Industry News of the Day for April 10, 2024
Industry News
- PlayUSA: Sports Betting Ad Restriction Proposals Show Online Gambling Industry Has Public Image Problem
- As regulated online gambling in much of the US is still in its infancy, legislators and regulators in the various jurisdictions are still feeling out a comfortable framework that tries to balance creating a healthy regulated space for gaming while simultaneously providing the best protections for people who deal with gambling-related behavioral pathologies. Online sports betting, in particular, has been a heavy part of that discussion lately.
- SBC Americas: Fluharty: Focus Cannibalization Talk On The Black Market
- West Virginia Delegate Shawn Fluharty: “Lawmakers should be focusing on cannibalizing the black market. All of those states are currently offering black market iGaming, they’re just not seeing any revenue from it. Regarding cannibalization, current iGaming states didn’t have the cannibalization talking point when considering legislation. Brick-and-mortar casinos continue to run strong in those states.”
Maine
- Bonus: Maine Online Casino Defeated In House, Has Slim Chance In Senate
- A Maine online casino bill failed by three votes on April 9, when 74 members of the Maine House of Representatives voted against LD1777. Exactly 71 representatives voted for the iGaming measure that would have legalized iGaming for Mainers, with revenue heading to the state’s tribes. It likely means the bill is dead. However, the bill sponsor — state Rep. Laura D. Supica, D-Bangor — succeeded at having the “ought not to pass” motion from the Joint Standing Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs sent from the House to the Senate for consideration. That represents a slim chance that the Senate could keep the measure alive.
Illinois
- SportsHandle: Illinois Sports Betting Handle Totals $1.07 Billion For February
- The Illinois Gaming Board reported $1.07 billion in traditional sports betting handle for February, the sixth consecutive month it cleared the $1 billion benchmark. Handle was up 22.3% compared to the previous February, an increase of $195.2 million, as Illinois was $10.5 million shy of overtaking New Jersey for second place among states that have reported figures. The $83.5 million in adjusted gross sports betting revenue increased by nearly the same percentage from 12 months prior — 22.1% — as the 7.8% hold was practically flat year-over-year.
West Virginia
- USBets: West Virginia Sets Internet Casino Records In March
- The West Virginia Lottery reported an all-time monthly high for internet casino revenue in March, topping $20 million for the first time. Operators reported close to $24 million in revenue for March, an 87.1% increase year-over-year. It shattered the previous record of $18.2 million established last December and marked only the third time since launch in July 2020 that it surpassed $15 million.
California
- Legal Sports Report: FanDuel CEO Jokes About California Sports Betting ‘Spectacular Fail’ On IGA Panel
- FanDuel CEO Amy Howe on Tuesday became the first CEO of a major commercial operator to appear at a tribal gaming and California sports betting conference following the overwhelming defeat of Propositions 26 and 27. Howe appeared on an Indian Gaming Association conference panel with Morongo Band of Mission Indians vice chairman James Siva and Pechanga Development Corporation director of public affairs Jacob Mejia. FanDuel has been at the forefront in trying to mend a fractured relationship between operators and tribes since the contentious 2022 legislative cycle.