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.
Things looking up in West Virginia
For the week of Oct. 12, the West Virginia Lottery announced that its sportsbooks had seen a combined $7.76 mm betting handle, the most in a single week since legal sports betting launched there in August 2018. That sum produced $1.35 mm taxable revenue with $275,452 attributable to wagers from online/mobile platforms. Since the start of September, West Virginia sportsbooks reported at total handle of $39.9 million with $1.89 mm taxable revenue via online/mobile applications.
As more sportsbooks have come online in recent months, the numbers are trending upwards. After the first mobile sportsbook BetLucky.com app launched in late 2018 and then shut down, at least two mobile apps have gone live since Aug. 28. Both FanDuel and DraftKings launched on the same day just ahead of the Labor Day weekend.
West Virginia is among seven states, including Indiana, Iowa, New Jersey, Nevada, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island that offer state-wide mobile sports betting in some capacity.
D.C. moving forward
A week after a judge lifted an injunction against Washington, D.C.’s Lottery, it is in catch-up mode. According to a spokesperson, the injunction “prevented us from working for 24 days,” and it must now develop a new timeline for the launch of sports betting and its new lottery products.
Nicole Jordan, the Office of the Chief Financial Officer’s director of marketing and communications, also said that the Lottery was never late with a payment to vendor Intralot, as was widely reported. “Intralot’s payment structure is a percentage of sales,” she said. “There have been so sales and therefore no payments. It was reported that there was a lump payment due and that is not correct.”
The injunction stemmed from a lawsuit brought by local app developer Dylan Carragher, whose lawyer says he will file an appeal. Judge John Campbell lifted the injunction in a verbal decision last week, and Carragher’s lawyer has requested a written decision, in hopes of making the appeal process more streamlined. The lawsuit argues that the District violated its procurement rules when it awarded a $215 mm sports betting contract to Intralot after bypassing an open bid process.
Addabbo: NY must get off sidelines
Citing another successful sports betting month in neighboring New Jersey, New York State Senator Joseph Addabbo was vocal again this week in his desire for the Empire State to legalize mobile sports betting.
“New Jersey continues to release astounding sports wagering numbers month after month, while New York remains largely out of the conversation since we do not allow mobile sports betting as of now,” Addabbo said in a press release. “With New York not allowing mobile sports betting, our revenue will continue to be poured into New Jersey and surrounding states that have mobile sports betting.”
New Jersey sportsbooks reported a new record betting handle with $455.6 mm wagered in September.
Four upstate New York casinos opened on-site sportsbooks earlier this year, but the nation’s third most populous state hasn’t legalized mobile sports betting of any kind and is bordered by two states — New Jersey and Pennsylvania — that have active, growing markets.
More of the most important stories
GOLDEN STATE: California lawmakers are hoping to get ball rolling. [SFChron]
STATE OF CONFUSION: Ohio lawmakers can’t seem to make a decision. [GamingToday]
NY DELAY: The New York Gaming Commission has delayed a sports betting study. [EGR]
NOT WHAT THEY HOPED FOR: RI sports betting revenue half of what state budgeted for. [ProvJournal]
GOING MOBILE, KIND OF: In-person registration proving a hindrance in Rhode Island. [WPRI]
BIG BUCKS: 16,500 sign up for ‘Scoreboard’ in Oregonn, bet $500,000 in first four days, says Lottery. [KATU]
CAN COLLEGES POLICE SPORTS BETTING?: Here’s a look at how some are trying to. [NYT]
MONTANA MOVING: Lottery could have up to 1,400 sports betting kiosks. Hearing set for Monday. [Record]
Before been introduced to Sport betting, and 5 months after. https://t.co/bv9uJAXOlP
— Adetola Omo oba (@eazygabazin) October 23, 2019
DFS COMING TO IOWA: DraftKings has been approved for the first DFS license in the state. [Register]
PLENTY TO SAY: Billionaire Tilman Fertitta on his new book, the NBA and Las Vegas. [VegasInc.]
BUCK A HOLE? PGA says it will introduce on-site wagering at tournament next year. [Yahoo! Sports]
I spent the opening weekend of the NFL season hanging out on the Hoboken PATH platform talking to gamblers, who have turned it into a virtual sportsbook. My latest for @Esquire https://t.co/7eRONWa9tg
— David Hill (@davehill77) October 24, 2019
In the wider world of sports
ITS TIME FINALLY CAME: Why baseball is thriving in Washington, D.C. [WSJ]
THESE TEAMS COULDN’T FINISH: Best MLB teams not to win the World Series. [MLB]
MEAN MEMES: Down 0-2, Astros getting beaten by memes, too. [HouChron]
Justin Verlander, Leg Throw (with Tail). pic.twitter.com/bg8ZQLXhKc
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) October 24, 2019
COULD ‘BAMA LOSE?: Sure, and so could OSU, LSU or Clemson. Here’s how. [ESPN]
DIFFERENCE MAKERS: Top 10 reinforcements that could spark an NFL team. [NFL]
GEOGRAPHICALLY CHALLENGED: Two English soccer fans travel to wrong city for game. [SI]
Also around our network this week
Pennsylvania a dumpster fire? Try using facts, Mr. Christie.
Missouri lawmakers hear testimony about how to proceed with legal sports betting.
The many ways the NBA has embraced legal sports betting.
Don’t shake hands and other advice for sports bettors.
What’s SWIMA? A look at the new sports betting watchdog group, which has already circulated alerts.
Nothing but net (profits): The NBA sports betting season preview.
Visa ready to offer card acceptance at sportsbook windows.
FanDuel goes live with mobile in Indiana.
Here’s why Purdue is prohibiting staff, faculty, students from betting on Boilermakers.
Casino industry’s image better than ever. How much is that due to legal sports betting?
