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
Regulators and operators in Massachusetts — and presumably thousands of expectant bettors — are busy prepping for that state’s addition Tuesday to the roll call of locales where a person can walk into a casino and place a legal sports wager.
The state’s three casinos will have new sportsbooks open Tuesday to accept bets on the Super Bowl, Celtics, Bruins, and most of the events allowed in dozens of other states, although the Massachusetts Gaming Commission is holding off on the start of more widely accessible mobile wagering until early March.
Among the commission’s actions this week in preparation for launch, it approved a fairly broad catalog of betting options that will be available to retail and online sportsbooks, including entertainment awards shows, league drafts, and regular sporting events. It also made clear it wants responsible gambling messaging to be more prominent in marketing materials, but it will delay the requirement of a larger font size so as not to force sportsbooks to trash those already prepared in advance of the Super Bowl.
Two more retail sportsbooks are to open at parimutuel facilities in the state, although at an unspecified later date beyond next week. Raynham Park did announce that it has Caesars Sportsbook as a partner ready to run its still-to-be-constructed on-site sportsbook.
Many more developments lie ahead in Massachusetts between now and March Madness as it prepares to become the second major state after Ohio to launch legalized sports betting in 2023. Sports Handle and its network of sites and staff will be on top of those developments and much more, as these stories from the past week show:
Yep, New York’s big, maybe getting bigger
New York poised for $2 billion sports wagering handle in January
New York tribes could finally get a seat at the mobile sports betting table
Let’s just get across the state line
Missouri legislators lament exodus of bettors to neighboring states
Maryland’s build-up continues
SuperBook Sports receives initial approval for Maryland wagering license
Fanatics Sportsbook at FedEx Field offers unique retail option in Maryland
This ankle-turner was a head-turner
Mahomes’ ankle speculation twists line movement in Chiefs-Bengals rematch
Once more unto the breach, Washington
Card room-backed sports wagering bill filed in Washington state
A big Brit joining the big boys in Vegas
Betfred “finally” licensed to accept sports wagers in Nevada
Illinois expansion coming through OTBs
PointsBet opens last of its OTB sportsbooks in Illinois
The craziest of gambling families
Suing BetMGM from prison? In Eddie Antar’s family, that’s not crazy
Another unfriendly turn in Puig’s saga
Yasiel Puig facing obstruction of justice charges in illegal sports betting case
Someone do something about these guys
New Jersey sports bettor warns others: Stay away from sportsbooks unless they change
Could be worth a shot … or shroom
Can a derivative of magic mushrooms help cure gambling addiction?
As always, money talks
Michigan sportsbooks clear $50 million for third time in four months
Ontarians wagered more than $21 billion (Canadian) on iGaming in 2022
Connecticut tops $1 billion in single-month online casino handle to cap 2022
Caesars adds two states for ADW racebook
Caesars’ advance deposit wagering platform for horse racing, Caesars Racebook, launched this week in Wyoming and Washington State, the 10th and 11th states in which the mobile app has debuted.
Caesars’ expansion comes in the wake of FanDuel becoming the first U.S. sportsbook to enable customers to use a single account for parimutuel horse betting and traditional sports wagering. Caesars appears to be among the favorites to next create a shared wallet, if it so desires, with PointsBet also spotlighting the two offerings side by side in the Illinois retail arena.
In addition to Washington and Wyoming, Caesars Racebook is now live in Kentucky, Florida, Ohio, Indiana, Oregon, Montana, North Dakota, Maryland, and Massachusetts.
— Mike Seely
DraftKings partners with RG consultant
As responsible gambling remains at the forefront of regulators’ minds at state licensing hearings this month, DraftKings is collaborating with an Ontario-based consultancy on an initiative that could help the sportsbook refine its RG practices.
Under the collaboration, DraftKings will work with Gamres, a Canadian research practice, to incorporate a so-called “positive play scale” into its responsible gambling program. Developed by three researchers in clinical psychology, the scale seeks to measure online gaming behaviors and players’ knowledge of responsible gambling. On behalf of DraftKings, Gamres will administer a survey to the operator’s customers using the framework of the scale.
Gamres will analyze the survey results to develop a baseline measure of positive play at DraftKings. From there, DraftKings may use the data to identify potential differences in certain player groups. The collaboration marks the first time that a multi-state U.S. online gaming operator will incorporate the scale into its responsible gambling program.
– Matt Rybaltowski
NBA joins AGA responsible gambling campaign
The NBA has joined the NHL, MLB, NASCAR, PGA TOUR, and other sports entities supporting the American Gaming Association’s Have A Game Plan @ Bet Responsibly public service campaign.
The AGA and NBA jointly announced the new partnership, through which the league and its teams pledge to help educate basketball fans on the fundamentals of responsible sports wagering. The AGA launched the campaign in 2019 with a platform designed to focus sports bettors on sticking to a budget, prioritizing it as entertainment, understanding odds, and patronizing legal, regulated operators.
“As one of the world’s most popular leagues, the NBA will bring Have A Game Plan’s important message to a massive audience,” said AGA Senior Vice President Casey Clark. “It’s critical that the entire sports betting ecosystem is united in our commitment to responsible gaming, and we are grateful for the NBA’s leadership in these efforts.”
— Gary Rotstein
More of the most important, interesting stories
FODDER FOR HAND-WRINGING: Commentary: What sports betting has wrought [Politico]
THEY BET SOME LOSERS WILL GO TOO FAR: Pro sports players want protection from angry bettors with wagering launching next week [State House News Service]
LAWYERS BUSY FROM DISPUTE IN WASHINGTON STATE: Sports betting battle pitting casino owner against tribes could go all the way to Supreme Court [Fox News]
SPORTS BETTING TAKES THE STAGE SOON: Potawatomi Casino in Milwaukee closes Northern Lights Theater, will become new sportsbook venue [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
Potawatomi Casino in Milwaukee closing Northern Lights Theater, turning it into sportsbook venue https://t.co/eMQ3xdsUnR
— Journal Sentinel (@journalsentinel) January 23, 2023
GEORGIANS WOULD LIKE THE CHANCE: AJC poll: Georgians oppose runoffs, back sports betting and abortion rights [The Atlanta Journal-Constitution]
OKLAHOMA POL WANTS CAREFUL MULL: Senate leader wants a more ‘methodical’ approach to sports betting [Public Radio Tulsa]
PROFS GRADE LSU POORLY FOR CAESARS DEAL: Faculty Senate questions LSU Athletics on “secretive” nature, ethics of sports betting partnership [Reveille]
TERRIFIC TIMING IN OHIO: Cincinnati Bengals’ NFL playoff run only fuels the already-hot first month of sports betting in Ohio [News 5 Cleveland]
