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 the world (and industry) of legal U.S. sports betting. You may have missed them, and they are worth reading.
Vermont Governor backs sports wagering effort
Vermont Governor Phil Scott became the latest in a line of governors to call for legal sports betting in his state. Last year, four governors — in Massachusetts, Illinois, New Hampshire and Connecticut — all raised the matter in their State of the State addresses, but only two of them saw their states join the growing ranks. New Hampshire legalized sports betting in July 2019 and DraftKings launched its mobile sportbook there on Dec. 31, 2019. Illinois legalized in June, but is still in the application and rule-making process.
Still only one D.C. sports betting applicant
More of the top stories of the (busy) week
For those interested in taking a quantitative approach to sports predictions…https://t.co/pp1tsu2VIH pic.twitter.com/czRI1VQ16Y
— Lloyd Danzig (@LloydDanzig) January 21, 2020
SURPRISING NOBODY: Robert “GAMBLR.” Gorodetsky, a self-proclaimed betting savant featured glowingly in a 2017 USA Today story, is allegedly a total fraud [Chicago Tribune]
BALL DON’T LIE: Why Ball State [Indiana] has not implemented any new policy regarding sports gambling [Star Press]
LOTTERY VS. CASINO COMMISSION: Ohio sportsbook stalemate boiling down to which agency will get the job [Cleveland]
COMPROMISE: Connecticut State Sen. Cathy Osten preparing to resubmit gaming bill, lock it up [The Day]
LONG RUNWAY: 2019 saw legalization in N.C. at two tribal properties (only), but need to revise compact causing delay [Smoky Mountain]
Sharp bettors pounce on Super Bowl prop bets, with insight from pros @RufusPeabody and Jeff Whitelaw https://t.co/FJmtEE037O via @reviewjournal
— Todd Dewey (@tdewey33) January 24, 2020
LAWYER UP: SB Tech sues Oregon Lottery, LSR, DOJ and The Oregonian to keep its contract secret [Oregonian]
SCORECARD: Reporter pays for handicapping service and discovers firsthand it’s a suspect proposition [Bloomberg]
GETTING THERE: Virginia lawmakers coalescing about plans for sports betting in a state considering first casinos, too [Roanoke Times]
WINE AND DINE: Some details about the PGA’s charm offensive for Michigan lawmakers [Detroit News]
Sportsbook @PointsBetUSA has 306 different Super Bowl betting markets up, with more to come. The most popular at this point? The coin flip “by a good margin.”
52% of the bets are on heads, but 70% of handle is on tails.
No reports of sharp money.
— David Payne Purdum (@DavidPurdum) January 23, 2020
Also around our network this week
Will Baseball Bettors Back Off In Wake Of Astros Sign-Stealing Scandal?
Michigan Sports Betting Won’t Go Online For Over A Year
Sports Betting The Talk Of Washington State
Indiana Bill Would Decriminalize Poker, Casino Games Played In People’s Homes
How Many Skins Is Best For Online Sports Betting States to Offer? NJ Provides A Clue
Cuomo Leaves Mobile Sports Betting Out Of Proposed Budget For Second Straight Year
Indiana Approves Gambling on Academy Awards
