third-party data providers while managing their own sportsbook. However, involving any third parties would necessitate further approval from the chair.

More importantly, Simermeyer explained, all tribes should seek and comply with the regulations lest they face stiff penalties. Speaking of payments, all transactions back to any partner must not exceed 30% of the Gross Gaming Regulator (GGR) as per NIGC approved regulation.

However, if specific conditions are negotiated, then a 40% revenue split of the revenue could be enacted, provided that the NIGC chair has given his or her approval.

What Kind of Relation Is It?

To help build a mutually beneficial business, NIGC will focus on several selection criteria in determining the viability of an individual partner. For starters, the Commission would look at the longevity of each partnership, giving a slight preference to long-term contracts.

Secondly, the regulator would also take a look at the amount that will be paid out to any third party, as well how much control said third-party has in running tribal operations. In addition, all tribes must comply with regulatory expectations insofar as compliance with tax laws and customer protection goes.

Due diligence checks are advisory, NIGC specified, to ensure that everyone is enjoying a safe gaming environment. According to Simermeyer, the latest recommendations issued by NIGC consolidate the Commission’s position as a regulator and a source of safe guidance in the sector.

Grant Mahon

Grant is the self-professed casino madman and reporter that brought this eclectic team of dedicated and talented writers together from around the world to proudly build an humble empire of authentic casino news.

PA Reaps 33% Increase in Sports Betting Revenue in November

Posted on by Grant Mahon

Pennsylvania has managed to amass strong gains from the launch of mobile gaming and sports betting, with the amount wagered in November increasing 33% from a month before in October.

PGCB Posts November Results

With Pennsylvania launching online sports betting, the state posted one-third better results in November, amassing over $300 million in total sports betting handle. Mobile betting has helped the Keystone State and specifically business in the state collect unprecedent overall handle.

Specifically, the bets went up to $316.5 million, marking a 31.2% increase from October, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) reported. Online betting soared to the whopping $266.7 million over the period, marking a nearly 85% increase.

The retail market also grew a little, probably riding on the popularity of the online segment with the month-over-month results rising to $49.7 million in total handle. The retail segment managed to generated bigger gross gaming revenue (GGR) at around $20.6 million, but about $5.9 million was spent on advertising, tipping the taxable GGR to $14.7 million – down from the October’s results.

How Did Operators Perform in November?

Operators posted positive developments in November, including the duo between Valley Forge Casino and FanDuel, one of the leading sportsbooks in the U.S., which pulled ahead with total handle worth $153 million. This was 29.6% higher than the previous month, PGCB data showed. Estimated $5.8 million was taxable account income.

FanDuel and Valley Forge were largely unchallenged. Rivers Philadelphia, the freshly rebranded SugarHouse Casino, amassed $41.3 million, a far cry from FanDuel’s results over the month. The next property on the list in November was $30.5 million with $2 million spent on promotional credits.

DraftKings, FanDuel’s main rival, made its first step into the market, owing to a partnership with Meadows Casino. DraftKings only amassed $18.1 million in GGR over the period.

Online Casino Market Remains Strong in Pennsylvania

Mobile gaming and sports betting have been a major boost for the Keystone State. Online slots revenue grew to $140.3 million up to 19.4% and revenue soaring to $5.1 million, or 28.1% more than a month before.

Table games notched up $176.5 million, proving a segment even more lucrative than the bulwark of all online gaming – slots. Revenue for operators from table games soared to $2.6 million. Another interesting development was poker with Mount Airy and the The Stars Group.

Mount Airy is presently the only operator have spearheaded poker, one of the weakest segments in the United States, but very popular in the offshore online gaming business. The Rivers Philadelphia may have come second in terms of sports betting, but the property definitely turned out to be the busiest venue among online gaming players.

The amount wagered in November reached $64.2 million from slots alone. The second biggest in terms of slots revenue was Penn National Gaming. Interestingly, the state’s video gaming terminals (VGTs) also managed to amass a fair chunk of the revenue, estimated $659,288.

Grant Mahon

Grant is the self-professed casino madman and reporter that brought this eclectic team of dedicated and talented writers together from around the world to proudly build an humble empire of authentic casino news.

New Jersey’s Sports Betting Results in October Up

Posted on by Grant Mahon

The State of New Jersey has posted its October results for sports betting, generating some impressive figures over the period. The state’s sportsbooks managed to collected a total handle of $487.9 million. Total gambling revenue for the month in the Garden State hit $2.86 billion.

New Jersey Continues to Post Reassuring Gambling Results

New Jersey has managed to rake in estimated $46.4 million in revenue in October, 2019, posting a strong betting handle for the month as well. Sportsbooks in the state scooped up as much as $487.9 million over the period.

The latest figures surpassed results in September when operators reported $37.9 million in collected revenue. More specifically, the revenue was almost 300% higher than the figure posted in September, 2018, marking a tremendous progress since that time.

Meanwhile, total handle also went up and October saw total bets worth $445.6 million placed. This was 87.14% up from October 2018.

Can New Jersey Beat Nevada in Sports Betting?

The big question is whether New Jersey will manage to outpace Nevada’s own pace of expansion. Everyone knows that the Garden State has a slightly more accessible climate, but Nevada has been the world’s chief gambling hub for a while.

Commenting on these developments, sports and gaming analyst Dustin Gouker had this to say:

“If New Jersey is going to pass Nevada during the NFL season, it will be in large part due to the comparative popularity of basketball in the Northeast. In Nevada, football betting is king, and it’s nearly as popular in New Jersey.

Similarly, Mr. Gouker cautioned that New Jersey sports fans were more active compared to Nevada where the casino gambling industry was leading the way.

Meanwhile, there has been very little evidence to suggest that in either Nevada or New Jersey, online poker can gain any momentum, to the disappointment of poker enthusiasts in both states. Even the recent addition of Pennsylvania as an eligible state hasn’t helped.

