November 2024 – Page 2

November 14, 2024

Q3 online growth fails to offset continued land-based decline in Sweden

Gambling revenue in Sweden hit SEK6.66 billion (£477 million/€574 million/$605 million) in Q3, with growth in the igaming segment failing to offset declines in land-based.

Revenue was 1.3% behind the SEK6.74 billion recorded during Q3 of 2023, Sweden regulator Spelinspektionen reports.

The figure also falls 3.4% short of SEK6.89 billion in Q2 of this year. On top of this, Q3 revenue was the lowest quarterly total since SEK6.58 billion was reported in Sweden in Q1 2023.

Commercial online gambling remains the primary source of gambling revenue in the country by some distance. During Q3, SEK4.33 billion of revenue was reported for this segment, a year-on-year increase of 1.5%. This includes internet-based casino and sports betting activity.

Land-based declines hit Sweden in Q3

However, declines were reported across almost all other sectors of the market. Revenue was down in many core land-based segments, with Svenska Spel’s Casino Cosmopol hit with a 76.5% revenue decline to SEK31 mi..

November 14, 2024

Betting with benefits banned in Brazil pending final approval

Minister for Brazil's Federal Supreme Court Luis Fux has filed an injunction to ban betting via Brazil's Bolsa Familia social welfare cheque. The measure will be put to an emergency session of the Brazilian chamber of deputies today with plans to enforce it effective immediately.

The decision was made after a two-day hearing at the Federal Supreme Court (STF), initiated on Monday 12 November, sought to investigate the impacts of betting in Brazil and determine whether the law governing the upcoming legal market is constitutional.

The STF hearing was called following a request from Brazil’s third biggest trade union, the National Confederation of Trade in Goods, Services and Tourism (CNC), filed an ADI (Ação Direta de Inconstitucionalidade) which is a legal action in Brazil intended to overturn a law that conflicts with the country’s Constitution.

Brazil’s betting sector, which is preparing to receive initial licences shortly, has faced significant backlash from politicia..

November 14, 2024

Lawyer who argued, won PASPA case before US Supreme Court dies at 84

Time magazine labelled Olson, who helped legalise sports betting, one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2010.

Theodore “Ted” Olson, the lawyer who successfully argued Murphy vs National Collegiate Athletic Association in front of the United States Supreme Court, thereby overturning the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) and paving the way for states to make their own determination on the matter of sports betting, has died.

His death was announced by his law firm, Gibson Dunn. Olson was 84.

“Ted was a titan of the legal profession and one of the most extraordinary and eloquent advocates of our time,” Barbara Becker, chair and managing partner of Gibson Dunn, said in a release. “He was creative, principled, and fearless – a trailblazing advocate who cared about all people. We mourn his loss profoundly and send our condolences to his wife Lady, a cherished member of our firm family, and to all of Ted’s loved ones.”

While Olson handled many high-pro..

November 13, 2024

Tennessee operators set record for handle

Bettors in Tennessee laid down a record $551.2 million (£432.5 million/€521.7 million) in bets in October, marking the third time since the market went live that more than $500 million was bet.

Tennessee bettors previously broke the $500 million barrier in September ($520.8 million) and in November 2023 ($520.8 million).

According to figures released by the Tennessee Sports Wagering Council (SWC) yesterday (12 November), adjusted handle was $547.8 million, after $3.4 million in adjustments. The SWC does not indicate on the report what the adjustments are for, nor does it break down bets by operator or sport. The SWC also does not report operator revenue.

Tax revenue hit an all-time high

The report also revealed that operators paid a record $10.1 million in taxes to the state. Since the state launched in November 2020, October marked the first month that tax revenue exceeded $10 million. The next highest tax payment was $9.6 million last month. Tennessee taxes digital sports bettin..

November 13, 2024

Brazil forms parliamentary betting commission to address gambling concerns

The parliamentary inquiry commission (CPI) on betting was formed in Brazil yesterday (12 November) ahead of the legal market launch on 1 January 2025, so senators can discuss their concerns with the industry.

The betting CPI was initially proposed on 8 October, with Senator Soraya Thronicke requesting its creation to investigate the “growing influence of online virtual gambling games on [Brazilian families’ financial spending]”.

Thronicke’s request received the 27 signatures needed but the group’s formation was delayed amid uncertainty over who would serve on the inquiry.

Thronicke was assigned the CPI’s lead, while Senator Dr Hiran Gonçalves will chair the commission with Senator Alessandro Vieira as vice chair.

The CPI will have 11 members and seven substitutes, with an initial 130 days in which to carry out its work and its next meeting will be next Tuesday (19 November), although Thronicke did not disclose the names of the first witnesses.

Dr Gonçalves ended the meeting by sa..

November 13, 2024

Tabcorp fined for in-play betting breach, ACMA issues more blocking orders

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has fined Tabcorp AU$262,920 (£134,731/€161,778/US$171,731) for breaching rules on in-play betting, while the regulator has also issued banning orders against a further seven illegal gambling websites.

An AMCA investigation, reported today (13 November), found Tabcorp was taking online in-play sports bets, which is illegal under Australia’s Interactive Gambling Act 2001. In total, Tabcorp accepted 854 in-play bets across 69 tennis matches between April and October 2023.

Tabcorp said the breaches were the result of a technical bug in its systems. The first error occurred in April 2023 but was not fixed until October 2023. Tabcorp also noted it voided all bets, meaning consumers did not suffer losses, nor did it profit from the errors.

However, ACMA proceeded with the financial penalty, noting Tabcorp has previously been warned over in-play betting. In November 2021, Tabcorp was issued a formal warning for accepting in-play bets..

