Each Monday, our “What’s on Tap” series previews the week ahead in the world of sports betting. Come here for a summary of upcoming financial happenings, legislative and regulatory meetings, industry conferences, top games scheduled for the week, and much more. Also, check out our weekly review Get a Grip for a look back at last week’s notable news.
Monday, November 8
Mobile licensee recommendations expected at NYGC meeting
New York is getting closer to naming the winners of an intricate bidding process for the issuance of mobile sports wagering operator and platform provider licenses. Last week, Sports Handle reported that the New York Gaming Commission was moving toward recommending two consortiums for selection of the state’s coveted slots — featuring applications led by FanDuel and sports betting technology provider Kambi.
At Monday’s meeting, the commission is expected to recommend bids for at least nine operators, including four from the FanDuel-led “super bid.” FanDuel’s consortium also includes platform provider and operator bids from DraftKings, BetMGM, and Bally Bet. The Kambi-led consortium, meanwhile, contains operator bids from Rush Street Interactive, Caesars Entertainment, PointsBet, Wynn Resorts, and Genting, which owns Resorts World. The commission reportedly has a target to launch mobile sports before Super Bowl LVI in February. If nine operators gain market access in New York, operators will be taxed at 51% of their online gross gaming revenue, according to the commission. If a 10th operator receives licensure, the tax rate will drop to 50%.
NEW YORK:
Two consortiums led by #FanDuel and #Kambi appear close to winning coveted spots for mobile sports betting licenses in New York, sources say.
(@MattRybaltowski breaks it down)https://t.co/Vfbjj3gwrq
— Sports Handle (@sports_handle) November 3, 2021
Tuesday, November 9
Government attorneys scheduled to submit brief in Seminoles case
At a closely watched hearing last week, a federal judge accused government attorneys of being “woefully unprepared” to argue a case surrounding the Seminole Tribe of Florida‘s lucrative gaming compact with the state. At issue is whether the compact is legal under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA). A provision in the compact enabled the tribe to launch mobile sports wagering in Florida by Nov. 15. The Seminoles, to the surprise of many, rolled out a Florida online sports betting platform last week.
Questions remain as to whether the two plaintiffs, West Flagler Associations (Magic City Casino) and Bonita-Fort Meyers Corp. (Bonita Springs Poker Room), have standing to file a lawsuit against the federal government and the state of Florida. Instead of simply dismissing the lawsuit, federal Judge Dabney Friedrich gave attorneys from the government until Tuesday to file a brief that explains the merits of the case.
College hoops season tips off at MSG
The college basketball season opens on Tuesday night with more than a dozen top-25 teams in action. Duke opens coach Mike Krzyzewski’s final season with a marquee matchup against 10th-ranked Kentucky at Madison Square Garden. At Caesars Sportsbook, the Blue Devils are slight 1-point favorites. The opener of Tuesday’s Champion Classic at the Garden features third-ranked Kansas against unranked Michigan State.
Gonzaga, the nation’s top-ranked team in the preseason, will face Dixie State in Spokane. The Bulldogs will be without head coach Mark Few, who was suspended by the university stemming from his offseason arrest for driving under the influence. Few, the 2016-17 AP National Coach of the Year, pleaded guilty last month to a misdemeanor DUI and was fined $1,000 in lieu of a four-day jail sentence. Few will return for Gonzaga’s home game on Nov. 13 against fifth-ranked Texas. Gonzaga, last year’s national runner-up, is the clear favorite to win the 2022 national title at numerous top sportsbooks.
College basketball futures at FanDuel
- Gonzaga: +650
- Texas: +1200
- Michigan: +1200
- Kansas: +1300
- Purdue: +1300
- Villanova: +1400
- Duke: +1500
- UCLA: +1500
- Kentucky: +1600
- Alabama: +2000
Saturday, November 13
Key Purdue matchup kicks off tough stretch for Ohio State
A crushing loss by Michigan State to Purdue last Saturday opened the door for Ohio State to capture the Big Ten East division. Purdue already has three losses on the season, but the Boilermakers notched their second victory over a top-5 team this year with a 40-29 win over then-third ranked Michigan State. Ohio State, which has won seven straight, ranked fifth in the College Football Playoff’s first rankings on Nov. 2. At Circa Sports, Ohio State opened as 19-point favorites against Purdue on Saturday. After the Boilermakers matchup, Ohio State will face a pair of top-10 teams in eighth-ranked Michigan State and ninth-ranked Michigan.
Speaking of top teams from Ohio, second-ranked Cincinnati will travel to Tampa to face South Florida. The Bearcats survived a scare in Saturday’s 28-20 win over Tulsa when the Golden Hurricane fumbled near the goal line with 36 seconds left. Cincinnati opened as a heavy 24-point favorite against the 2-7 Bulls. Elsewhere, eighth-ranked Oklahoma will face 12th-ranked Baylor in Waco. The Sooners need to remain undefeated to move closer to the top 4 as the regular season nears completion. Oklahoma is a 5-point favorite, and the total is 61.5 points.
Here's what betting markets thought about the Big Ten race…..before today.
Michigan State lost and Ohio State had trouble with Nebraska while Wisconsin put up a 52-piece and are improving. I predict these odds will tighten a tad. pic.twitter.com/CabolvooSe
— Ben Kenney (@benzkenney) November 6, 2021
Sunday, November 14
Potential return of Rodgers impacts Packers-Seahawks line
Without Aaron Rodgers on Sunday in Kansas City, the Green Bay Packers offense sputtered in a 13-7 loss to the Chiefs. Rodgers, who missed the game with COVID-19, might return in Week 10 when Green Bay hosts Seattle at Lambeau Field. Jordan Love, Rodgers’ replacement, went 19-34 for 190 yards and a touchdown against the Chiefs. The Packers opened as 5.5-point favorites over the Seahawks at Caesars. Per NFL rules, the earliest Rodgers can return to the team is Saturday. The line will also be affected if Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson returns to action. Wilson has missed three games since suffering a finger injury against the Rams last month.