The Total Handle in NJ in October

Nevada managed to amass $5.1 million and a total handle of $546.4 million. However, New Jersey has outperformed Nevada in every month leading up to September, definitely a promising sign.
New jersey also saw mobile sports bet to dominate all forms of betting. In fact, estimated $417 million worth of bets were placed online. FanDuel and PointsBet dominated the industry in October once again.

Next came Resorts Digital thanks to its multiple partnerships with leading operators such as The Stars Group and DraftKings.

Monmouth Park and William Hill’s efforts placed them third, generating $2.8 million or up 133.8% compared to October 2018.

Online Gambling Going Up

Official data by New Jersey’s Division of Gaming Enforcement (NJDGE) showed great results insofar as online gambling went. New Jersey posted a 69% increase YOY, with the total amount hitting $45.2 million.

In the conditions of an expanding online gaming and sports betting industry, the retail sector register a modest by reassuring growth of 0.8% at $202.3 million. Combined, the total gaming revenue in the Garden State for October hit $2.86 billion.

Big sports such as the NFL, NBA and MLB remain the chief drivers of all activities in New Jersey.

Grant Mahon

Grant is the self-professed casino madman and reporter that brought this eclectic team of dedicated and talented writers together from around the world to proudly build an humble empire of authentic casino news.

Brazil Introduces Consultation Service for Sporst Betting

Posted on by Aran Malik
  • Consultation period launches between July 30 and April 31
  • Brazil looks to enforce better customer protection
  • The government is reaching out to the UK and Portugal for advice

Brazil has launched a new consultation imitative, reaching out to members of the public to discuss how the future sports betting market will be regulated.

Brazil Launches Consultation Initiative

Preparing for a quickly-expanding sports betting industry, the Brazilian Ministry of the Economy has officially introduced a consultation initiative which will give the public a month’s time to share opinions on the development of a framework that will regulate the betting vertical. This initiative also comes amid urges that the country should better regulate its market.

The consultation kicked off on July 30 and it will be running until |August 31, with public stakeholders sharing their vision of what sports betting in the country should look like. This initiative is carried out by the Secretariat of Evaluation, Planning, Energy and Lottery (SECAP), which is a division under the Ministry’s Special Secretariat of Finance and specifically tasked with helping set up the industry.

Gauging the Public Opinion

The shareholders and members of the public have been asked a number of questions and specifically whether a fixed number of licenses should be made available or whether only companies fulfilling certain standards should be awarded the licenses.

The Secretariat is equally hoping to find out more about how the public expects the government to regulate the industry, including:

  • Monitoring
  • Control
  • Enforcement

A number of other potential issues have also been brought, including fraud prevention, player data safety, anti-money laundering (AML), and market integrity, i.e. targeting monopolies and preventing the establishing of such.

Launching the Industry with Provisional Measure 846/18

Brazil is preparing to launch its sports betting industry, following the passing of Provisional Measure 846/18, which was signed by outgoing President Michel Temer and tentatively endorsed by the new government.

The country’s sports betting market is potentially worth billions and regulating it would help fund public initiatives, lawmakers hope. The Ministry has also said that the initiative is a direct result from the Ministry’s efforts to provide future bettors with better protection across the board .

Meanwhile, Brazil’s government has reached out to Portugal and the United Kingdom to seek advice on how to launch and regulate the industry. Presently, the country’s offshore gambling market is estimated at BRL$4.3 billion, but specialists suggest that the numbers are in fact much higher.

Can Brazil bring the sports betting bacon?

Aran Malik

“Magic Malik”—as we like to call him—is not only a tech whiz but a wizard when it comes to getting obscure news hot off the press so we know exactly what’s happening and can explore and report it back to our growing and loyal readerbase.

Denmark’s Q1 Online Gaming & Sports Betting Revenue Increases

Posted on by George Hansen
  • Land based properties in Denmark lose 10 per cent revenue
  • Online revenue soars – mobile platforms lead the way
  • Sports betting verticals post 10 per cent increase

Denmark continues to be the safest gambling market in Europe. While upholding the best practices in the industry, Denmark has also been able to drive revenue for the iGaming sector while land-based properties have seen a dip in their revenue.

Online Gambling Revenue in Denmark Climbs Up

Denmark’s iGaming sector has posted good results in Q1, 2019. The market successfully consolidated its online presence, but this came at a cost for brick-and-mortar operators which are now struggling to catch up.

The results for the quarter ending on March 31 have revealed a shift towards online gambling. Danish operators have managed to hit over DKK1.6 billion ($910 million) in the three months since the beginning of the years, which is a 4.5-per-cent improvement year-over-year.

Once again, online operators focused exclusively on sports betting which continued to lead the way, generating 619 million in the first quarter online.

This accounted for almost 40 per cent of the total amount that online gambling generated in Q1. Sports betting also marked the highest year-over-year improvement, accounting for 10.4-per-cent improvement compared to Q1, 2018.

Denmark Shifts Towards Mobile Betting

Mobile platforms have certainly seen a spike in the total use for the purposes of gambling, as betting apps accounted for 53.3 per cent of the total wagers placed in Q1, 2019. Desktop betting remained strong as well, with the total accounting for 27.3 per cent. People who opted to place a wager in person accounted for 21.9 per cent of the total, a still decent turn-up.

Denmark Q3 iGaming Results Strong Despite Mild Dip

Casinos also did well, at least the properties operating online that is. Online casinos managed to amass DKK556 million in the period. Q1 brought nearly a million more in terms of revenue. Once again, online slots remained the most lucrative segment, which has accounted for over 60 per cent of the total revenue.

The improved results come at a time when Denmark has successfully continued to enrol problem gamblers in its national self-exclusion scheme. Denmark is the only country in the European Union which enforces consumer protection practices in full.

Sweden, a new entrant in online gambling as of January 1, 2019, has already had to issue fines to prominent gaming operators and threaten with suspension of license – Betway has been among the affected parties. William Hill, another UK-based betting agency has also acquired assets in Sweden.

