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.
D.C. judge terminates TRO in Intralot case
A D.C. Superior Court judge lifted a temporary injunction on Friday that will allow the D.C. Lottery to proceed with efforts to bring mobile sports betting to the District.
Judge John Campbell lifted a temporary restraining order against the Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO) Oct. 18 that prevented the OCFO from making the first installment of a payment to vendor Intralot. In July, the D.C. Council voted to award Intralot a $215 mm sole-sourced contract for operating mobile sports betting in the District.
Intralot was set to receive the first payment on Oct. 1, but Campbell extended the temporary restraining order (TRO) for a total of 21 days. Campbell issued the TRO earlier this month after Dylan Carragher, a D.C. area sports betting app developer, filed a lawsuit asserting that the contract violated the District’s procurement rules.
“We are pleased with the Judge’s decision and are fully focused on resuming the modernization of the Lottery and implementation of sports wagering in the District,” the OFCO said in a statement.
Intralot’s payment structure is based on a percentage of sales, not a lump sum, an OCFO spokesperson said. Since there have yet to be any Intralot sales related to mobile sports betting in the District, the vendor has not received the first installment, she added.
Carragher intends to appeal the decision in appellate court, an attorney for Temple Law Offices told Sports Handle. Carragher is being represented by D.C. based attorney Donald Temple.
NH cities want in on sports betting
Two weeks after voters in the city of Franklin approved having a sportsbook within their borders, the biggest city in New Hampshire heard public input on doing the same. In November, Manchester residents will vote on whether or not to welcome sports betting, and on Tuesday it held a public hearing on the issue.
New Hampshire legalized sports betting in July and the New Hampshire Lottery is currently reviewing applications from 13 potential operators. The state approved five stand-alone mobile sportsbooks and 10 physical sportsbooks. The Lottery will also have its own sportsbook. Lottery chief Charlie McIntyre has long been pointing to an early 2020 launch date for sports betting in the state.
According to the Manchester Union-Leader, the ballot question will read, ““Shall the City of Manchester allow the operation of sports book retail locations within the city of Manchester? If you favor this proposal, vote YES; if you do not favor it, vote NO.”
Cities and towns around New Hampshire have been clamoring to approve sports betting. City councils and boards of alderman around the state, including in Manchester and Nashua, which is right on the Massachusetts border, quickly moved to put the question on local ballots, and at least nine have voted to do so.
More of the most important stories
BIG MONEY: The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission reports $38 mm in handle for first month. [KCRG]
GOOD START: The tribal sportsbook at Chinook Winds in Oregon says first month ‘really good.’ [KOIN]
SLOW, SLOW, SLOW: Tribal leaders say Indian gaming shouldn’t rush to sports betting. [CDCGaming]
RAIDERS LATEST PARTNERSHIP: The team announced a deal with the San Manuel Casino. [8NewsNow]
ANOTHER NEW DEAL: The Las Vegas Golden Knights partner with IGT. [SBCAmericas]
First comments from Whitmer's office on the Michigan sports betting legislation that I've seen in awhile. Statement given to WXYZ Detroit. Apparently governor is unhappy the substitute version was put out without sponsor seeking any input. Pretty substantial rift remains. pic.twitter.com/OHlkSeWFwu
— Brian Pempus (@brianpempus) October 13, 2019
WATERED DOWN? Here’s how sports betting will affect Colorado’s water plans. [KOAA]
AMERICA’S PASTIME: Did baseball become America’s sport because of betting? [TheConversation]
DON’T COUNT ON IT: Baseball might come to Las Vegas, but it won’t be the A’s. [LasVegasSun]
Hey Sports fans! What a night! With so many folks jumping on the registration pages, performance bogged down (as you might expect). The good news is that registrations are coming through and people are placing their first bets. Now is a great time to ge…https://t.co/ztGQaObu3K pic.twitter.com/eqXR8AEPGc
— Oregon Lottery (@oregon_lottery) October 17, 2019
Highlights from G2E
NEW SPACE: Caesars says ‘Fan Cave’ rentable living rooms a big hit. [CDCGaming]
HAVE A SEAT: Gasser Chair Co. debuts a new chair made just for sportsbooks. [CDCGaming]
FRENEMIES: New Jersey chief gaming enforcement officer on dealing with leagues on integrity. [NJOG]
DON’T IGNORE MILLENNIALS: Experts says younger generation critical to success. [USBets]
Interesting note at #G2E on regional betting habits.
Pearl River Resort in Mississippi says that on some Saturdays, 90% of their sports bets are 8-team parlays.
Yes, 90%. pic.twitter.com/4VqcdRBPPE
— Ben Fawkes (@BFawkesESPN) October 17, 2019
HE’S NOT WORRIED: NHL Commissioner says he’s not concerned about integrity on the ice. [CDCGaming]
WIRE ACT: Uncertainty aside, there’s reason to be optimistic. [USBets]
PAT ON HIS OWN BACK: Ex-NJ Governor Christie: We’re leading the way. [CDCGaming]
DISSING PA: And Christie also called PA sports betting a ‘rolling dumpster fire.’ [PennBets]
In the wider world of sports
OUCH: Pro golfer penalized 58 strokes due to rules violation. [ESPN]
CONSEQUENCES: NFL can blame itself for increase penalties, decease in points. [WSJ]
UNLUCKY: Argument for why Lions, Chargers are unlucky and not just crummy. [NFL.com]
With his @Chiefs snapping a mini-losing streak at the Broncos Thursday, head coach Andy Reid reached a milestone in his career as he joined just 7 others on this legendary all-time NFL list pic.twitter.com/HbSIKjoWVn
— StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) October 18, 2019
PERFECT FIT: Mellow Maddon the perfect fit for tumultuous Angels. [LAT]
SKAGGS INVESTIGATION: Report reveals an Angels employee provided the pitcher with drugs. [SI]
OFFSEASON NOISE: A look at one flashy off-season move for every MLB team. [BleacherReport]
Also around our network this week
Behind the counter: A college football day in the life of a Vegas sportsbook.
Sports betting injury information: 5 key factors from ‘Pro Football Doc.’
New Jersey sportsbooks sail to new handle record, but fall short of half a billion.
Pennsylvania sports betting handle nears $200 mm for September.
Kentucky aiming for legal sports betting (again), and fixed-rate betting on horse races.
Fox Bet becomes an MLB-authorized gaming operator days before World Series.
Police: Alabama student said he made bomb threat to LSU football game over sports bet.
