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
Super Bowl number crunch and more
Whether you’re in California, Ohio, or anywhere else, sportsbooks around the country are offering up some cool Super Bowl digital events.
- FanDuel on Saturday will livestream its inaugural Super Bowl party, hosted by Pat McAfee and Lisa Kerney. The “Watch and Win” party will allow customers to wager on celebrities playing backyard or tailgate-style games, including axe throwing, mini golf, and darts. Viewers have a chance to win $200,000. Joe Montana and Terrell Owens will be among the former NFL players participating.
- The MSG Network is in the middle of its “Bet-A-Palooza,” a week of Super Bowl betting shows available on MSG Go and hosted by Alex Monaco, Katie Mox, Jeff Johnson, and former Jets safety Erik Coleman. The shows will cover Super Bowl odds, prop bets, and NBA action, and MSG will also debut betting-focused NBA simulcasts. The first was Thursday, and the second is Saturday at 5 p.m. ET on MSG+.
No matter how you choose to consume the Super Bowl, there are plenty of betting options, though disappointingly, Colorado rejected a sportsbook’s request to allow wagering on the adorable Puppy Bowl, The state’s top regulator explained the competitors are “extremely susceptible to coercion and being compromised. All they need is treats, so we said no.”
But here’s a look at some other Super Bowl stories from our buffet this week:
Bengals, Rams, and Coin Flips, Oh My! Staff Super Bowl prop bets
Rams won’t see much advantage from playing at home in Super Bowl
What if CA and OH had legal, live wagering for Super Bowl LVI?
How is Canada betting the Super Bowl?
PointsBet Pennsylvania launch gives bettors one more option ahead of Super Bowl
Other stories from around our network
Desert winds of change
Bill Filed To Give Every Arizona Tribe An Event Wagering License
Ninth biggest population in the U.S.
North Carolina Governor Wants Action On Mobile Sports Betting Bill
Yes, this is still a debate in New York
Daily Fantasy Sports Makes Last Pitch To Be Declared Legal In New York
Meanwhile, it’s the maiden trip
New York Mobile Sportsbooks Ready For Their First Super Bowl
Ink-stained wretches
The New York Times Tackles Sports Betting And Loses Its Damn Mind
The lion’s den in the park
Observations From A Visit To BetMGM SportsBook At Nats Park
Ohio progress report
OCCC’s Schuler Talks Ohio’s Sports Betting Launch.
The Shield’s reach grows
OLG Becomes First Official Sportsbook Partner Of The NFL In Canada
Heard this before, but…
Georgia Stakeholders Optimistic 2022 Is The Year For Legal Sports Betting
Philly pushes all in
76ers Title Odds Cut In Half After They Team Embiid With Harden In Blockbuster Trade
Arizona to bettors: Be Responsible
As operators in Arizona prepare for their first Super Bowl Sunday, the state’s regulator sent out a press release on Wednesday encouraging bettors to play “legally and responsibly.” Arizona launched operators on the opening day of the NFL season on Sept. 9, and next year it will become the first state with legal wagering to host the NFL’s marquee event. Super Bowl LVII is set for Feb. 12, 2023, at Glendale’s State Farm Stadium.
In the press release, the Arizona Department of Gaming encouraged players to bet responsibly using a legal sportsbook. It shared a list of things that can indicate a site is illegal:
- Requiring a fee to participate.
- Providing a pool in which a percentage is kept as an administrative or other kind of fee.
- A required minimum purchase to participate.
- Unequal odds.
- Allowing anyone under the age of 21 to play.
The National Council on Problem Gambling, which oversees hotlines and lobbies for money to support problem-gambling programs, also shared a list of things for gamblers to be aware of as the the Super Bowl kickoff approaches:
- Know the Game: Make sure you understand the odds and house edge. Over the long run, the house always wins.
- Make Your Plan: Know how much you’re willing to lose and how long you want to play — set limits of time and money.
- Risk: Know and respect your tolerance for risk.
- Money: Never borrow money to gamble. Don’t gamble money you can’t afford to lose.
- Team Up: Consider teaming up with a friend to help each other stick to your personal betting plan.
- Time: Set a timer on your phone to keep track of time spent betting.
- Balance: Balance gambling with other activities.
- Entertainment: Treat gambling as a form of entertainment and not a way to make money.
- Take A Break: When gambling is no longer fun, take a break.
- Expect to Lose: Hope to win but expect to lose. Remember, you’re playing to have a good time — never chase your losses.