Sweden and Denmark remain the most challenging markets in the world of iGaming where rules need to be followed to the T lest regulators decide to issue hefty payments. The fact that revenue continues to grow while regulations tighten is a positive sign for the future of sports betting and iGaming. Meanwhile, Denmark remains one of the safest places to gamble and place sports wagers.

The biggest takeaway of the quarter was that revenue at land-based properties, restaurants and other designated areas fell by 3.6 per cent over the period while the seven land-based casinos in Denmark posted 10-per-cent worse performance over the quarter year-over-year.

George Hansen

Taking a liking to the occasional bout of slots, George used to moonlight as a roulette dealer, giving him a unique perspective into the casino world. From there he continued his journalist education and has been with us ever since a star-aligned graduation brought him and our team together.

William Hill Opens Sports Betting Book in Sweden

Posted on by Carmen Thompson
  • William Hill successfully launches sports betting platform in Sweden
  • The re-branded Redbet cost WH $294.3 million
  • WH brings a variety of games, including Monopoly Live, Vegas Speed Roulette, and others

William Hill is the latest gambling & sports betting operator to make a bold entry into the newly-regulated Swedish market. The Kambi-powered platform is already accessible to Swedish bettors.

WilliamHill.se Opens to Swedish Players

Long in the making, William Hill is officially a sports betting operator in Sweden. The company took some time to finalize the acquisition of local assets and re-brand them, but five months after the legalization of the industry, the UK sports book has made it.

William Hill struck a deal with MRG Group, the owner of Evoke Gaming which in turn owned Redbet. The deal cost William Hill $294.3 million. WH International MG Patrick Jonker spoke to Affiliate Insider, noting on the importance of the deal and the opportunities that it created for the company:

This is an important milestone in William Hill’s International journey. Through fantastic teamwork between our teams in Malta, UK and Sweden we have released William Hill’s first new locally licensed offering since 2011.

The deal will also see a number of games introduced to the Swedish market, including Monopoly Live and Vegas Speed Roulette. All products will be accessible through the now Sweden-facing domain, WilliamHill.se.

Mr. Jonker commented that it was William Hill’s privilege to offer a state-of-the-art products both in terms of sports betting and live gaming to Swedish customers. WH is entering a highly-regulated market where even the best operators are at risk of breaking the tight regulations.

Regulations Are Tight in Sweden

Svenska Spel, the country’s de facto natural sports book & gaming company, was attacked by one of the watchdogs, Branschföreningen för onlinespel (BOS). Svenska Spel is accused of violating advertisement rules.

At the turn of 2019, casino and gambling ads continued to dominate Swedish Internet and TV programs, with LeoVegas and other brands barraging users with their campaigns at every commercial break.

As other companies face trouble in Sweden, William Hill will have to focus on uholding the recommended advertisemen practices recommended by the nation’s regulator, the Spelinspektionen.

Carmen Thompson

Carmen is our residential reporter always on the move and hunting down the latest scoops and rumours to explore. Nothing gets past her keen nose, especially when it comes to some serious Jelly Bean poker tournaments.

Florida Governor and Seminole See Eye-to-Eye on Betting

Posted on by Aran Malik
  • Florida and Seminole Tribes on their way to new compct agreement
  • Sports betting expansion possible
  • Opposition against gambling expansion mounts

Florida is still tip-toeing around the idea of fully legalizing sports betting with talks beginning during last November’s election and Amendment 3. Voters finally have the power to authorize new gambling venues, but this would take significant effort.

Will Florida Get Sports Betting in 2019?

On April 26, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis met with gaming businesses representative to discuss the future of the sports betting and iGaming industries in the state. DeSantis had previously spoken to Seminole Tribe of Florida Chairman Marcus Osceola and Seminole Gaming CEO Jim Allen as well as the tribal gaming operator’s General Counsel, Jim Shore.

The talks mark a success in a bottle-neck that has had the Seminole tribal gaming facilities strangle any previous attempts to expand or include sports betting. Not only that, but the Tribes and the state may be coming closer to creating a new compact much like the one that expired back in 2010 that gives Seminole exclusivity on gambling verticals.

The meeting was described as cordial with the Tampa Bay Times reporting closely on the summit, citing lobbyist Nick Iarossi who said:

The governor spent over an hour intently listening and asking questions to better understand the pari-mutuels and issues related to the proposed compact.

Planning for the Future – 31 Years of Understanding

A new proposal may now be on the cards with a 31-year agreement being discussed. When the previous deal was struck, it took legislators 20 years to come up with a solution for everyone to agree.

The toughest nut to crack has always been the Seminole Tribe casinos that have insisted on exclusive rights. It’s similar today with Florida continuing to operate without a new compact while the tribes grow impatient and continue to contribute to the state’s coffers, estimated at $350 million.

This is money that Florida doesn’t want to lose, even though lawmakers already drafted a budget that excludes these contributions.

While there has bee divisions in the past and much traction, things seem to be finally smoothing out with talks about future expansion of iGaming and sports betting operations in the state.

The Seminole recently contested the issue of allowing certain facilities to operate player-banked games, thus allowing such venues to circumnavigate the tribes’ exclusivity rights over the segment.

Not Everyone Is Happy about Sports Betting

The naysayers have spoken. At the beginning of April, No Casinos in Florida, a non-for-profit group, sent a letter to Florida House Speaker Jose Oliva and to Senate President Bill Galvano, stating their opposition to legalizing sports betting and expanding it across Florida.

Interestingly, companies such as Walt Disney and Seminole have also spent copious amounts to make sure that casinos don’t arrive to the state. Yet an expansion t the present moment appears hypocritical.

Disney is also running sports betting shows through ESPN, a company that it owns. Florida’s gambling and sports betting are indeed contentious issues

Aran Malik

“Magic Malik”—as we like to call him—is not only a tech whiz but a wizard when it comes to getting obscure news hot off the press so we know exactly what’s happening and can explore and report it back to our growing and loyal readerbase.

