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.
New York sports betting regulations in the pipeline
On Monday June 28 the New York State Gaming Commission will review regulations for sports betting at its regular meeting. According to a spokesman, regulations will be proposed on Monday and voted on before a 60-day public comment period. After that, comments are reviewed, and, if needed the regulations could be modified before going back to the commission for a final vote. Given that timeframe, it’s a good bet that sports betting won’t launch in New York, at best, until late spring or early summer.
The meeting is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. ET at the Empire State Development Corporation in New York City.
New York stakeholders have been anxiously awaiting regulations for four upstate casinos as lawmakers propose bills that would legalize sports betting in the Empire State. According to a 2013 law, the four casinos — Tioga Downs in Tioga County, Resorts World Catskills in Sullivan County, Rivers Casino in Schenectady County, and del Lago in Seneca County — will have the ability to launch once regulations are approved. Governor Andrew Cuomo called for advancement on the issue at his Jan. 18 State of the State address.
“It’s here, it’s a reality, and it will help generate activity in those casinos,” Cuomo said.
But sports betting anywhere else in the state, including on mobile platforms, may require a constitutional amendment, which punts the timetable to 2020-2022.
Of the four upstate casinos, the del Lago Resort and Casino has already partnered with DraftKings to run its sportsbook, and Resorts World Catskills in November announced a “strategic alliance” with online operator bet365.
This lawmaker doesn’t favor an ‘integrity fee’
Kansas Representative Stan Frownfelter (D-District 37) filed a bill earlier this month, HB 2032, that would limit sports betting to horse racetracks only. Why? Frownfelter wants to protect Kansas’ struggling racing business, and, he says, both casinos and the professional leagues should be working harder to funnel money back into Kansas, rather than take it away.
Bill is sponsored by Representative Stan Frownfelter, Kansas City KS. This would require reopening of the Woodlands Track in KC and Camptown in Pittsburg. https://t.co/hJmUVkaOmr
— Kansas Coalition (@KSCoalitionPG) January 18, 2019
“I put it in the racinos to give them a little more, to get them to open up, especially the one on my hometown (Kansas City),” Frownfelter told Sports Handle. “If the casinos want it, they can come and get it, but they have to negotiate out and find a little more income for our state.”
As for the latest Kansas bill that would pay the professional sports leagues an “integrity fee” of 0.25 percent of the total betting handle, Frownfelter said, “I’m not going to give anything away at this time. I’m not going to give them a percentage of this, it’s just going to pad their pockets. I wouldn’t do it.”
Frownfelter kept it simple in his own bill — it merely calls to limit sports betting to racetracks and doesn’t include any details. The bill has been referred to the Committee on Federal and State Affairs, and could get a hearing next month.
Sports Handle’s analysis of bills filed this week
Arizona legalizes tribal sports betting only.
This Kentucky bill allows for betting on colleges, but is otherwise light on details.
More of the most interesting, important stories
According to our experts, a New York market limited to physical sportsbooks would be worth just $36m, whereas an online and retail rollout, as proposed by pending legislation, would be worth $838m. Find out more in our latest US Sports Betting Tracker >> https://t.co/3DsSo6llnC pic.twitter.com/PxSk07Jmum
— GamblingCompliance U.S. Sports Betting (@GC_USB) January 24, 2019
DEEP DIVE: Peeling back the layers on what wrong in DraftKings’ Sports Betting Championship. [RotoGrinders]
JUST SO WE’RE CLEAR: An industry expert doesn’t think the new Wire Act opinion in all that scary. [US Bets]
WORRY WART? NCAA chief Mark Emmert says he’s worried about impact of sports betting on college sports. [AP]
YEP, YOU CAN BET ON THAT: While WWE is more about entertainment than sports, there are betting opportunities. [ESPN]
STOCK CAR SPONSORSHIP: NASCAR will begin taking gambling ads. [SportsPro]
KILLJOY: Everyone loves a prop bet … except the NFL. [Associated Press]
IOWA ON THE MOVE? An Iowa lawmaker says sports betting “has a very good shot” at being legalized in his state this year. [TheGazette]
NOT IMPRESSED: Brent Musburger takes CBS to task for its position on betting references on broadcasts [Chicago Tribune]
Legislative Update: Sports betting bills have been filed in Hawaii and Arizona, marking 14 states with active legislation to legalize #sportsbetting – https://t.co/PkSveUHklN pic.twitter.com/UrjKMZl9PY
— American Gaming Assn (@AmerGamingAssn) January 24, 2019
ICYMI at Sports Handle
All the inside details about the biggest Super Bowl bet ever made, Part 1 and Part II.
It’s no sure thing that sports betting will work its way through the Virginia state legislature.
New Jersey sports betting year one: trends and outlook
In the wider world of sports
THE BOOTH: Tony Romo would be crazy to even consider coaching [TBL]
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY: Gronk is still the Patriots’ big-game go-to guy. [SBNation]
OUCH: Rams kicker Greg Zuerlein hurt his left foot on the kick that sent Los Angeles to the Super Bowl. [LADailyNews]
DON’T BE FOOLED: New Baseball Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera was graceful on the outside, hyper-competitive on the inside. [ESPN]
CAPTAIN, OH MY CAPTAIN: LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo chosen NBA All-Star Game captains. [USAToday]
