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.
DraftKings gets mobile approval in Pennsylvania
DraftKings on Wednesday got the go ahead from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board to go live with its mobile/online sportsbook, and the company plans to do so next week. DraftKings has partnered with Penn National’s Meadows Racetrack & Casino for mobile.
The app will bring the DraftKings Sportsbook (online) to a fourth state — it already have mobile sports betting in New Jersey, West Virginia and Indiana. According to PennBets, the DraftKings app will be the sixth to go live in the Keystone state.
“DraftKings is excited to receive our Sports Wagering Operator License, moving us one step closer to bringing our top-rated online and mobile sportsbook app to sports fans in Pennsylvania,” Tim Dent, DraftKings chief compliance officer said in a statement. “Working in partnership with the outstanding team at Penn National Gaming, we expect the mandatory soft play period to begin on Nov. 4 towards the goal of an official public launch a few days later.”
No sports betting for you
Wisconsin is among a handful of states that has seen only minimal conversation about legalization among its legislators. Why? The state has a big tribal presence and according to a local lawmaker, the tribal-state compacts would need to be renegotiated to accommodate sports betting, but Governor Tony Evers likely isn’t open to talks.
“The way they were negotiated by (former) Governor Doyle with the tribes, I don’t think it’s something we can simply implement in Wisconsin,” Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald told WSAU. “That’s why there hasn’t been much talk about it in our state.”
Wisconsin is surrounded by states that have already legalized sports betting (Iowa, Illinois) or are discussing it (Michigan, Minnesota).
More of the most important stories
HE’S BACK: Pro sports bettor James Holzhauer back on Jeopardy! [LasVegasSun]
WHEELING, DEALING?: DraftKings is in talks with blank-check company Diamond Eagle. [Bloomberg]
SPORTS MEDIA: Getting to know high energy gambling personality Nick Kostos [TheBigLead]
IT’S A GO IN MONTANA: Lawmakers say liquor-license requirement OK. [AP]
SIN STATE?: Las Vegas has been known as ‘Sin City,’ but NH is the Sin State. [USNews]
NCAA’s top governing board voted unanimously to permit students participating in athletics the opportunity to benefit from the use of their name, image and likeness in a manner consistent with the collegiate model: https://t.co/QLMpBD1k6D
— Lauren S. Camera (@laurenonthehill) October 29, 2019
READY: Philly’s Stadium Casino gets approval for mobile a year before opening. [Philly.com]
TRACTION: As sports betting catches on, eSports looks to be next. [InnoTechToday]
EMPIRE: One upstate sportsbook is adding a weekly eSports competition. [Syracuse.com]
EARLY BIRD: Here’s why it pays to bet on college games before Saturday. [AL.com]
HOW TO: A beginner’s guide to Oregon’s Scoreboard app and sports betting. [Oregonian]
LOOKING BACK: Ex-NBA official Tim Donaghy reflects on his gambling scheme. [FanSided]
PASPA ANNIVERSARY: Since its fall, demand for sports betting clear. [ESPN]
In the wider world of sports
Seabiscuit barely beats Ligarroti in a 1938 match race at Del Mar. It was the first ever nationally broadcast race over the NBC radio airwaves pic.twitter.com/P1Kcms6IoD
— Sport & Betting History (@CDCHistory) October 31, 2019
LIVING THE DREAM: Inside the Nationals World Series win. [ESPN]
WHAT’S NEXT?: Astros had a dream season in the making. Where do they go from here? [BleacherReport]
NO WORRIES: Stephen Curry’s got a broken hand, but it’s not time to panic. [SI]
JJ Redick has won Halloween 🔥 pic.twitter.com/siLq8Q9EQB
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 1, 2019
DEATH SPIRAL: Most of Deadspin staff resigns in protest. [USAToday]
SUCCESS STORY: Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur the most successful of the rookies. [LAT]
CANCER SCARE: Did the Redskins ignore Trent Williams’ cancer? [NFL.com]
Zion accidentally got Jaxson Hayes in the face 🤣 pic.twitter.com/vxRrWHwlwi
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 1, 2019
Also around out network this week
Pricing wars for sports betting promos: A race to the bottom or a viable business plan?
NIGA executive directory Jason Giles on sports betting: Unique communities, path forward.
Threat perfectly illustrates the the unmet demand for legal sports betting.
Legal U.S. sports betting: A fearless forecast for the next five years.
The impact of Google lifting its online gaming ad ban.
MGM Resorts, Yahoo! enter into historic sports betting partnership.
DraftKings a big winner in New Hampshire.
Nevada still king, reigns supreme over New Jersey sports betting in September.
Thousands split $500K in FanDuel’s ‘Sports Equinox’ contest.
Michigan lawmaker on sports betting: ‘What does the governor’s office want?’
Online sportsbook giving Indiana sports bettors more options for UFC 244.