New Jersey Posts Record High Results in NJ for March

Posted on by Kat Orlov
  • NJ eclipses March, 2018 gaming results
  • The state’s operators double profit in March 2019
  • NJ is $250 million of hitting $1 billion in total revenue for 2019

    • New Jersey scored big on the March Madness and its iGaming segment continued to grow in the meanwhile. Not quite the first state to introduce sports betting, NJ has been able to claim a significant chunk of the betting action around the US.

    NJ Sports Betting and Gaming Revenue Grows

    New Jersey posted quite the uptick in its sports betting activities this March, notching up 34.5% better year-on-year results or $294 million. The solid increase in the activity is mostly owing to the fact that NJ introduced full-scale sports betting in May, 2018, after defeating a piece of arcane legislation designed to impede sports betting contests.

    New Jersey Chases Bigger Sports Handle in November

    Land-based casinos continued to fetch the majority of income, with the brick-and-mortar properties jumping another 15.7% this year or a total of $223.2 million. Meanwhile, other verticals, such as slots and table games also did well.

    March wasn’t all about sports betting and we saw iGaming results inch up. There was A 18.5% jump in terms of slots or $162.6 million total. Table games also went up 8.7% and reached $60.5 million.

    On its own, online gambling revenue went up the staggering 53% and netted $39.1 million, a rather impressive result altogether. Conversely, poker took a tumble in March, falling 1.6% and hit $5.6 million in total.

    The Properties That Posted Great Results in NJ

    Quite a few properties managed to post great results as a result of the overall upheaval in the market. The Golden Nugget generated 64.4% more revenue, or $14.2 million more. There was also Resorts Digital which posted over 100% in terms of improved results or $8.5 million total.

    Understandably, Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa managed to hit another $5.4 million which was a great uptick by 16.4% compared to the results in 2018. Meadowlands has managed to cash on its partnership with Paddy Power Betfair, FanDuel, well ahead of the competitors with a total of $17.6 million in revenue that month.

    DraftKings’ been trailing behind FanDuel. Resorts Digital, the official partner of the online betting platform, posted $7.2 million, which was still almost double than the February results.

    Meanwhile, New Jersey has had no trouble with notching up some pretty respectable overall profits in the first three months of 2019. Over January, February and March the state’s operators posted.

    Poker has been struggling to gain any traction, although New Jersey joined in a shared-liquidity scheme with other states in 2018. Nevada and Delaware are the other places where poker is presently legal.

    The iGaming and poker industries have been expanding. Pennsylvania is currently on hold, expecting to launch its activities in June and there are multiple other states working on passing iGaming bills.

    Sports betting continues to be the segment to win the most out of the current legal changes in the United States.

Kat Orlov

Newcomer Kat is our newcomer poker aficionado whos skill not only lives on the table but flourishes on the site as through her many sources she never fails to be the first to hear of any important or exciting poker news around the world.

UKGC to Ensure FOBTs Measures Are Met as of April 1

Posted on by Carmen Thompson
  • UKGC to monitor if FOBTs rules are applied
  • New security measures coming in
  • Customer identity to be verified within 24 hours

The UK Gambling Commission is looking into introducing more customer protections for players in the United Kingdom, even after the Fixed-Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs) measures have been introduced.

The UK Gambling Commission Targets FOBTs for Extra Customer Protection

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) is committed to upholding the highest security standards when it comes down to the customer. In light of the recently-introduced measures to slash the maximum betting limits on FOBTs, the watchdog is aware that some companies may overlook the rule.

This is why, the UKGC is stepping up its efforts to ensure that no discrepancies between law and practice occur. Starting today, April 1, all FOBTs in the United Kingdom should be re-adjusted to offer customers only £2 per spin, down from £100 in the past.

The measure was rushed after the initial timeline was set for October, but Prime Minister Theresa May’s government was accused of deliberately working with iGaming businesses at the expense and detriment of people.

New UKGC Customer Identity Measures Arrive in May, 2019

The row led to the resignation of now former Sports Minister Tracey Crouch who remains a vehement supporter of introducing more measures to safeguard British customers from malicious iGaming practices.

As to the regulator, UKGC Chief Executive Neil McArthur has reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to upholding order and investigating companies that try to color around the lines. Here’s what Mr. McArthur had to say:

Together with Government and the industry, we must continue our ongoing work to make the whole industry safer – this includes continuing to make progress with making other products safer, as customers may move to gamble in other ways following the stake cut – including online, mobile and on the high street.

Politicians haven’t been sitting idly either, with Jeremy Wright, the present Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport planning even more measures to protect customer. Mr. Wright has been focusing on restricting underage gambling which he considers to still not be addressed properly.

In a recent statement he commented:

The Government’s actions and ambitions stretch much further and we are looking at further treatment of those who have suffered from gambling-related harm, whether gambling on credit should be limited and considering what actions are necessary to tackle problem gambling online.

The Commission plans to introduce a number of measures intended at bolstering the overall security. This means that starting in 2019, casinos will be obliged to verify a customer’s age and identity before they, i.e. the customer, is allowed to access the casino’s facilities.

This includes the free to play versions that are also coming under stricter restrictions. The UKGC is also going to speed up the verification process which now takes 72 hours and ask of casinos to be done with these important checks within a 24-hour time window.

Carmen Thompson

Carmen is our residential reporter always on the move and hunting down the latest scoops and rumours to explore. Nothing gets past her keen nose, especially when it comes to some serious Jelly Bean poker tournaments.

Connecticut Pushing Ahead with Sports Betting Legislation

Posted on by Carmen Thompson
  • Joe Verrengia puts forth a new online sports bill
  • HB 7331 seeks to create a compact with tribes
  • Operators need to pay $100,000 non-refundable fee
  • Licenses issued for a two-year period

Connecticut is back in the center of events with a new sports betting proposal fired up for the state’s lawmakers to consider. Sponsored by the chairman of the Connecticut House Public Safety and Security Committee, Joe Verrengia, the new bill will seek to introduce wagering on both land-based and online betting activities.

