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 stories, highlighting some fresh news, and rounding up key stories. Also check out this week’s Wild World of Gambling at US Bets.
Top stories from around our network
New York Assemblyman Pretlow Warns Of Pitfalls With Cuomo’s Mobile Betting Model
Rural Washington State Tribe Raring To Go As Sportsbooks Prepare To Open
Bettors Slap Barstool Around In June In Indiana As Book Nearly Loses Money
NJ Sports Betting Handle Nearly $5 Billion For First Half Of 2021
Illinois: Lightfoot Touts Chicago As ‘World Class’ City For Casino And Resort
Regulation nation
Arizona: Here’s How Arizona Dept. Of Gaming Will Allocate Event Wagering Licenses
Louisiana: DraftKings First To Get DFS Approval In Louisiana, Ready To Go Live Imminently
Maryland Regulator Approves Draft Sports Betting Rules That Raise Some Questions
Feature story of the week
Record Olympic Betting Handle Expected Post-PASPA, But What’s That Really Mean?
Shame of the week
Casino Payment Processor Urges Folks To Go Nuts Gambling On ‘All or Nothing Day’
Investigation of the week
‘Fade The Public’ As A Sports Betting Strategy: Science Or Myth?
You’re hired of the week
FanDuel Hires Interim CEO, And Daily Telegraph Report Has Its IPO Pushed To 2022
Mystery solved of the week
In Pennsylvania, Cordish’s Newest Sportsbook Partner Is Answered: It’s Fubo
Boycott of the week
Why I’m Boycotting MLB: Insults And Greed Have Overcome Nostalgia And Lifelong Passion
Operator of the week
Underdog Fantasy Has Brought Best Ball Tournaments To The Mainstream
Poker of the week
WSOP.com Has Arrived In PA — And Has A Lot Of Catching Up To Do
What’s up in Maine?
Two weeks ago, the Maine House voted to enact a sports betting bill, LD 1352, on what appeared to be one of the final days of this session. The bill was immediately sent to the state’s Appropriations Table for review before progress came to a screeching halt. Stakeholders expected the bill to be taken up this week, but the state legislature didn’t have any full floor sessions. The bill could be considered Monday, when both the House and Senate have full floor sessions scheduled.
LD 1352 would allow for statewide mobile sports betting and would require digital platforms to be tethered to existing gaming facilities. The engrossed version of the bill was passed by both chambers on June 18, but it must be passed as enacted by both before it can be sent to Gov. Janet Mills for action. The last time a sports betting bill landed on Mills’ desk in 2019, she vetoed it six months later.
More of the most important, interesting stories
Total on WNBA All-Star Game moved 53 points.
"At worst, I don't think this was more than 15 points off. That's as bad as I think it could be. I didn't think it would be the worst number ever."https://t.co/WGx8ByvjEH
— David Payne Purdum (@DavidPurdum) July 14, 2021
Horseshoe Casino Baltimore has an immediate opening for a ticket writer at its William Hill sportsbook. Safe to say they'll be among the first to take a bet when Maryland sports betting goes live later this year https://t.co/pi6Kn812gK
— Ryan Butler (@ButlerBets) July 15, 2021
GET OUT THE VOTE: Florida OK’s two more gambling-related constitutional amendment drives for 2022 ballot. [FL Phoenix]
RACKETS: Multiple matches being investigated for fixing, per report. [CBS Sports]
TRIBAL CHAMPION: Connecticut’s Cathy Osten an incredible advocate. [The Day]
FINE PRINT: Athletes would be wise to read fine print before making a deal. [Gazette]
CHECKOUT COUNTER: Bruin Capital to buy Flutter affiliate OddsChecker in $218 Million Deal. [Sportico]
BALLY BINGE: Casino company adds Association of Beach Volleyball Professionals. [Bally’s]
BLACKOUT: Ban on gambling ads could be introduced ‘relatively quickly.’ [Irish Times]
This is it. My Mona Lisa. Thanks to everybody that helped with this story @FOXSports. Rocky vs. Drago — what’s the line? 🇺🇸 https://t.co/50p371gQIT
— Sammy P (@spshoot) July 3, 2021
