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 headlines, highlighting some fresh news, and rounding up key stories.
Top stories around our network this week
Even in a short week filled with holiday distractions, sports betting can be big news. That was certainly the case as Maryland, the nation’s 19th most populous state with 6.2 million residents, welcomed the start of online/mobile sports betting Wednesday. It picked a good time to do so — even if it was delayed almost a year after the state’s retail start — as one of the NFL‘s biggest betting weeks combined with NCAA football‘s Rivalry Saturday, the start of the World Cup, and a ton of other events on the sports calendar.
No serious hiccups were reported as seven of the nation’s major digital sportsbooks launched in a state where the presence of major Washington, D.C., and Baltimore sports franchises should combine with colleges like the University of Maryland to draw plenty of betting action. Operators like Barstool Sportsbook quickly advertised special promotional offers to sign up new customers, and more such welcome bonuses are certain to accompany launches by three additional licensed competitors in upcoming months.
Ohio in January and Massachusetts soon thereafter are next up on the list of states that have legalized sports betting and are just waiting to implement it. Sports Handle’s network of sites and staff will be on top of those just like Maryland’s launch, in addition to providing so much more coverage, as this week’s articles show.
Um, this isn’t what we signed up for
Questions remain as DraftKings customers recover funds from third-party breach
Streaming just takes some teamwork
NFL, Genius Sports strike live video streaming deal with 3 Canadian sportsbooks
All the news that’s fit to miss
New York Times wildly misses the mark on sports betting story
He who hesitates is not always lost
What will FTX’s crash mean for crypto in sports betting?
A little more enthusiasm was expected
Massachusetts digital wagering licensing competition not so stiff
Low betting pools can handicap the tracks
Will Gulfstream’s quinella caper cause horse tracks to alter wagering?
Sizing up betting on world’s biggest event
Ask A Bookmaker with Jay Kornegay: feet, balls, World Cup wagering
Will ESPN or won’t ESPN, that is the question
Media notebook: Bob Iger’s Disney return raises gambling questions
If they build more parlays, you will come
Completion of in-house tech stack allows theScore to offer expanded parlays
Yep, PA’s got homers like everywhere
Philly teams’ success helped drive new retail betting records
And some more money matters
Louisiana caps first year of sports wagering with record handle month
Indiana casinos post $207.6 million revenue win for October
Illinois casino revenue ticks higher to $116 million in October
Slow going in Alberta
The fall has mostly come and gone, and despite initially pointing to an autumn go-live date, Alberta’s regulator doesn’t appear to be anywhere near launching commercial sports betting operators, making Ontario the only major province with a choice in live sports betting and iCasino in Canada. According to CDC Gaming Reports, the Request for Proposals for operators put out by the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission continues to be extended.
While bettors can wager online at PlayAlberta.ca, the regulator has plans to partner with two sports betting operators to offer wagering at a pair of NHL venues — the Edmonton Oilers’ Rogers Arena and the Calgary Flames’ ScotiaBank Saddledome.
“AGLC continues to work through the RFP process and will announce details once there are updates,” AGLC spokesperson Jacqualine Ladouceur told CDC Gaming Reports. “As the RFP and subsequent vetting process are still ongoing, we’re unable to share any information at this time.”
— Jill R. Dorson
Circa awards $210,000 in its NFL contests
Circa Sportsbook announced this week that it has awarded $150,000 and $60,000 to two second-quarter Circa Million IV prize winners. The $6 million event, which promises a $1 million first prize, also offers mini in-season contests every four-five weeks.
The full-season contest will award $3.65 million for the second- through 100th-place finishers, including $100,000 for last place and $50,000 for finishing second to last. In the contest, which cost $1,000 to enter, players must make five NFL picks against the spread each week.
— Jill R. Dorson
More of the most important, interesting stories
FD MAYBE NOT FEELING LONELY AT THE TOP: Analyst report: FanDuel will be tough to topple from its market leadership [CDC Gaming Reports]
NOT YOUR BOOKIE’S FACEBOOK: Facebook sets restrictions on online gambling ads [Klein Moynihan Turco LLP]
MARCH MADNESS ALL-IN ON SIN CITY: NCAA names Final Four sites; Vegas gets its first, in 2028 [ESPN.com]
The 2028 #MFinalFour will be played in Las Vegas, NV!
🏟: @AllegiantStadm
Men’s Final Four History (0): First Time Host! pic.twitter.com/N8gxQ2GKZG— NCAA Men's Final Four (@MFinalFour) November 22, 2022
SOME DEETS OUT OF MISSISSIPPI: Mississippi sports betting handle reaches $56.2 million in October [iGB North America]
NOT TO BE OUTDONE, OREGON HAS RECORD MONTH: Oregon posts record sports betting revenue and handle in October [iGB North America]
A MULTI-NATIONAL TRADE AGREEMENT: CDC Gaming Reports announces content partnership with Gaming News Canada [CDC Gaming Reports]