Connecticut Takes a Shot at New Online Sports Betting Opportunities

Joe Verrengia, chairman of the Connecticut House Public Safety and Security Committee, has introduced a new bill, HB 7331, which will effectively seek to introduce sports betting to both land-based operators and licensed online businesses.

Control will be enforced by the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection. Mr. Verrengia has outlined very mild entry costs for any business that wants to start operations in Connecticut. Every operator will need to pay an initial non-refundable fee of $100,000 to start the process.

Shortly after the initial payment, a $500,000 two-year license would need to be paid for as well. Sports betting is not the only license that interested parties would be able to acquire, including a sports wagering vendor licenses going for $300,000 and sports wagering lottery sales agent licenses available for another $250,000.

In each case, an initial fee of $100,000 will have to be paid.

The Essence of Connecticut’s Bill

The new Connecticut bill proposes important changes and builds on previous proposals. As a result, Mr. Verrengia has worked on establishing important aspects of the legislation, such as the legal gambling age as well as the available tax rates and to whom the money would be going to:

  • Legal gambling age – 21
  • Tax rate – 9.89%
  • Money allocated to – Connecticut General Fund, Sports Wagering Account
  • Regulated by – the Department of Consumer Protection

There’s also a legal wrinkle that explains that at the end of each year, 0.5% will be donated directly to CT five Regional Behavioral Health Action Organizations, which will be addressing issues, such as gambling addiction. The other 0.5% will be deposited directly into the General Fund.

The Tribes Are Welcome to Join and Work Together

Enjoying the support of CT governor, HB 7331 is also offering private operators to partner up with the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribal casinos available in the casino. This would necessitate to change the existing compact that the tribes have formed by themselves. Mr. Verrengia by themselves.

Integrity fees are also part of the offer, but Mr. Verrengia wants to see the Connecticut Commissioner of Economic and Community Development collaborate with main sporting bodies so any proceedings from sports betting can be used in a meaningful way. True, there are still hurdles, but the prospects seem promising altogether.

With the basic plan paid out, what follows is for Mr. Verrengia to push the bill successful through the House Public Safety and Security Committee which he presides himself. The next steps will be in the House, the Senate and finally in the governor’s office.

Carmen Thompson

Carmen is our residential reporter always on the move and hunting down the latest scoops and rumours to explore. Nothing gets past her keen nose, especially when it comes to some serious Jelly Bean poker tournaments.

West Virginia’s House Judiciary Okays Sports Betting Bill

Posted on by Aran Malik
  • West Virginia House Judiciary Committee votes in favor of H 2934
  • The tax rate changes from 10% to 15%
  • WV is serious about expanding online sports betting through independent contractors

The West Virginia House Judiciary Committee has decided not to put a stop to an advancing sports betting bill. As per the new agreement, businesses that want to start running activities in the state will have to pay a slightly steeper tax rate, too.

H 2934 Gets the Go-Ahead in West Virginia

House Bill 2934 is the most advanced hope for sports betting in West Virginia. The bill outlines the tax rate and binding licensing conditions and now the WV House Judiciary Committee has agreed to push the legislation forward.

Originally set at 10%, the new proposed tax law will see operators pay 15% as a result of the renegotiation in the Committee.

However, the Committee didn’t alter any of the other pillars of the bill, including the proposed license fee nor their period.

Licenses will still cost $250,000 (far less than Pennsylvania where they can reach $10 million) and a renewal fee would need to be paid every five years to the amount of $100,000.

A Controlled Expansion of Sports Betting in WV

So far, WV doesn’t plan on pushing with multiple properties state-wide. Legislators want to establish a vibrant industry and make sure that tax revenue is gathered. With this in mind, only four brands would be allowed to operate in the state, including:

  • Hollywood Casino
  • Mountaineer Racetrack
  • Casino and Delaware
  • Greenbrier Resort

The bill will indeed focus on land-based operations and try to concentrate power in the hands of the aforementioned, but this doesn’t preclude the existence of other operations.

For example, there will be special licenses for companies that want to pursue online gaming independent of the land-based properties. This will come with a fair priced license and renewal fee at $100,000 each.

The renewal fee will have to be paid every year as opposed to what land-based properties are paying. An interesting addition to the bill is that everyone who wants to be employed in the sector will need to acquire an occupational license priced at $100.

In the United Kingdom, for example, regulators are not hesitating to go after individual people as well as company licenses if they suspect that customers have been mislead on purpose.

The introduction of a license would give business accountability and thus bolster player security. H 2934 is not the only bill presently trying to alter the spots betting climate in the state for the better.

H 2178 was another initiative put forth by Rep. Shawn Fluharty and Joe Canestraro in January. In its outline, the bill tries to change the 1931 Code of West Virginia to allow online gaming and casinos in the state.

Aran Malik

“Magic Malik”—as we like to call him—is not only a tech whiz but a wizard when it comes to getting obscure news hot off the press so we know exactly what’s happening and can explore and report it back to our growing and loyal readerbase.

New Sports Betting Opportunities for Kansas Discussed

Posted on by Grant Mahon
  • Kansans’ lawmakers continue to pursue the idea of legalizing sports betting
  • Mobile betting and the remit of the State Lottery discussed
  • Tax gains for the state not a pre-determined amount

Kansans will be going over proposed sports betting plans once again with Rep. Stephanie Clayton supporting the move.

Kansas Lawmakers to Look into Sports Betting Opportunities

Kansas has long been on pins and needles about adding sports betting to the state. After all, a lot of other states have pushed ahead with such a move already. Worst of all, Missouri is going to get its own sports betting rolled out before Kansas and that’s the sort of twist that makes the blood boil.

Virginia’s Sports Betting Bill Gets Senate Approval

Rep. Stephanie Clayton is quite determined to show Missouri that Kansas is just as capable of mastering its own sports betting plans:

I don’t like getting beaten by Missouri. It’s a Kansas trait. I think a lot of people share that.

