Betting News – Page 80

January 24, 2024

DC December: sports betting revenue up despite handle decline

Player spending on sports betting in Washington DC fell again in December but revenue was up year-on-year and month-on-month.

Handle for December in Washington DC amounted to $15.3m (£12.0m/€14.0m). This was down 18.2% from $18.7m in December 2022 and 10.5% behind $17.1m in November 2023.

In terms of gross gaming revenue (GGR), this reached $2.5m in December. GGR was up 4.2% from $2.4m in December of the previous year and 108.3% ahead of $1.2m in November.

Caesars retains the lead in DC

Looking at individual operators, Caesars remained the frontrunner in the DC market during December. The operator posted $889,481 from $5.3m in total sports bets in the month.

Gambet, run by the DC Lottery and powered by Intralot, remained second. Players wagered more with Gambet than Caesars, betting a total of $5.7m. However, after paying out $4.9m in winning, this left Gambet with smaller GGR of $837,595.

FanDuel ahead of BetMGM despite lower handle in December

Elsewhere, Flutter Entertainment-..

January 24, 2024

Road to ICE 2024: Affordability checks looming large amid criticism

On the road to ICE, iGB will prep you for the biggest show of 2024 with this new series covering the latest developments since 2023's show.

The Gambling Act review white paper was a huge landmark for the UK gambling industry. The white paper outlined how gambling should be regulated in the UK going forward. Key terms included consultations on stake limits, a mandatory statutory levy for operators and the introduction of an ombudsman.

However, affordability checks have continued to be one of the reviews’ most debated issues. While many in the industry agree with the white paper’s proposals, affordability checks were met with fierce opposition from operators and trade bodies.

The need for affordability checks

Many of the white paper’s proposals were made with the intention of protecting vulnerable groups. Gambling Commission research published in November revealed that one in 40 Britons is a problem gambler.

the long-awaited white paper was released in april 2023

Lucy Frazer, ..

January 24, 2024

Road to ICE 2024: White paper opens up opportunities for land-based casinos

On the road to ICE, iGB will prep you for the biggest show of 2024 with this new series covering the latest developments since 2023's show.

In April 2023, the UK government finally released the long-awaited 2005 Gambling Act review white paper. The 260-page document outlined critical updates for the industry, focusing on bringing it into the digital age.

As such, many of the policies in the white paper were based on the public now having 24/7 internet and smartphone access. But it also contained a number of alterations for land-based venues, such as permitting casinos to offer sports betting at their premises.

Specifically, the government said it would allow “casinos of all sizes” to offer sports betting on their premises. Previously, only casinos licensed under the 2005 Gambling Act could offer sports betting.

The white paper put forward policies that would enhance player protection in land-based venues

Land-based stipulations protect players

Generally, the land-based speci..

January 24, 2024

Road to ICE 2024: Entain’s sports betting acquisitions spark trouble

On the road to ICE, iGB will prep you for the biggest show of 2024 with this new series covering the latest developments since 2023's show.

2023 was a tough year for Entain, with its heavily pursued strategy of sports betting mergers and acquisitions leading to questions over the company’s future, ultimately costing chief executive Jette Nygaard-Andersen her job.

Entain acquired Polish sportsbook operator STS Holding in August, before also finalising its purchase of Angstrom Sports in October. While those two deals were outlined as particularly beneficial by Nygaard-Andersen, she was out of a job before the full potential of the moves could be reached.

Nygaard-Andersen, who had led Entain since January 2021, resigned in December amid growing pressure, in part down to her use of the company plane, but largely because of the several expensive acquisitions made under her tenure.

Nygaard-Andersen’s exit was another sign of the waning confidence in Entain, which manifested itself a..

January 24, 2024

Underdog partners with McConnell Golf for North Carolina sports betting

Underdog Sports has partnered with McConnell Golf to support its application for a sports betting licence in North Carolina.

The deal states Underdog will host, manage, operate and support online gambling services with McConnell Golf-operated Sedgefield Country Club. Located in Greensboro, North Carolina, the venue hosts the PGA Tour’s Wyndham Championship.

Underdog said the deal is part of its licence application. Operators seeking approval to run sports betting in the state must partner with a sports team, league or venue within North Carolina.

