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
The boom in North American sports betting has been well documented, but the challenges should not be overlooked. On Thursday night, Kentucky joined Alabama and Georgia as states that failed to pass sports betting legislation in 2022.
But there is still hope in Kansas, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, and North Carolina, where bills are moving through the legislature, while Massachusetts continues to have issues and California should have at least one ballot measure in November.
Offshore books in the crosshairs
AGA asks DOJ to crack down on illegal gambling websites
Holding pattern
Florida’s sports betting future is still on hold amid new court filings
A look back…
Legalization efforts in Georgia failed, but ‘we’re getting closer every time that we talk about it’
Who goofed? I’ve got to know
Intralot pays D.C. lottery $500,000 for GambetDC’s Super Bowl flop
Studies show…
Pandemic led more in Ontario to wager online trying to make up for financial hardships
Revenue reports
Illinois reports $286 million handle for NCAA basketball tournaments
Maryland sports bettors wagered more than $30M in March, nearly $6M more than February
Regulator touts best month ever for gaming revenue in Pennsylvania
FanDuel dethrones DraftKings atop Indiana mobile sports betting hierarchy
DraftKings tops March mobile sports betting handle in Iowa
Illinois casino and VGT revenue bounce back in March
Detroit casino revenue still a long way from returning to pre-COVID peak, but arrow is pointing up
Audit report from New Jersey regulators details financial boost after COVID-plagued 2020
Casino battleground
Silly season
State legislators ban ‘Virginia is for bettors’ as marketing phrase
I say a little prayer for you
Forgot to share this one from last night, but have to today, because it is so great. A letter from a reader, about the controversy in the 1970s about adding Sunday racing in California… pic.twitter.com/ZDydpz7o66
— Jeremy Balan (@jeremybalan) April 14, 2022
More Washington state tribes joining the game
The Washington State Gambling Commission voted Thursday to approve an amendment to the Nisqually Tribe’s compact that includes an appendix outlining a standard set of rules concerning sports wagering. The amended compact will now be sent to the desk of Gov. Jay Inslee for approval, and then to the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Earlier in the week, the WSGC and the Chehalis Tribe agreed on a tentative amendment to the tribe’s compact that would allow it to begin offering sports wagering, presumably at its Lucky Eagle Casino in Rochester. The tribe’s potential entry into the sports wagering space brings to 20 the number of tribes that have the potential to do so, although only about half have opened retail sportsbooks to date.
— Mike Seely
NASCAR, Sportradar team up
NASCAR announced Thursday that it has partnered with Sportradar Integrity Services for bet monitoring, fraud detection, and education and prevention training. NASCAR is the first to sign on for the new Sportradar product, the “Handle Estimation and Reporting Service,” which will allow NASCAR to see how its fans are engaging, as well as “give it a window” into wagering trends
“NASCAR’s unwavering commitment to upholding the highest levels of competitive integrity has been instrumental to its success, and we look forward to continuing to safeguard their sport through our growing portfolio of industry-leading products and solutions,” Andy Cunningham, the director of global partnerships at Sportradar, said via press release.
— Jill R. Dorson
WIS, SD tribes expand into sports betting
According to entries into the Federal Register, tribes in Wisconsin and South Dakota have gotten approval through their compacts to begin offering sports betting.
In addition, one tribe in Minnesota got approval for expanded Class III gaming, which lays the groundwork for wagering if it becomes legal in that state. A sports betting bill has been winding its way through the state legislature.
In Wisconsin, the Forest County Potawatomi Community-state compact was approved, meaning the tribe could immediately begin offering retail wagering. There is no new law legalizing sports betting in Wisconsin, but last year, the state agreed to recompact with tribes to allow it, and the Oneidas became the first to open a sportsbook.
In South Dakota, which allows for in-person wagering in Deadwood only, the Oglala Sioux became the first tribe to amend its compact to add sports betting.
–Ted Dahlstrom
Betsson enters U.S. market
Wagering platform Betsson which partners with specialized payment platform PaySafe, expanded into the U.S. Tuesday in Colorado.
According to a company press release, PaySafe will allow Betsson bettors to fund accounts via credit or debit card, and bettors will have access to multiple alternative payment methods and likely a sportsbook bonus upon registration. Cash bettors can use PaySafe’s eCash solution, a PaySafe card, or PaySafeCash, and will have access to the Skrill digital wallet.
PaySafe also announced this week that its tech and marketing provider, Income Access, was honored in the “Best Tech for Affiliates” category at the 2022 iGB Affiliate Awards.
— Jill R. Dorson
Sports Illustrated-themed resorts coming
On Tuesday, Theme Park Insider reported that a pair of Sports Illustrated-branded resorts — one in Orlando, Florida, and another in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic — could open as soon as next year, with plans to expand to other U.S. locations.
The iconic magazine brand recently entered the crowded sports wagering landscape with its SI Sportsbook, causing one to wonder whether there could be some potential synergy with the hotel collection down the road.
— Mike Seely
More of the most important, interesting stories
STEPPING DOWN: State senator attributed resignation to chronic gambling addiction [NOLA.com]
WHAT TO DO: MAC asks NCAA for clarity on sports betting rules as deals loom [Sportico]
FREE MONEY: How bettors took advantage of Nets-Celtics opening series odds [ESPN]
GULF GAMBLING?: Casinos could be coming to the United Arab Emirates [Reuters]
COLLABORATION: San Manuel Band of Mission Indians l partners with UNLV [CDC]
TOO MUCH?: Concerns arise about another potential sports arena in Vegas [Nevada Independent]
GET TOGETHER: Sports betting, CA ballot initiatives focus of NIGA conference [CDC]
FOOTY: Nashville FC partners with social sports betting startup Wagr [Tennessean]
SHUT OUT: Without gaming, Grants Pass Downs cancels 2022 meet [BloodHorse]
HOOPS HANDLE: Nearly $3 million bet in Montana on March Madness [Daily Montanan]
M&A: IGT to acquire iSoftBet for $174 million [CDC]
