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 governor ready to talk sports betting with tribes
Connecticut Governor Ned LaMont appears to be trying to set the stage — yet again — for the legalization of sports betting, according to a story in the Hartford Courant. The issue has run into multiple roadblocks in Connecticut, the key one being working out a deal with the state’s two tribes, the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan, each of which runs its own large casino.
“I had a good meeting with the [tribal] leaders, and I think we’re moving towards places where we can reach agreement,,” Lamont told reporters Wednesday. “Look, the rest of the country and all our neighboring states are working hard on sports betting, iLottery and some of the other things that we need to do to make us competitive in this growing economy. I want to do that in association with the tribes. … We’re doing that in collaboration and doing it in a way that mitigates the risk of a lawsuit.”
Connecticut’s legislature has discussed sports betting at length in its previous two sessions in 2018 and 2019, but has yet to clear the hurdle in deciding tribal-state gaming issues, plus there’s been battle over plans for a new commercial casino. The only two New England states with legal sports betting are Rhode Island, which went live in late 2018, and New Hampshire, which has yet to launch.
More of the most important stories
MITTEN: Governor Whitmer has the signed package of bills legalizing sports betting, iGaming and poker in Michigan [MIBets]
WHAT’S THE DELAY: Massachusetts taking tentative tack toward sports betting [SouthCoast]
SPLIT DECISION: California could end up with two sports betting referendums. [WSJ]
BLUEGRASS BETTING? New testimony improves sports betting’s chances. [WLKY]
SPEAK UP: Serious concerns rising about Tennessee’s sports betting future [TNBets]
UPHILL BATTLE: Three Florida sports betting bills assigned to committee. [GamingIntelligence]
Voters in Colorado and lawmakers in Illinois, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina and Tennessee legalized it this year https://t.co/CKGan8Dx9v
— The Denver Post (@denverpost) December 19, 2019
MAKE A BUCK: 3 ways media companies are trying to cash in on sports betting. [BizInsider]
BUSTED: A Rhode Island casino exec was indicted in a kickback scheme. [AP]
TRIBES PREPPING: Though sports betting isn’t legal in Oklahoma, but tribes are building books. [TheFrontier]
The regulated #sportsbetting market in New Jersey is becoming a force to be reckoned with.
Source: MECN pic.twitter.com/bCbvBMTLT7
— Daniel Graetzer (@DanGraetzer) December 19, 2019
In the wider world of sports
LOOKING BACK: The NFL at 100, in cool photos and words. [NYT]
BELOW .500: A look at some of the worst teams to make the NFL playoffs. [SBNation]
Adam Sandler the floor general 🔥
(via @SenseiSigh)pic.twitter.com/JeNIfNWu5g
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 20, 2019
MORE INTERESTING THAN CFP: Michigan-Alabama Citrus Bowl has piqued interest. [ESPN]
STOKING A RIVALRY: Arsenal hires rival Manchester City coach Mike Arteta. [NBC]
Also around our network this week
Illinois Gaming Board unveils applications for sports betting licenses.
Brick-and-mortar sportsbooks are indeed coming to Michigan.
Why is NFL home-field advantage dying and how can bettors exploit it?
RiversCasino outside of Chicago unveils BetRivers SportsBar ahead of legal sports betting.
Chief Louisiana regulator: Driving toward legal sports betting in 2020.
Sports leagues denied in bid for rehearing of ruling favoring New Jersey horsemen.
William Hill makes a foray into jai alai with an eye toward legal sports betting in Florida.
