Betting News – Page 59

April 9, 2024

Maryland online casino is dead. What else is left for 2024 US gambling expansion?

The old adage “in like a lion, out like a lamb” is an apt comparison for the prospects of online casino in Maryland.

While interest and discussion weren’t limited to March, as far back as last autumn, operators, vendors, suppliers, consultants, lawmakers and many others in the US gambling landscape were shouting about the prospect of Maryland legalising online casino.

On Monday (8 April) those prospects went out without a peep when the general assembly adjourned with no action on gambling.

Failed Maryland gambling expansion second key loss in 2024

The loss, as the gambling industry will see it, is the second key one this session. Ten days earlier, the Georgia general assembly ended its term without legalising digital sports betting. That meant the two states projected to have the best chance at a gambling expansion failed to produce.

In Georgia, lawmakers remain bogged down in how to spend proceeds rather than whether or not to support the legislation. Negotiating went on nearly ..

April 8, 2024

Belgium report warns of impact of over-regulation on channelisation

A report from Belgium-based operator Gaming1 has highlighted concerns over the effect of over-regulation on channelisation.

On 1 July 2023, Belgium introduced a near total ban on gambling advertising. This was after a consortium of sports teams and gaming operators were defeated in a last-ditch legal bid challenging the royal decree.

The ban faced backlash, with Belgium gambling trade body Bago highlighting the government’s decision to act against the advice of the country’s Gambling Commission when imposing the ban.

Gaming1’s report has now outlined the impact of the royal decree on channelisation towards legal operators in Belgium.

Gaming1 pointed to surveys conducted by Nepa in 2023. The studies found a 6% rise in online players using an illegal website in the past three months following the royal decree, as well as a 4% increase on deposits made on illegal gaming websites.

In its report, Gaming1 highlighted the results of two major studies. The first from the Belgian Gaming Co..

April 8, 2024

Legalising sports betting in Minnesota just got a lot trickier

The path to legal sports betting in Minnesota got a whole lot more complicated last week when the state racing commission gave its blessing for historical horse racing and several new gambling bills were filed.

Since the start of the session, Senator Matt Klein and Representative Zack Stephenson have been shepherding their state-wide, online mobile bills through the state’s long committee process. Stephenson brokered a deal between the tribes and charitable gaming to take one long-standing barrier to legal sports betting in Minnesota out of the way.

And then came 1 April when Minnesota’s horse racing commission voted to allow historical horse racing at horse tracks. Some say this is a violation of the state’s exclusivity agreement with the tribes and others say is outright illegal. The machines look similar to slot machines and in most jurisdictions are considered games of chance. This is also an area for which the tribes have exclusivity.

Whatever the situation, the decision has ..

April 8, 2024

New York sports betting handle hits $19.64bn in FY23

Players in New York spent $19.64bn (£15.55bn/€18.13bn) betting on sports online during the Empire State’s 2023 financial year, while revenue reached $1.76bn.

Total wagers for the 12 months to 31 March 2023 were 19.8% higher than $16.40bn in New York in FY22. It is also the highest yearly online sports betting spend of any regulated state in the US.

In terms of gross gaming revenue, this was up 20.6% year-on-year and another US record. New York only opened its legal online sports betting market in January 2022, with FY23 only the second full year of regulation.

As it did in year one, Flutter Entertainment-owned FanDuel continues to lead the New York market. During FY23, FanDuel processed $8.10bn in online wagers and generated $845.8m in revenue.

DraftKings remained second with $619.6m in revenue from $7.02bn in bets. Placing third was Caesars with revenue of $140.4m and a $2.03bn handle.

BetMGM was the only other operator to process more than $1.00bn in wagers during the year, wit..

April 8, 2024

Rivalry hails diversification impact as revenue rises to $35.7m in 2023

Rivalry said expansion into new segments helped drive revenue up by 34% year-on-year to $35.7m (£28.3m/€33.0m) in 2023, while the betting operator was also able to reduce net loss.

In a preliminary results announcement, Rivalry said revenue growth was complemented by higher betting handle and gross profit. All this, it added, contributed to a 22% reduction in net loss.

