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.
Oklahoma tribes ready to talk sports betting
Oklahoma might be among the states that legalize sports in 2019, if comments from tribal interests this week are any indication. At the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association convention in Tulsa, a tribal representative said the state’s Indian gaming interests want sports betting and are waiting for Governor Kevin Stitt to start the conversation.
“Tribes are ready to have that discussion,” Matt Morgan, chairman of the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association, told the Tulsa World. “The ball is in Governor Stitt’s court.”
Oklahoma has a huge tribal gaming presence — there are 38 recognized tribes in the state and 31 of those tribes have gaming compacts with the state. Those 31 tribes operate 130 gaming locations around the state, including 60 casinos. In order for these casinos to offer sports betting, the tribes must renegotiate their compacts with the state, and the state would have to agree to allow sports betting. Oklahoma tribes currently pay a percentage of revenue to the state, and Morgan told the Tulsa World that sports betting could be a key negotiating point for the state to ask the tribes for a bigger cut.
Among the states that currently offer legal sports betting, tribes in Mississippi, New York and New Mexico have sportsbooks. In most other states, sports betting is offered at commercial casinos.
More of the most important, interesting stories
IT’S OFFICIAL: North Carolina governor signs tribal sports betting bill. [WSOC]
PROBATION: UNC-Greensboro put on probation, fined after staffers bet on college sports, inadequately monitor activities [NCAA]
THEN THERE WERE FOUR: FanDuel launches its Pennsylvania sportsbook. [PennBets]
COMING SOON: Iowa regulators set special meeting, could launch sports betting Aug. 15. [TelegraphHerald]
BET ON IT: IN Gaming Commission releases list of sports, events legal to bet on. [HoosierBets]
I LOVE LA: Dodgers unveil ballpark rendering that shows they’ll embrace sports betting. [LAT]
SCHOOLED: Iowa is “doubling down” on educating athletes about sports betting. [DailyIowan]
WYOMING IN MIX? Lawmakers reconsidering gambling commission. [StarTribune]
PATRIOTS-RAMS… AGAIN? That’s exactly what Jeopardy! James is predicting. [Sun]
TECH: The NASDAQ is selling technology to a British soccer betting site. [WSJ]
MARKETS: 5 sports betting stocks to watch. [MarketWatch]
ANOTHER NJ SPORTSBOOK? Developer working on a deal to offer sports betting at defunct track. [AP]
I’M SORRY: It’s a week after the Baseball HOF inductions, and Pete Rose is sorry he bet. [Newsday]
In the wider world of sports
NFLPA has sent out a Work Stoppage Worksheet, asking NFL players to set aside half of each paycheck with a work stoppage “on the horizon.” Also suggests not starting new biz ventures & cutting all non-mortgage debt by end of 2020 season. pic.twitter.com/Xiy2gv6ntl
— Darren Heitner (@DarrenHeitner) July 24, 2019
BOXING DEATHS: Argentine Hugo Alfredo Santillán became the second boxer to die this week. [NYT]
OLYMPIC PREP: A year ahead of the Tokyo Games, here’s what to follow. [SI]
BYE, BYE: In a stunning move, Packers cut veteran DL Mike Daniels. [NFL.com]
NO DEAL? In final year of contract, Tom Brady to start camp without new deal. [BostonHerald]
QB Len Dawson having a smoke & a drink during halftime of Super Bowl pic.twitter.com/EJJqrSwFZk
— Sport & Betting History (@CDCHistory) July 22, 2019
TULO HANGS IT UP: MLB star retires and joins Texas Longhorns as an assistant. [ESPN]
FREE CANDY: Weirdest part of Tour de France is a caravan of cars tossing treats. [SBNation]
ICYMI on Sports Handle, US Bets
DraftKings becomes first standalone authorized gaming operator for MLB.
What they’re saying: Power-5 Commissioners talk sports betting.
A company’s methods for safeguarding sports, sports betting: ‘Our customers can track everything’.
Q&A with Phenix CMO Jed Corenthal on streaming, latency issues with in-play betting.
Sports bettors of different stripes: Larry, a retired HR professional.
D.C. Lottery staff reviewing public comments on proposed sports betting regulations.
Hawaii sports bettors fined, but avoid jail, felonies for illegal betting.
Ohio proposal would honor Buster Douglas-Mike Tyson 42-1 odds … but that’s just a myth.