FanDuel opens Mohegan Sun sportsbook
FanDuel on Thursday opened its permanent sportsbook at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut. Located in the Casino of the Earth, the state-of-the-art venue features a 140-foot video wall, 39 self-service, 24-hour kiosks, and six cashier windows, open from 8 a.m.-midnight on Sundays; 9 a.m.-midnight Monday-Thursday; and 8 a.m.-1 a.m. Friday-Saturday. Here’s a look:
WynnBet’s double shot
WynnBet made a splash late last week when it became the seventh platform to go live in New York, and it didn’t take long for the company to add yet another state. According to a company press release, WynnBet launched its platform in Louisiana Thursday. WynnBet is now live in nine U.S. states.
WynnBet is offering new users the chance to bet $10 to win $200 in free bets. Players can connect their WynnBet accounts to Wynn’s rewards program, allowing customers to take advantage of real-world advantages, including hotel stays or meals.
BetMGM first to launch in Puerto Rico
According to a Friday press release from BetMGM, the company became the first to accept a legal sports bet in Puerto Rico, which became the first U.S. territory to go live with the wagering. In partnership with Casino del Mar at La Concha Resort, BetMGM has 12 self-service kiosks and five teller windows available at the resort and plans to open a “full-scale” retail sportsbook and digital platform later this year.
“This is a monumental day for BetMGM as it marks the launch of our first operation outside of the U.S. mainland,” said BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt via press release. “Casino del Mar delivers exceptional guest experiences and is an ideal partner as we look to extend our brand in Puerto Rico.”
Caesars three-fer in Washington
On Thursday, Caesars Sportsbook opened two sportsbooks in the Spokane, Washington, area — and then followed up Friday by opening a third in the Seattle-Tacoma suburb of Auburn.
Former Seahawks quarterback Jim Zorn, who appeared at the ribbon-cutting for FanDuel’s new sportsbook at Suquamish Clearwater Casino Resort a week earlier, performed similar duties for Caesars at the Spokane casino in Airway Heights Thursday. (Former NFLers Dennis Erickson and Eric Wright were also in attendance.) While that sportsbook is staffed by live tellers, the tribe’s other casino, in nearby Chewelah, offers sports betting exclusively through self-service kiosks.
Pro Football Hall-of-Famer Walter Jones was set to make an appearance at Friday’s grand opening of Caesars’ sportsbook at the Muckleshoot Casino in Auburn, which figures to do brisk business given its proximity to Seattle. Caesars Sportsbook has plans to offer onsite mobile through its app at the location, as digital wagering is only allowed on tribal gaming premises in Washington State.
— Mike Seely
Fubo gains market access to three more states
Fubo announced Thursday it has gained market access to Missouri, Mississippi, and Louisiana through Caesars Sportsbook, giving it deals to operate in 10 states overall. It had previously entered New Jersey and Indiana via Caesars through an agreement signed last March. Fubo, which conducts live wagering in Iowa and Arizona, also has market access for potential operations in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas.
— Chris Altruda
More of the most important, interesting stories
LEAVING LAS VEGAS: Man went home to Arizona without knowing he’d won $229,000. [CBSNews]
VIRGINIA IS FOR…: Bettors? No, say lawmakers who want to preserve state slogan. [VirginiaMercury]
SWEET SPOTS: DMV’s retail sportsbooks offering exciting Super Bowl events. [WashingtonPost]
CORN HOLE PRO-AM: First round of the ‘Super Hole’ features celebs and pros at Mandalay Bay. [InstaGram]
It’s time to legalize sports betting in South Carolina. This is about giving people more freedom and generating new revenue we can use to tackle our biggest challenges. 30 other states, including our neighbors, have already done it. Now it’s our turn.https://t.co/Vqt9eHiJ2H
— Joe Cunningham (@JoeCunninghamSC) February 10, 2022
NO GO?: Proposed Florida Cordish project with a sports entertainment venue hits roadblock. [ClickOrlando]
MOVING FORWARD: South Dakota bill for online sports betting advances. [KEVN]
PLUSSES/MINUSES: Reasons why Hawaii should — or shouldn’t — legalize wagering. [HonoluluCivilBeat]
NEW ERA: 100 million Americans can legally wager. Sports won’t be the same. [BloombergBusinessweek]
The Simpsons have become known for its ability to predict the future…@darrenrovell on how one meme has resulted in a popular exact score prop bet 💰 https://t.co/6R4gCDjooC
— The Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) February 10, 2022
PELICANS PARTNER: New Orleans’ NBA team partners with Rush Street Interactive. [PRNewswire]
PARTNERS: Milwaukee Bucks, Betway team up for gaming. [Channel3000]
OT PAYOFF: Buffalo Wild Wings will offer free wings, NF-OTs if Super Bowl goes into extra time. [Inspire]