Reflecting on 2023, co-founder and CEO Steven Salz highlighted the operator’s diversification as the main reason for its success. He said growth in new markets such as traditional sports, casino and fantasy, alongside its core esports offering, allowed it to emerge from 2023 as an “increasingly diversified” business.

“Last year we gained meaningful traction in new segments,” Salz said. “This is widening our opportunity set and positioning us for sustainable growth in the medium- to long-term.

“We’re happy to have finished the year with all-time high customer economics, diversified revenue streams and a reinforced co..

April 5, 2024

State of the Union: A look at the week that was in North America

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.

Queens casino controversial among politicians

Businessman Steve Cohen’s plan to build a casino in Queens adjacent to the Mets’ Citi Field earlier this week got the endorsement of a city councilman, but a state senator said Cohen has not been “open and transparent”, according to the New York Post.

State Senator Jessica Ramos, who appears to back a Genting Resorts World project, took issue with Cohen’s lobbying strategy. Any downstate casino will need legislative approval in Albany. Cohen is partnered with Hard Rock in his proposed venture.

Queens Councilman Francisco Moya told the NYP that “If we fail to seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, we ensure that the area around Citi Field remains underutilised parking lots for the foreseeable future; and we permanently stymie the future growth potential of Q..

April 5, 2024

PNR Tecnologia and Lema request Loterj accreditation amid IBJR criticism

PNR Tecnologia and Lema have become the latest gambling companies to seek accreditation from the Rio de Janeiro State Lottery (Loterj), which is coming under fire from the Brazilian Institute for Responsible Gaming (IBJR).

On Wednesday (3 April), PNR Tecnologia delivered documentation seeking to operate sports betting and online games with Loterj accreditation. On Friday (5 April), Lema visited the Loterj headquarters.

This was to carry out a proof of concept and evaluate its compliance with Loterj regulations. This was after Lema had previously presented its platform to operate sports betting and ilottery in March.

In March, Caesars Sportsbook-licensee BIG Brazil announced it was looking for Loterj accreditation to offer both sports betting and lottery. Loterj has since been criticised for its attempts to operate in Brazil outside its state of Rio de Janeiro.

PNR Tecnologia director Yuri William threw his support behind Loterj’s initative. He stated: “Loterj has a lot to add to t..

April 5, 2024

CNIGA’s Siva loves a good compromise; wants to expand role as tribal leader to IGA

James Siva just wants everyone to get along.

As the man who held together the disparate group of tribes that make up California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA) when not one, but two commercial groups tried to take the lead on wagering in California, it seems he has a knack for negotiation.

“I think James has a unique ability for being in a leadership position and listening to the different sides of everything, giving tribal leadership a chance to hear both sides and come to a compromise,” Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians tribal council member Dennis Hendricks said.

Siva said Hendricks was a mentor when he first joined the CNIGA executive committee.

Siva, the current CNIGA chairman, is hoping that is the kind of leadership that the Indian Gaming Association (IGA), which meets beginning Monday (8 April) in Anaheim, is looking for. Siva announced his intent to run for vice-chairman at the Western Indian Gaming Conference in February. He’ll be running against incumbent Dav..

April 5, 2024

Fanatics sportsbook goes live in Arizona

Fanatics Betting and Gaming (FBG) is now live in Arizona through a partnership with the Tonto Apache tribe.

Fanatics’ online sportsbook service is available in 18 US states after taking its first wagers in Arizona. The launch came on the same day that Fanatics concluded its $225m (£178.2m/€207.0m) acquisition of PointsBet’s US operations.

The Arizona partnership also includes plans to open a Fanatics Sportsbook retail location inside the Mazatzal Hotel & Casino this summer. The resort is owned and operated by the Tonto Apache.

Ari Borod, FBG’s chief business officer, said: “We are thrilled to partner with the Tonto Apache tribe and Mazatzal Hotel & Casino to bring the Fanatics Sportsbook to Arizona.

“Arizona is a state with tons of options for sports fans, from baseball, to hockey, to golf, to football, to racing, making it the ideal destination for the most rewarding online sportsbook.”

Fanatics joins the big brands in Arizona

Fanatics joins the other major sportsbook providers ..