Industry News of the Day for April 1, 2024

By iDEA | April 1, 2024

Industry News

  • Gaming Today: National Council On Problem Gambling’s New Approach Toward Addiction
    • The end of Problem Gambling Awareness Month spotlights the National Council on Problem Gambling’s new approach toward addiction. The organization’s education efforts have morphed from tough love into a subtle finesse-the-stress strategy. A softer tone — comprised of helplines, website checklists, and the encouragement to speak publicly — meets new-age reality. “We have learned over the years that problem gamblers don’t need to feel shamed or stigmatized,” Keith Whyte, the executive director of the NCPG, told Gaming Today. There will always be another mountain to climb. Whyte is happy about the involvement of sports leagues, operators, and regulatory agencies in this area.

Georgia

  • PlayUSA: Georgia Sports Betting Fails To Pass On Final Day Of Legislative Session
    • Georgia sports betting efforts died late last week when Republicans wouldn’t agree to Democrats’ demands to put revenue toward needs-based education funding. Georgia’s failure to pass sports betting legislation means the state will continue forward with a lack of problem gambling funding. Cowsert said dedicated funding to address problem gambling was more important than ever after the legislature approved a bill to reform the state’s coin-operated amusement machines (COAM) industry.

Kansas

  • Gambling Insider: Kansas Becomes 17th State For Fanatics Sportsbook
    • Fanatics Betting and Gaming has launched the Fanatics Sportsbook in yet another state in the US, this time going live in Kansas. The Fanatics Sportsbook app is now available in 17 states across the US. From August 2023, Fanatics Betting and Gaming began utilising the US operations of PointsBet (which it had acquired) and planning the migration of PointsBet customers to the Fanatics Sportsbook app. PointsBet customers in Kansas will have their username, password, account balance, rewards points and responsible gaming settings automatically migrated to the Fanatics Sportsbook.

Kentucky

  • SBC Americas: More Changes Afoot For Kentucky Gambling Regulators
    • The establishment of a sports wagering division was just the start of the changes for Kentucky regulators this legislative session. This week, the state legislature approved a sweeping overhaul of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission which will recategorize the group as the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation. The bill not only creates the new organization but also removes some of the control the governor has over appointments to the commission. If Gov. Andy Beshear signs the bill, the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission will transition over to the corporation on July 1 of this year.

Massachusetts

  • Legal Sports Report: Massachusetts Operators To Face Questions On Sports Betting Limits
    • The Massachusetts Gaming Commission will ask questions of operators regarding sports betting wager limits. The MGC discussion came a day after the Wall Street Journal published a story about federal scrutiny over sports betting operators targeting of high-value players and VIPs. More discussions are coming on the topic, commissioner Bradford Hill said.  “Today’s the start of a conversation that’s going to continue, and I think the public needs to understand that we are going to take this very seriously.”

Michigan

  • PlayMichigan: Hard Rock Positioned To Join Michigan iGaming Market After Acquiring 888
    • Hard Rock‘s chances of entering Michigan’s competitive online gambling space recently shifted from possible to probable following its purchase of 888 Holdings‘ US assets. The latter announced the sale of its American B2C operations to Hard Rock in a statement released Thursday morning. The departure of SI’s online casino product meant one of Michigan’s 15 coveted online operator licenses was now available. As a result, Hard Rock appears poised to become The Great Lakes State’s newest online operator.

Minnesota

  • SportsHandle: Optimism Growing For Minnesota Sports Betting Legalization Effort
    • Efforts to legalize sports betting in Minnesota are gaining traction, according to multiple reports. CBS News Minnesota reported that HF 2000 and SF 1949, bills to legalize online sports betting in the state, could realistically garner support from key stakeholders. The state’s tribes and Allied Charities Minnesota are among those showing support. HF 2000 is scheduled for a hearing in the House State and Local Government Finance and Policy Committee on Wednesday. The bill is still in the early stages of progressing through the legislature, as it’ll need to make its way through both chambers.

Texas

  • WFAA-TV: Las Vegas Sands Backs Coalition Seeking Legalized Casino Gambling In Texas
    • A petition has been filed by a coalition financially backed by the Las Vegas Sands Corp. – the Adelson and Dumont family, who now own the Dallas Mavericks – to legalize casino gambling in Texas, an initiative that has failed to pass in numerous previous legislative sessions. Former Mavericks governor Mark Cuban, who still conducts basketball operations for the team, has said his sale of the Mavericks to the Adelson family is part of a bigger vision for building a new arena and casino resort in the area.
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