There’s plenty of reasons for Kansas to want to be in the open when it comes to sports betting. First, the offshore industry is no small part of the daily expenditures of the state’s residents. Gambling is very much alive in Kansas, only the sportsbooks to sweep up all the cash are located offshore.

Kansas House Panel Meets to Discuss Sports Betting: What a Twister!

Kansas both loves and hates sports betting, but at least now a debate is on the way. The state’s House Panel met on Friday, February 8 to discuss the possibility of specific facilities being authorized to accept sports betting wagers, including:

  • Restaurants & bars
  • Dog racetracks
  • Lottery retailers

Quite a few topics were broached, which just only goes to show that lawmakers are very serious about pondering the question in its depth. For instance, some of the topics discussed included whether professional and college sports are entitled to a revenue from sportsbooks, i.e. the notorious royalty/integrity fees. Mobile betting was also examined.

A Matter of Chance – The Kansas Lottery

An interesting development though can be how any sports betting bill would co-exist with the Kansas State Lottery. The question of mobile apps came up with the attendees trying to determine whether each individual property should have its own app or if the entire network can be controlled by the state.

In fact, there were more unknowns that any concrete solutions with the Lottery question remaining open-ended.

Play Your Cards Well Now

Kansas is definitely not intent on taxing the industry too steeply. The rate is established at 6.75% and additional 0.25%that would go for royalty fees, as per a bill introduced earlier.

There’re no exact estimates as to how much the state stands to win from legalizing the industry, which is another reason for rather divided legal factions.

Grant Mahon

Grant is the self-professed casino madman and reporter that brought this eclectic team of dedicated and talented writers together from around the world to proudly build an humble empire of authentic casino news.

Virginia SB 1126 Clears Senate, Sports Betting Odds Better

Posted on by Aran Malik

Virginia’s SB 1126 is the state’s most famed sports betting bill, and it has just cleared the Senate. What this means is that land-based properties will be allowed to apply for licenses and offer the first sports betting opportunities in the state.

The Senate Bill Clears the Last Legal Hurdle

When Dem. Sen. Louise Lucas introduced his bill, he might have suspected how successful SB 1126 would be. Well, all speculation aside, Mr. Lucas has done very well indeed, with the Virginia Senate just clearing the document.

The Bill will also be voted on in the House of Representative later today and the Committee on Rules will try to prepare an action plan regarding the implementation of the document.

Virginia is an interesting beast when it comes to gaming, as it’s willing to accept spots betting as long as certain conditions are met. We previously explained that SB 1126 expects casinos applying for licenses to meet specific criteria, such as:

  • A minimum unemployment rate of 4%
  • A poverty rate of 20%
  • Population decline of 7% between 1990 and 2016

To top it all off, the casino will have to take it to a vote whether a casino can be built or operate, leading to multiple mini-referendum state-wide.

Tribal casinos on the other hand will be admitted in cities that have at least 200,000 people living in them with 24% of all estate tax exempted from property tax. This is quite a few hoops to jump through for the state and would be operators.

Virginia’s Sports Betting Bill Gets Senate Approval

Still, given the wide endorsement of the segment in its current form, it’s very unlikely that any future business owner would remonstrate against the proposed measures.

Speaking of the legal end of things, the taxes that will be collected from the casino sector also seem to be rather mild compared to other places.

Virginia will seek only 10% of the companies’ gross revenue, with the money being divvied up between various funds, including:

  • The Virginia Public School Construction Grants Program and Fund
  • The Problem Gambling Treatment and Support Fund
  • The General State Fund

Later, there will be another fund, i.e. the State Local Casino Gaming Proceeds Fund, which will help local authorities develop their regions. This outlines the betting climate in Virginia.

Meanwhile, there are two more bills to keep an eye on, including SB 1238 and SB 1356, but at this point they both seem very unlikely to pass given the momentum SB 1126 has gathered already.

Nevertheless, lawmakers are trying to push from all directions towards the ultimate goal – legalizing sports betting, which should be good news for sports aficionados and companies eyeing expansion.

Aran Malik

“Magic Malik”—as we like to call him—is not only a tech whiz but a wizard when it comes to getting obscure news hot off the press so we know exactly what’s happening and can explore and report it back to our growing and loyal readerbase.

Bet365 and Skybet Are Inaugural Partners for Perform’s Opta

Posted on by Kat Orlov
  • Bet365 and SkyBet announced as launch partners for Perform’s new real-time data solution
  • Opta allows players to obtain important breakdown in real-time
  • Partnership to drive value for players and business

Perform, a data-driven sports betting platform, has teamed up with established bookmakers Bet365 and SkyBet to introduce its latest data service, Opta Fast Player Statistics Feed.

SkyBet and Bet365 Work with Real Data Solutions

Perform has partnered with Bet365 and SkyBet for its latest sports betting, data driven solution, Opta Fast Player Statistics Feed. Bet365’s the second-largest tax contributor in the UK, with the company’s boss being the best-paid female professional in the world.

As the name suggests, the tool will break down the game in real-time and player-by-player, going through important metrics, such as passes, shots, tackles and other sport-specific metrics.

There are two ways interested parties can access the data, the official press statement specified:

  • Partners can ingest Opta’s data directly
  • Partners can also use third-party pricing services, such as Sportcast and Bananch

Bet365 and SkyBet are the first gaming & sports betting companies to adopt Opta’s offer, signalling the platform’s potential.

Perform SVP Betting John Harlow has highlighted the inherent benefits of this solution, including:

If you’re a bettor following in-play events like shots, tackles and passes, it’s like you’re watching an entirely new game.

Goals are still the determining metric whether a team is performing well, but this is all supplemented by additional factors, such as the frequency of shots and probabilities of one team scoring over another.

Borgata to Develop $11m Betting Lounge in Atlantic City

Mr. Harlow had the following to add: “The new Opta feed has given a way for operators to create compelling new player-focussed experiences that occur throughout the 90 minutes. It’s a new level of entertainment for their customers, even throughout a 0-0 draw.”

Perform CCO Andrew Ashenden further explained that the platform would guarantee reliable data for in-play trading and betting.

