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 U.S. sports betting stories, highlighting some fresh news, and rounding up key stories.
Top stories around our network this week
As we recap the first week of 2022, it’s exciting to think what might be ahead this year. There is little doubt more states are going to take on sports wagering this calendar year, and it all starts with New York this weekend.
The Empire State might dominate the headlines for a while, but there’s plenty going on around the country, too.
Bill in Mississippi would allow mobile sports wagering
Mobile sports betting is on its way to Arkansas, but not without controversy
Once again, sports betting will be much talked about issue in Massachusetts
Will top sports betting stocks rebound after a down year in 2021?
Sports betting in the COVID era is not so easy
The Omicron variant has thrown things into utter chaos at sportsbooks
More CEO drama at PlayUp
Legal accusations intensify in case involving Australian firm and exec who headed expansion
More lawsuit news
Examining conflicts of interest
Border hoppers
Are Nevadans really crossing the border to bet in Arizona?
NBA injury reports are good, not great
League has instituted new rules for reporting injuries, but the process could still be tightened
Who needs an arena when you have betting?
Arizona Coyotes don’t have a home for 2022-23 NHL season yet, but they have a betting platform
Buffalo Bills also jump in
Bills make FanDuel official mobile sports betting sponsor
‘The ultimate gaming champion’
Harry Reid’s impact on the gaming industry
Tax relief coming for Michigan
Michigan bettors can now deduct gambling losses on their state income tax returns
Revenue reports
Colorado sets new sports betting revenue highs in November
Tennessee’s sportsbooks beat the bettors at a record level in November
Arizona generates $777 million in handle for first two months of sports betting
Arizona’s strong debut and the NFL’s reach led to record handle in September and October
Return of the Mack
Mattress Mack bets big on Alabama in national title game against Georgia
We never forget about Canada
Fandom Sports has launched its peer-to-peer eSports wagering platform
Ontario closes casinos due to rising COVID numbers
Donating to wildfire relief
MaximBet is matching user donations for wildfire aid in Colorado
Harness racing handle
Nightly handle at Meadowlands rose from $2 million in 2018 to $3 million in 2021
Number of race days, races, handle, and amount bet per race were up at Freehold Raceway
Is Georgia ready to join the U.S. gambling wave?
On Thursday, Georgia House Speaker David Ralston said lawmakers ought to look into the possibility of legalizing gambling in the state.
“There is an appetite this session that I haven’t seen before to do something,” said Ralston, a Republican, during a media briefing. “Maybe it’s time that we asked the question of Georgians, whether they want to expand gaming. And if they say yes, then we sit down and decide what form it will take, whether it’s going to be sports betting, whether you do horses or destination resorts.”
While Gov. Brian Kemp has been a longtime opponent of gambling, a successful referendum and “yes” votes by two-thirds of the legislature could overcome his objections.
– John Brennan
Delaware in the red for December
Delaware notched the largest national monthly negative gross gaming revenue of the post-PASPA era Thursday when the state lottery showed operators statewide finished $972,382 in the red. The previous record was held by Rhode Island, which finished down $890,623 in February 2019, in part because of Super Bowl wagering on the New England Patriots.
The state’s 114 retail sports lottery agents took the brunt of the losses in December, paying out more than $6.4 million in winnings compared to the $5.1 million in wagers accepted, as the hold was -25.71% on the parlay-style wagering. It was a whiplash-like turnaround for retailers, who had posted a jaw-dropping 60.95% win rate in November — the second-highest in state history since launching retail lottery wagering in August 2018 — and collected nearly $4.2 million from $6.8 million bet. Delaware’s three racetracks that take sports bets generated $339,210 in gross revenue, slightly softening the blow.
Excluding months affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, it is the third time Delaware has finished with negative gross revenue. The $616,941 loss in February 2019 and $410,665 loss in February 2020 were largely attributed to Super Bowl wagering.
– Chris Altruda
Thoroughbred racing handle up, but …
Wagering on U.S. thoroughbred racing rose to more than $12.2 billion in 2021 from more than $10.9 billion in 2020, according to the thoroughbred racing economic indicators released by Equibase on Wednesday.
