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
One thing we’ve learned about American sports betting over the past five years — remember that little court ruling called the PASPA decision? — is that every state marches to its own drummer, all of them trudging along and legalizing differently.
So this past week we had officials in the newest legalized state (Kentucky) publicly mulling just how quickly they could get up and running, in one New England state (Connecticut) looking for a new dance partner, and in another state (Vermont) striding toward becoming the last in that Northeastern region to OK betting.
This won’t be the last you read this year about states on the verge of change — the Carolinas are still in play in 2023, for instance, and maybe even Texas in anyone’s wildest dreams — but some legislatures have short sessions with upcoming deadlines. We’ve learned by now not to make bold predictions about what politicians in different states will do, when subject to the often-contradictory forces of industry operators, sports franchises, religious groups, tribal nations, and whomever else might be most persuasive with lobbying points or campaign contributions.
Sports Handle’s network of staff and sites will be monitoring each state every step of the way — or more accurately in some states’ cases, as they crawl. The stories below demonstrate the breadth of our coverage. And for other gambling industry-related information of vital and entertaining interest, be sure to check out the weekly Double Down summary from US Bets and the Gamble On podcast.
What’s that on your shirt?
Premier League teams vote to end front-of-jersey sportsbook sponsorships
A good argument undermined
American Gaming Association hits wrong note in response to hit piece
Might be something fanatical here
Tentative Washington Commanders sale carries vast sports betting implications
That was just an OK month
Monthly stock watch: Sports betting stocks remain flat despite March Madness
NBA’s heating up, and so are the ads
Media notebook: DraftKings, FanDuel launch new NBA ad campaigns
Bills might be much ado about nothing
Maryland sports wagering bills sent to Governor Wes Moore’s desk
Michigan has something to talk about
New ‘Double Down Michigan’ podcast offers valuable gambling information, conversation
It’s up to you, New York, New York
Freedom Plaza casino proposal pulling out all stops to build Manhattan support
What’s in a number? A lot
New York operators notch record monthly revenue total in March
Illinois likely claims No. 2 spot for February handle at $875.4 million
Indiana sports wagering revenue jumps to $42.8 million for March
Maryland sportsbooks continue roll in March with 12.3% hold
Massachusetts bars could get wagering kiosks
Last year, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission gave the OK for Encore Boston Harbor to have wagering kiosks in its parking garage, and the regulator is now exploring an expanded presence for kiosks in the state. According to the Eagle-Tribune, the MGC plans to hire a consultant to study the feasibility of allowing businesses like bars, restaurants, convenience stores, and bowling alleys to have sports betting kiosks.
Massachusetts would not be the first state to allow kiosks. Nine other states, including Ohio, Louisiana, and neighboring Connecticut, allow betting on kiosks. In most of those states, the regulator is the state lottery or the lottery oversees the kiosks.
— Jill R. Dorson
SuperBook launches Maryland digital platform
SuperBook Sports continued to expand its Maryland footprint when it launched its digital platform there Thursday. The company opened a SuperBook Sports lounge at Camden Yards earlier this month. The digital platform is the ninth to go live in Maryland, which launched mobile betting last November, more than two years after voters approved it.
Las Vegas-based SuperBook Sports has been steadily moving east after launching its first platform outside of Nevada in Colorado in 2020. Since then, it has gone live in Arizona, Iowa, New Jersey, Ohio, and Tennessee.
New users creating an account in Maryland can get $500 in bonus bets by making a “first wager on odds -200 or less (longer) the same day.” SuperBook Sports will provide a matching bonus of up to $500, to be applied to “25% of each wager until exhausted.”
— Jill R. Dorson
What’s going on at the Ohio Lottery?
Ohio Lottery Director Pat McDonald resigned effective immediately Wednesday, citing “medical reasons,” but a day later Gov. Mike DeWine’s office announced an investigation into potential “HR irregularities” involving McDonald. That came after local Ohio media showed pictures of McDonald being escorted from the building by the governor’s staff members on Wednesday.
DeWine spokesman Dan Tierney told Cleveland.com that an “independent investigation” would commence, as soon as the governor’s office selected an entity to look into the matter. A source told Sports Handle that McDonald had been fired, and given the escort out of the office, that seems more likely than an early and unplanned retirement.
DeWine appointed McDonald in 2019 to head up the state lottery, which oversees new sports betting kiosks in addition to longtime responsibilities for drawings and video lottery terminals. He was previously a member of the Ohio Lottery Commission, including its chairman for eight years. DeWine’s aerospace and defense and Northeast Ohio liaison, Michelle Gillcrist, was named interim lottery director.
— Jill R. Dorson
Tweet of the week
If anyone tells you they make money gambling every day, unfollow, block, report them & report their grandmother.
Kindest regards BK Sports.
— BK Sports (@bettingkingz9) April 11, 2023
More of the most important, interesting stories
TRY NOT TO LAG BEHIND: YouTube TV’s lengthy live delay could pose problem for NFL Sunday Ticket [Awful Announcing]
YOU JUST HAD TO BE THERE: GeoComply: Ontario attracting (unwanted) attention from around the world [CDC Gaming Reports]
SO CLOSE, NORTH DAKOTA, SO CLOSE: Sports betting measure dies in North Dakota Senate; issue won’t go to voters [The Dickinson Press]
NBA BETTORS ARE CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’: Bucks are title favorites, but Kings, Lakers draw books’ concerns [ESPN.com]
— David Payne Purdum (@DavidPurdum) April 14, 2023
SMOOTH SAILING IN RHODE ISLAND: IGT will run Sportsbook Rhode Island app for at least three more years in RI Lottery deal [The Providence Journal]
SEEMS LIKE A GOOD GAMBLE: More tribes in Wisconsin might soon offer sports gambling, Oneida Casino official bets [WPR]
THEY’RE MEGA MILLIONS WINNERS: Prophet Exchange secures $10 million funding round [NJBIZ]
TRYING TO BE CONSUMER FRIENDLY: SportsGrid widening media ecosystem with new North American betting app [SBC Americas]