Based on Mr. Ashenden and Harlow’s account, a lot of effort has gone into creating the platform, and a lot more is allocated to collecting reliable data. Both think that the industry would benefit from an innovative product that would ultimately brush up the customer experience.

SkyBet and Bet365 are two of the most recognizable names in the sports betting market. Their choice to endorse the platform would signal others to look into Opta, driving revenue for Perform.

Both SkyBet and Bet365 are committed to customer protection and providing the most detailed and accurate data possible. Inspired, another gaming company, recently renewed its existing partnership with Bet365.

Amid the tightening regulatory context at home in the United Kingdom, brushing up on the credibility of the betting data and giving customers even more ways to make fact-based decisions is a boon to bookmakers.

Kat Orlov

Newcomer Kat is our newcomer poker aficionado whos skill not only lives on the table but flourishes on the site as through her many sources she never fails to be the first to hear of any important or exciting poker news around the world.

New York Gaming Commission to Meet on January 28

Posted on by Aran Malik
  • New York Gaming Commission to meet on Monday, January 28
  • Senator Addabbo and Ansemblyman Gary Pretlow firmly support legalizing sports betting in the state

New York is closer to sports betting than ever before. The Empire State’s Gaming Commission is going to hold a meeting on Monday, January 28, in which it will discuss the possibility of legalizing the segment throughout the state.

Is Sports Betting in New York a Possibility

New York has been one of the states looking to introduce sports betting, with the market already ripe for the offer. However, there has been somewhat cumbersome opposition, with bills failing either because of lack of support or too strong opposition, or just no interested lawmaker in sight.

Now, this is about to change, as the New York State Gaming Commission is about to convene on Monday, January 28, and discuss the future opportunities for the state and its would-be industry.

The state’s trepidation is quite understandable as in 2013, New York fought and won a case whereby the state is eligible to introduce sports betting legally, should the federal ban on the activity is repealed. Put simply, New York made it possible to expand commercial casino gambling.

In May 2018, PASPA was defeated by the State of New Jersey, opening the gates ahead of a vibrant market and ample business opportunity. Even that decision, however, some people in New York have come to think, has been too restrictive.

Brushing Up the Existing Legislation

For example, as per the current laws, individuals can only place wagers within the physical premises of a casino, something that many find restrictive. The gathering momentum in favor of a more liberal sports betting industry is palpable.

Lawmakers, including Senator Joseph Addabbo, have seen sports betting as a lucrative and important segment, with the Senator’s commitment having been well-documented.

New York Will Try Again for Poker Legislation

Sen. Addabbo filed a bill at the beginning of January in a bid to push multiple activities in the legal sweet spot, including online poker, online gaming, and understandably – sports betting.

Based on his draft, sports betting activities will be taxed with 8.5%, which is a rather accommodating rate for any new business to kick start their activities. Another interesting involvement has been by Gary Pretlow, member of the NY Assembly, who’s also been looking for new opportunities to advance the state’s gaming industry.

In related news, Madison Square Garden (MSG) might be the first venue to push across the board, adding new segments and betting opportunities, including online, should the industry be legalized in full. While the exact details of the sports betting future in New York are not entirely known, there’s at least some proof to suggest that integrity fees won’t be part of the offer, sources suggest.

Aran Malik

“Magic Malik”—as we like to call him—is not only a tech whiz but a wizard when it comes to getting obscure news hot off the press so we know exactly what’s happening and can explore and report it back to our growing and loyal readerbase.

Virginia’s Sports Betting Bill Gets Senate Approval

Posted on by Aran Malik
  • Sen. Louise Lucas’ bill gets Senate Committee approval
  • Casinos to pay 10% tax on gross revenue
  • More tax will be paid to the State Local Casino Gaming Proceeds Fund to be established at a later point
  • Casinos will have to pass a city-wide referendum before they can open in their chosen locations

Virginia is gearing up for sports betting. The Senate Committee on General Laws and Technology has passed a sports betting bill introduced by Democrat Sen. Louise Lucas. This is a continuation of the efforts that were announced in December.

Senator Louise Lucas’s Bill Gets the Go-Ahead

Democrat Sen. Louise Lucas proposed a plan for the legalization of the sports betting industry in Virginia, which has got approved by the Senate Committee on General Laws and Technology.

This is big, and it enables Virginia to start edging closer to the ultimate goal, which is to introduce its own sports betting facilities across the state. There’re a few wrinkles to settle first, though. From Connecticut, to Kansas, to Kentucky, states have been on the move, pushing ahead with their own efforts to see their industries through – and now Virginia is all good to go, well – almost.

According to SB1126 (a bill unifying two previous bills, i.e. SB1503 and SB1706) legalizing the industry would be used as a way to curb unemployment and bolster the state’s coffers. The document states that in order to qualify, a city will need to meet a mix of social & economic criteria:

  • Unemployment rate of 4%
  • Poverty rate of 20%
  • Population decline of 7% between 1990-2016

The bill is also pre-emptively targeting the issue of tribal gaming, allowing tribes to operate in any city with population of 200,000 or above. The cities will also have to have already exempted 24% of all real estate from the local property tax.

All Games Coming to Virginia’s New Regulatory Climate

The bill offers details about the industry in full. Spanning 22 pages, all games will be part of the gaming climate, including slots, table games, and most importantly – sports betting. However, the measure to introduce casino will not rest solely with lawmakers.

A city-wide referendum would have to be held before a casino can open. Once a property has been set up, it will have to pay 10% tax on its Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR). The revenue will the be divvied up by several state funds, including:

  • State General Fund – the reminder of non-allocated funds
  • Virginia Public School Construction Grants Program and Fund – 50%
  • Problem Gambling Treatment and Support Fund – 1%
  • State Local Casino Gaming Proceeds Fund – to come later

The last hurdle ahead of the bill is to clear the Senate Finance Committee. Given the solid support among lawmakers, SB1126 is on its way to completely change the game for gaming in Virginia.

