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.
Oregon rolls out temporary rules
The Oregon Lottery on Wednesday took another step toward going live with mobile sports betting when it rolled out temporary rules for digital-player accounts and its new sports betting offering, “Scoreboard.” The Lottery is aiming to launch “Scoreboard” next week. The new rules allow for the launch as the Lottery works on developing permanent rules.
The temporary rules include a definitions section, explain how the “Scoreboard” app will work, and describes how and why bets can be voided by the Lottery. The temporary rules specify that bettors be at least 21 years of age, have an active Lottery player account, and prohibit mobile sports betting on tribal lands. Sports betting will be allowed only on professional sports events when the app launches.
Earlier this week, a Lottery spokesman said the “Scoreboard” app is ready to launch, and the Lottery is just awaiting final “checkoffs” from financial vendors before testing it one last time, and opening the app to the public. Oregon will join a handful of states from New Jersey to Indiana — which went live with its first mobile app Thursday — to offer legal state-wide mobile sports betting since the Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act in May 2018. Oregonians nearby or interested in the in-person experience have been able to place bets at the tribal-owned Chinook Winds since Aug. 27.
Three more to TN board
According to News Channel 5, New Tennessee governor Bill Lee on Monday announced his selections for the state’s sports betting regulatory board: Kevin Carroll, the Security Services Division director for the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office; Billy Orgel, a Shelby County school board member and owner of a national wireless communications structures company; and Hanes Torbett, who owns a commercial insurance company.
The board will be comprised of nine members, and eight have already been selected. Senate Speaker Randy McNally already made his three selections, and House Speaker Cameron Sexton will make the remaining selection. His predecessor, Glen Casada, named two board members before stepping down in August. The Tennessee Lottery is currently reviewing proposals for a company to help vet potential operators for mobile/online sports betting. The next step will be issuing an RFP to potential operators. No launch date has been set.
More of the most important stories in betting, gaming
Once again @notthefakeSVP is so damn good at his job. Great quick recap of the poker scandal going on. Awesome to see @Joeingram1 get the well deserved shout out. https://t.co/HVsW71LRzq
— Dan Back (@dan_back) October 4, 2019
KIND OF A BIG DEAL: The vast US sports betting ramifications of the FanDuel Parent-Stars Group blockbuster [SH]
5 DIMES TONY: Tangled tale of famed sports bettor William Sean Creighton. [Victory Journal]
APPROVED!: Franklin first NH city to approve physical sportsbook. [ConcordMonitor]
DUE DILIGENCE: Sportradar in talks to acquire sportsbook platform provider Optima [EGR]
INDIANA ONLINE: Bet Rivers becomes first mobile app to launch in the Hoosier State [HSB]
RIGHT BEHIND: DraftKings is also online in Indiana as of Thursday [AP]
None of Indiana's border states have legal #sportsbetting of any kind right now. There's a combined ~39 million people between in those states (about the same population as California). Indiana online/mobile is very well-positioned right now as its neighbors sit on the sidelines. pic.twitter.com/MUi9XuZ6zZ
— Brian Pempus (@brianpempus) October 3, 2019
UNDER THE TENT: William Hill plays ball with NBA to become “authorized” gaming operator [SH]
RELATEDLY: William Hill sportsbook coming to NBA and NHL owner’s Capital One Arena [SH]
BUT OBSTACLES AWAIT: A Wisconsin lawmaker wants state to move toward legal sports betting. [DailyCardinal]
CAPITAL RAISE: A new fund will target legal U.S. sports betting opportunities. [PRNewswire]
CLICK FOR FULL STORY THREAD:
Storytime from the book:
So, being in the business that I’m in, I get asked a simple question all the time. It’s only four words, one syllable apiece. The question is so simple, yet the answer can be quite tricky.
Only because sometimes, there is no answer. Often times…
— Sportsbook Consigliere (@SportsbkConsig) October 4, 2019
In the wider world of sports
BREAKING: California Gov. @GavinNewsom plans to sign the bill today that would let college athletes make endorsement deals and sign with agents. Big blow to NCAA; supported by @KingJames and other prominent athletes. Full scoop from @alanblinder: https://t.co/2KSZcjBPNd
— Oskar Garcia (@oskargarcia) September 30, 2019
HYPOCRITICAL: Blll Plaschke on how CA bill exposes NCAA’s money grab. [LAT]
ANOTHER DEATH AT SANTA ANITA: A 3-year-old was euthanized on second day of meet. [TDN]
YES, THEY CAN: Here’s why Twins CAN beat the Yankees. [MLB.com]
We think we can tweet videos again so here's Juan Soto's game-winning hit and OH MY GOODNESS IT'S EVEN MORE INCREDIBLE THAN WE REMEMBERED.#ChildishBambino // #STAYINTHEFIGHT pic.twitter.com/iBCkc7hUaJ
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) October 2, 2019
LAND GRAB: The Raiders added 17 acres for parking lots within 1/2 mile of new stadium. [JournalReview]
AN NFL-SIZED LIE: Ex-player Jeff Hatch beat drugs and preached about it. Except he didn’t. [SI]
Deshaun Watson explains Carolina's defense in 66 seconds. pic.twitter.com/8Fn4OAKHk3
— Rivers McCown (@riversmccown) September 29, 2019
Also around our network this week
Brennan: My tour of eight Atlantic City sportsbooks in one afternoon.
Chicago pro teams offer IGB a wish list.
New Michigan draft bill lets sports betting stand on its own.
Judge extends injunction against D.C. in sports betting case.
DraftKings chips in more than $500K of overlay for Super Pool of NFL handicapping contest.