But unfortunately, there isn’t much meaningful context provided. If the rise was fueled by mainstream horseplayers, that might indicate growth for the sport, but if the rise was driven by oft-criticized, highly rebated computer robotic wagers, that isn’t reason for much celebration.
“Is it good news? Yes. The question is how much does this actually tell us about the racing business. Not one group in the U.S. who could tell you what it means,” said Pat Cummings, executive director of the Thoroughbred Idea Foundation, a think tank that addresses issues in the horse racing industry. “It doesn’t tell you what type of customers this is coming from. If it is coming from heavily rebated customers, is that a great story? We don’t know what it tells us. It creates more questions than answers.”
The Equibase report also showed increases in U.S purses (+35.77%), total races (+23.32%), and race days (+21.18%), but decreases in average wagering per race day (-9.29%) and average field size (from 7.94 in 2020 to 7.37 in 2021).
One California initiative hits benchmark
The political committee for the California Solutions to Homelessness and Mental Health Act announced Thursday that it has reached the 25% threshold for signature collection, making it the first of three sports betting proposals still aiming for the November ballot to reach that mark. The proposal is backed by a coalition of seven major gaming companies.
“Our measure is receiving an overwhelmingly positive response from California voters as we collect signatures,” a spokesman said. “Californians are very supportive of funding solutions to homelessness by regulating and permitting safe and responsible online sports betting.”
There could be as many as four initiatives on the 2022 ballot, but so far, only a tribal retail-only initiative has qualified. The three others trying to qualify would allow for statewide mobile sports betting. One is backed by commercial operators, one by card rooms, and one by a group of four tribes. Proponents must collect 997,139 signatures to get on the ballot.
– Jill R. Dorson
$700 million for Alabama?
A group of racetrack owners in Alabama have rolled out an advertising campaign that promises $700 million in revenue for the state should gaming be legalized. The Alabama Track Owners Association rolled out ads that ask voters to contact state lawmakers and encourage a bill that would allow for up to six retail casinos and a new lottery. Sports betting would also be part of the package, as it was last session.
Here’s a look at the ad:
– Jill R. Dorson
Sister tribes approved in Washington state
Two sister tribes in Washington state, the Jamestown and Port Gamble S’Klallams, received federal approval late last month to open their sportsbooks, while a FanDuel spokesperson told Sports Handle that it planned to open its book at the Suquamish Clearwater Casino by the end of January.
Were it not for some paperwork that got lost in transit to Washington, D.C., Glenn Smithson, general manager of the Jamestown tribe’s 7 Cedars Casino near Sequim, told Sports Handle that “we would have been approved at the exact same time as everyone else” in late summer. Instead, Smithson said 7 Cedars will bide its time and open its sportsbook sometime before next football season, as it’s still in the process of designing the venue with a well-known vendor that will be announced later.
Meanwhile, Maverick Gaming is running back a bill that, if approved by the legislature, would authorize non-tribal sportsbooks at card rooms. Under current state law, sports betting is restricted to tribal gaming properties.
– Mike Seely
More of the most important, interesting stories
TOP OF THE MARKET: Fanatics has purchased baseball card company Topps [WSJ]
Source: NFL chief strategy & growth officer Chris Halpin is leaving the league later this month. Halpin is one of Roger Goodell’s top lieutenants, and is point man for the league’s efforts on gambling and international.
Has been considered a contender to be next commissioner.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) January 5, 2022
On Monday, a U.S. sportsbook took a $66,500 bet on a Southern-Texas Southern women's college basketball game, which begs the question — should sportsbooks take big bets on lower-profile events?https://t.co/89DlbexMek
— David Payne Purdum (@DavidPurdum) January 7, 2022
DEALMAKERS: LPGA has an agreement with betting service IMG Arena [Golf Digest]
BIG BET, LITTLE GAME: Should sportsbooks accept bets on lower-profile events? [ESPN]
EN ESPAÑOL: FanDuel founder involved in Spanish-language fantasy sports app [TechCrunch]
OH NO, NE: Proposed law would ban casinos within 50 miles of each other in Nebraska [KMTV]