All things considered, Virginia is truly surging towards good times for its betting industry, which is only now spreading its wings.

Aran Malik

“Magic Malik”—as we like to call him—is not only a tech whiz but a wizard when it comes to getting obscure news hot off the press so we know exactly what’s happening and can explore and report it back to our growing and loyal readerbase.

Mississippi’s Betting Expands, Coastal Casinos Benefit

Posted on by Carmen Thompson
  • Mississippi’s win rate hits nearly 15% in December
  • The state rakes in $6.2 million in the form of revenue
  • Sports handle tumbles 6% in the last month of 2018

Mississippi’s Gaming Commission posted strong results for December, 2018. The total sports handle fell to $41.8 million, but the revenue increased several fold from November’s results.

Mississippi’s Sports Betting Handle Hits a Snag but Revenue Grows

Mississippi is isolated from sports betting states. Across the state’s border and beyond lie Kentucky and Missouri which have been making tepid attempts to debate the industry – to no success.

In a sense, Mississippi is mired down in a sports betting desert, but this hasn’t stopped the state from continuing and add to its total revenue.

Casinos had a field day in December according to experts, business leaders, backed by data from the Commission.

According to the latest available data, Mississippi has managed to bring in estimated $6.2 million in December alone.

This was a three-fold increase from November’s $1.7 million. Handled did take a modest setback, falling by 6%, but that was offset by the impressive revenue performance.

In publishing the news, the Mississippi Gaming Commission paid attention to several specific trends, notably:

  • An overall increase in the win rates
  • Expansion and development of coastal properties
  • A strong NFL betting season

Win rate in the state increased to nearly 15%, allowing customers to benefit from their wagers the most. The overall rate was higher than most other states across the United States.

Casino Properties Back in the Game

Interestingly enough, coastal casino properties accounted for a larger percent of the total winnings, bringing in $3.8 million in revenue, a high-performance mark for the state, despite fears that the sector may not be sustainable. Coastal revenue in 2018 increased by 4% to $1.23 billion in 2018 from $1.19 billion previously.

Sports betting also produced interesting results in the period, with NFL bets totalling $4.4 million of the total handle staked on sports betting. Customers frequented 23 separate sportsbooks across the entire state to place their wagers.

Sports betting has also been cited as a palliative for the declining river casino businesses with Mississippi’s gamers seeing a new reason to return to these properties and place wagers.

Despite the renewal of interest, river casinos barely marked an uptick, conceding the bulk of new proceedings to the coastal properties.

So far as Mississippi doesn’t advance plans for online betting state-wide, casino properties should expect to turn a decent profit.

Carmen Thompson

Carmen is our residential reporter always on the move and hunting down the latest scoops and rumours to explore. Nothing gets past her keen nose, especially when it comes to some serious Jelly Bean poker tournaments.

Massachusetts Receives Two New Sports Betting Bills

Posted on by Aran Malik
  • Massachusetts adds 2 more sports betting bills
  • Governor Charlie Baker’s plan seems the most detailed
  • There are at least five bills up for debate in Massachusetts by now

Massachusetts is on the offensive with plans to legalize sports betting. Additional two bills were disclosed just hours ago, bringing the total number of proposed drafts to at least five.

Baker and Rush Join the Massachusetts’ Sports Betting Show

There’s been a lot of endorsement for sports betting across the United States. In places, such as Kentucky, Michigan, and New York, lawmakers and local power brokers have been deliberating the introduction of their own sports betting bill.

All of this in the face of a looming Department of Justice (DoJ) ban on the federal level.

New York has had a string of draft bills which ended up floundering in the end. It all happened in a rapid succession, although Senator Joe Addabbo is now pushing with renewed efforts in the Empire State.

Rosenstein Announces DoJ Opinion Will Take Effect

Meanwhile, Massachusetts’ own lawmakers have not been sitting idly. Governor Charlie Baker and Senator Michael Rush now have the spotlight, having introduced two separate bills.

A Look at the New Legislation

Baker’s bill seems to be ambitious enough, proposing a liberalized market, which will see retail and online sports betting open doors in the state. According to Baker’s proposal, operators would need to set up independent sportsbooks and not lump their activities together with existing casinos.

Licensing would again be left up with the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, Baker suggests. The tax rates would be quite accommodating, although they would vary based on the type of certification operators are applying for, i.e. online or offline:

  • 10% on gross betting revenue for land-based venues
  • 12.5% on GBR for online operators
  • A application fee of $100,000 will need to be paid along with $500,000 for procuring a license

Baker has also provided estimates for the development of the market upon successful passing of the bill. According to the bill, the state will generate $35 million in revenue for the 2020 fiscal year.

Rushing for Royalty Fees Again

Senator Rush is meanwhile revisiting a familiar concept in his SD.1110 bill. Rush wants sportsbooks to pay royalty fees to domestic sports leagues, a move that has been dismissed by the American Gaming Association (AGA), observers, journalists, and businesses.
Even the sports bodies themselves decided not to press the issue, faced with impenetrable opposition.

Rush’s bill is also quite skeletal although seemingly favourable. An application fee of $100,00 is the only sum that sportsbooks would need to pay to the state, on top of $10,000 every year for renewing their license.

However, Rush’s bill fails to specify anything regarding tax and what properties would be given a chance to run these activities, i.e. casinos vs. dedicated sportsbooks. Meanwhile, there are three more bills up for discussion:

  • Senator Brendan Crighton’s SD 903
  • Senator James Welch’s SD 882
  • Senator Bruce Tarr’s SD 908

    • Sen. Crighton’s bill comes close to Baker’s own plans. As to Se. Tarr, he intends to not legalize the industry so much as to set up a commission which can examine the industry. Meanwhile, Sen. Welch’s entertain the idea of legalize sports betting in the state, but offers little details.

Aran Malik

“Magic Malik”—as we like to call him—is not only a tech whiz but a wizard when it comes to getting obscure news hot off the press so we know exactly what’s happening and can explore and report it back to our growing and loyal readerbase.