November 13, 2024

North Carolina in October: Revenue plummets while handle rises

October marked the first full month of football for North Carolina digital sportsbooks – and revenue dropped $21.4 million (£16.6 million/€20.2 million) despite handle rising $36.6 million against September.

According to the North Carolina revenue report released today (12 November), the differentiator was hold, which was the lowest since sports betting went live in North Carolina. In September, sportsbooks had a 12.2% hold rate, but in October that number dropped to 8%. Operators across the US have lamented a tough October with bettor-friendly results during quarterly earnings calls.

In North Carolina, which launched sports betting operators in March, October was the first full month with football games every week. The NFL season kicked off on 5 September, meaning that the first Sunday of that month had no games.

With regard to hold, North Carolina operators have eclipsed double-digits in six of the eight months since launch. August and October are, so far, the only sub-10% hold..

November 12, 2024

ANJL: Brazil black market will grow if betting law is deemed unconstitutional

The National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL) has said Brazil's black market activity would increase if the Supreme Court deems its betting law unconstitutional.

On Monday (11 November), the ANJL shared its thoughts at the ongoing Federal Supreme Court (STF) hearing which will determine whether Law No 14,790/2023 for legalised sports betting in Brazil is considered unconstitutional.

The two-day public hearing this week is investigating the impacts of betting in Brazil, with a number of big industry names speaking at the event. It was initiated after Brazil’s third biggest trade union, the National Confederation of Trade in Goods, Services and Tourism (CNC), requested the betting law be declared unconstitutional.

The union filed an ADI (Ação Direta de Inconstitucionalidade), which is a legal action in Brazil that seeks to uphold a law or act that goes against the constitution.

The rapporteur of ADI 7721 is minister Luis Fux, who said on Monday the STF must assess t..

November 11, 2024

Weekend Report: Ex-Tory leader warns over gambling political donations, WWE drops interest in sports betting

Welcome to the Weekend Report, where iGB looks at the news that you may have missed across Friday, Saturday and Sunday. This week: former Tory leader warns over gambling donations, WWE loses interest in US sports betting and Betway details responsible gambling initiative with South Africa’s Premier Soccer League.

Former Tory leader warns against donations from gambling sector

First, Sir Iain Duncan Smith, former leader of the Conservative party, has told political parties in Great Britain to stop taking donations from gambling companies.

Smith urged colleagues dealing with “utterly rapacious” betting companies to “sup with a very long spoon”, the Telegraph reported on 8 November. The MP for Chingford & Woodford Green chairs the all-party parliamentary group on gambling reform.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Smith was asked if the gambling industry is a big political donor. He replied: “Yes, this is always a problem really. You have got to detach that sort of thing from ..

November 8, 2024

State of the Union: Tyson-Paul betting in Massachusetts, more election results

Welcome to iGB's State of the Union, a look at the biggest North American sports betting stories we've covered over the week and briefs on others we found interesting.

Mass regulators will allow bets on Tyson-Paul

On Thursday (7 November) Massachusetts regulators decided not to ban betting on the Jake Paul-Mike Tyson exhibition boxing match set for 15 November. Citing safety and rules changes as positives, the commissioners unanimously believe the fight falls within the bounds of allowed markets in the state bet menu.

The Tyson-Paul bout, which will air on Netflix, will feature two-minute rounds rather than the standard three minutes. Boxers will also wear 14-ounce gloves as opposed to the usual 10-ounce gloves.

“The rules changes are trending toward safety, which was very influential for me,” said commissioner Nakisha Skinner. Her thoughts echoed those of her fellow commissioners.

Commissioner Eileen O’Brien did say that the exhibition raises another question for her…

November 8, 2024

New York mobile sports betting handle hits record $2.32 billion in October

Consumers in New York spent a record $2.32 billion (£1.79 billion/€2.15 billion) in October, the most ever wagered on sports online in a single month in the US, although a weaker hold meant revenue declined.

Data from the New York Gaming Commission shows a 14.9% year-on-year increase in player spending. The October figure also surpasses September by 15.4% and clears the existing record of $2.12 billion, set in November last year, by 9.4%.

However, despite record handle, monthly revenue came in around $35.0 million under New York’s all-time high. For October, revenue from online sports betting was €176.3 million, up 5.7% from last year but 14.5% behind September. This missed the state’s record – $211.7 million in January 2024 – by 16.7%.

In terms of hold across all licensees, this stood at 7.60% for October. This marks a decline on September’s 9.9% hold and comes as DraftKings downgrades its full-year earnings forecast in the wake of “customer-friendly sport outcomes” early in Q4.

November 7, 2024

“Unfavourable hold” a drag on Penn earnings, but new products, tech are things to look forward to

As expected, Penn Entertainment reported a third-quarter loss on Thursday (7 November), but CEO Jay Snowden said the latest sports betting integration, impending launch of a stand-alone digital casino app and continued focus on land-based projects means there is much to look forward to.

During the presentation Snowden pointed to “unfavourable hold” in the northeast and a decline in the number of customers visiting casinos in the south due to weather and construction as drags on revenue. He said that retail customer demand remained stable. With regard to hold, Snowden said the low hold in the third quarter was industry-wide and not unique to Penn. The third quarter includes two of the slowest wagering months of the year in the US.

At least one analyst, Joseph Greff from JP Morgan, had lowered expectations ahead of the release. On Thursday morning Jefferies Equity Research released a note saying the numbers were “in-line with expectations”.

In terms of hard numbers, Penn has $1.8 bi..

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