Traditionally focused on daily fantasy sports, Underdog has recently expanded into sports betting. However, the operator is yet to launch wagering, despite having secured a sports betting licence in Ohio in late 2022.

underdog announced $35.0m in funding for sports betting n 2022

“We’ve spent the last four years building our own technology so we can give sports fans in America new and different ways to enjoy the sports they love,” Underdo..

January 23, 2024

Betr secures market access deals in Colorado, Pennsylvania and Kentucky

Microbetting operator Betr has secured market access deals in Colorado, Pennsylvania and Kentucky and has outlined its expansion plans for 2024.

Betr has agreed deals for online sportsbook and casino in Pennsylvania and for online sportsbook in Colorado and Kentucky.

In Pennsylvania, Betr’s agreement is with the Cordish Gaming Group, which is the gaming division of The Cordish Companies. This is where Betr will debut its Betr Casino product, pending regulatory approval.

Cordish Gaming Group operates resorts in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Louisiana.

Betr has agreed to a market access agreement in Pennsylvania with Cordish Gaming Group

Rob Norton, president of Cordish Gaming Group said Betr Casino will add to its existing online casino portfolio.

“We are very excited to partner with Betr on the launch of their first online casino,” said Norton.“Betr Casino will make a winning addition to the gaming options available to Pennsylvania players, which includes two of our own successful ..

January 23, 2024

Fanatics launches sportsbook and online casino in Pennsylvania

Fanatics Betting and Gaming (FBG) has launched its sportsbook and online casino in Pennsylvania, the operator announced on Monday (23 January).

Fanatics Sportsbook and Casino is undergoing a two-day soft launch in Pennsylvania, with supervision from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. However, there will be no restrictions on sign-ups or playtime for customers.

The Fanatics Sportsbook and Casino will be available for those living in and visiting Pennsylvania. It marks the 11th US state in which FBG’s sportsbook is available, while it’s the second for the casino element after West Virginia.

Having been acquired by FBG in August 2023, PointsBet customers were able to migrate their accounts onto the Fanatics Sportsbook app, although only on the day of release.

Headquartered in New York, FBG claims it’s “disrupting the sports betting industry” thanks to its FanCash loyalty scheme, as well as its personalisation and live streaming features.

For casino, meanwhile, FBG highlighted its..

January 23, 2024

Louisiana sets sports betting handle and revenue records in December

Louisiana posted record sports betting handle for the third consecutive month in December, while the Pelican State also reported record monthly revenue.

Players in Louisiana wagered $377.0m (£296.2m/€346.1m) on sports during December. This surpassed November’s record of $356.6m by 5.7% and also beat December 2022 by 48.0%.

Online bets for the month amounted to $344.9m, while a further $32.1m was spent betting on sports at retail sportsbooks.

Revenue reaches record $55.8m in Louisiana

Turning to revenue, this also reached a new monthly high of $55.8m in December. This beat the existing Louisiana record of $43.3m set in October 2023 by 28.9%.

DECEMBER REVENUE BEAT OCTOBER 2023’S RECORD OF $43.4M BY 28.9%

The December figure was also 50.8% higher than $37.0m in the same month in 2022 and 187.6% ahead of $19.4m in November.

Revenue from online sports wagering in December amounted to $51.3m after promotional deductions. Retail revenue for the month reached $4.5m, again after deduct..

January 22, 2024

ITIA suspends another player over Belgian tennis match-fixing case

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has suspended Tunisian player Anis Ghorbel for three years over corruption linked to the wider match-fixing case in Belgium.

Ghorbel was found guilty of four breaches of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Programme (TACP). The ITIA said this warranted the suspension and a $20,000 (£15,743/€18,365) fine.

The suspension runs from the date of the decision (4 January) to 3 January 2027.

The offences relate to the fixing of matches in 2016 and 2017. Ghorbel, who has a career-high world singles ranking of 479 in 2016, denies all charges.

Specific breaches of the TACP include two related to section D.2.a.i – failure to report a corrupt approach. The ITIA also noted a single breach of section D.1.b, facilitating betting on the outcome of a match, and section D.1.d of contriving the outcome or aspect of a match.

The suspension means Ghorbel cannot play in, coach at or attend tennis events authorised by ITIA members or national associations.

Charges..