It’s information overload everywhere, and there’s not time enough to sleep and eat and stay fully apprised of what’s happening on this crazy blue dot of ours (two out of three ain’t bad).
Here’s the weekend Sports Handle item, “Get a Grip,” recapping the week’s top stories and rounding up key stories in sports betting, gaming, and the world of sports at large. You may have missed them, and they are worth reading.
CT’s Lamont: ‘We can do sports betting’
Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont told reporters on Tuesday that he wants sports betting, recreational marijuana and electronic tolls legalized this year, according to the Hartford Courant. He said he would “put his shoulder to the wheel” when the legislature begins to seriously act on any of these items.
Connecticut’s legislature has already had two marathon hearings — one that lasted nearly 11 hours — to discuss the possible implementation of legal sports betting. But in both hearings, lawmakers appeared to accomplish little in terms of hammering out a framework. But the biggest hurdle to legal sports betting in Connecticut is cutting a deal with the state’s two tribes — the Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot tribes, operators of Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Resort Casino, respectively — both of which pay the state significant sums from gaming revenue.
Lamont says he’s been at work on that front.
“Well, sometimes, total silence is the best way to handle your negotiations,” Lamont was quoted as saying in the Courant. “We can do sports betting. We can do Internet gambling. I’m trying to find a global solution going forward that honors our commitment to the tribes and make sure we do this in a thoughtful way for the next 20 years. I’m not looking for a short-term fix. All I can tell you is the conversations are continuing.”
His most telling comment of all, though, was in response to a reporter asking if the negotiations would be complete before Connecticut’s legislature adjourns on June 8.
“I sure hope so,” he said.
Sports betting can’t be legalized in Connecticut without a new pact.
Dave Forman, AGA’s senior director of research, on the dangers of illegal markets in @wnpr: “The problem with that, especially the bookies and the online sites, is there’s no consumer protection for these folks.” https://t.co/QvUTI7mE8H
— American Gaming Assn (@AmerGamingAssn) April 3, 2019
Louisiana lawmaker trying again
At the end of last year’s legislative session, Louisiana state senator Danny Martiny was understandably frustrated. His efforts to legalize sports betting were mostly rebuffed.
“It’s not sounding good,” Martiny said at the time. “My concern is that if we don’t do it, we’ll be sitting here next year saying. We’re losing a lot of business to Mississippi and Arkansas.”
And that’s exactly what’s been happening. Mississippi was the third state to launch legal sports betting last summer and Arkansas in November legalized it via ballot referendum. The plan in Arkansas is to launch sports betting this summer. And Louisiana? Little progress.
Louisiana’s legislative session opens Monday, and Martiny pre-filed a bill that would allow sports betting at the state’s riverboat and land-based casinos and racetracks with a licensed slot machine gaming area. The bill lacks key details like a tax rate and licensing fees, but Martiny is likely just trying to open the conversation again. No matter what a sports betting bill looks like, though, Louisianans will decide on a parish-by-parish basis where sports betting will be legal, just as they did for daily fantasy sports, and that can’t happen until the fall.
Louisiana has a mature gaming market, with two dozen casinos around the state, mostly in New Orleans and in the north in the Shreveport/Bossier City area. But if it feels like deja vu in Louisiana, it may well be. In 1990, Mississippi’s first casino opened, but Louisiana lagged behind — as much as three years before the first casino in New Orleans opened. A culture of driving to Mississippi to gamble had been established, and it was tough to break. The same may be happening with sports betting, as Mississippi’s Gulf Cost casinos are only an hour drive from the Big Easy.
Montana charging forward
Montana continues its march to legalize sports betting. The two bills, HB 475 and HB 725, that were approved on the House floor, have moved over to the Senate and are scheduled for a hearing on Friday before the Senate Committee on Business Labor and Economic Affairs.
SB 330, which cleared the Senate earlier this week, is set for a hearing Wednesday before the House Business and Labor Committee. If the bills pass committee, they’ll be sent to the chamber floors for second and third readings. If a bill is approved in the second chamber with no amendment, then it get signed by representatives from both chambers and sent to the governor for approval. Montana’s legislative session ends April 20.
More of the most interesting, important stories
NOT IN NY: New York lawmakers aren’t making any real moves to legalize sports betting. [US Bets]
NOT SO FAST: Despite the promise of a football-season sports betting launch in D.C., it won’t be mobile. [WTOP]
SAY NO TO FREEBIES: Is it true that 65 percent of people don’t want sportbooks refunding bad beats? [NJOG]
PROJECTIONS: Sports betting revenue has not met estimates in most states. [AP]
.@BuffaloBills and @BuffaloSabres co-owner Kim Pegula said on Wednesday:
“I don’t think that we’ve been shy about saying that we are for sports gambling in New York State, and especially in-venue,” Pegula said.
(via @timoshei)i #timeshavechangedhttps://t.co/HblPycs3bH— Sports Handle (@sports_handle) April 4, 2019
GET TOGETHER: California’s tribes need to reach a consensus before making move on sports betting. [CDCGaming]
ALL IN: Former MLB pitcher Al Leiter, ‘I’m pro-gambling on sports. That’s super hard for me to say.’ [FoxNews]
ANOTHER PA LICENSE: The Mount Airy Casino applies for a sports betting license. [PennBets]
VALUE OF INTEGRITY: NBA Commissioner Adam Silver on importance of integrity. [US Bets]
Unlike the AAF, the #GambleOn podcast just keeps chugging along! This week, we talk NY mobile sports betting hopes, Adam Silver's "integrity fee" insistence, and Montana (!) aiming to be State No. 9, plus MLB betting insights from @FreelanceBBall: https://t.co/gT3U1iVs4A
— Eric Raskin (@EricRaskin) April 4, 2019
ICYMI at Sports Handle
Quick and dirty guide to Final Four sports betting.
Old lottery debate gumming up the works for Alabama sports betting legislation.
Bizarre Arkansas bill includes integrity fee, prohibits wagering on WWE, Special Olympics and dogs.
VSiN contest reveals potential intersection between blockchain and sports betting.
Looks like Montana is on the fast track to legal sports betting.
We can work it out: Theme songs for a dozen states considering legal sports betting.
Q&A with international expert in online gaming Keith McDonnell.
The total dummy’s guide to sports betting geolocation.
In the wider world of sports
VIRGINIA-TEXAS TECH: Sports Illustrated’s panel of experts says these are your national finalists. [SI]
FOOTBALL FAIL: The latest venture into pro football outside the NFL appears to be in death spiral. [RotoGrinders]
The AAF is gone now, as are the “whoops I forgot I’m mic’d up” moments like this one pic.twitter.com/U9uZVOB2sX
— Someone's An Idiot (@SomeonesAnIdiot) April 3, 2019
CAN’T HIT: When the Mets built Citi Field, they wanted a pitcher’s park. Turns out they went too far. [WSJ]
TROUBLED SOUL: NFL exec Terry McDonough shares his story of a fatal accident, booze and jail. [ESPN]
TORN APART: Aaron Rodgers and Mike McCarthy could have built a dynasty. What happened? [B/R]
