Industry News of the Day for April 11, 2019

Federal News:

• Online Poker Report, 4.11.19 – Arguments In Wire Act Lawsuit Begin In New Hampshire Federal Court
  • On Thursday morning, a federal judge in New Hampshire will hear arguments in the legal challenge to the new Wire Act opinion issued in January by the US Department of Justice.
• Play NJ, 4.10.19 – A Closer Look At The Wire Act Lawsuit Puzzle And The Future Of Nj Online Gambling
  • The Department of Justice’s latest Wire Act opinion is back in the spotlight this week. More specifically, the spotlight is in New Hampshire. The New Hampshire Lottery filed suit against the DOJ over the 2018 Wire Act opinion released in January. And in March, New Jersey filed an amicus brief in support of New Hampshire’s challenge.
• PA Online Casino, 4.10.19 – Last Minute Memo Throws A Wrench In Wire Act Lawsuit
  • The legal compass of the Wire Act has changed once more with a new 11th-hour filing. The DOJ filed new evidence, including a memo on how the new Wire Act opinion applies to state lotteries. Or rather, that it does not apply to state lotteries.
• NJ Online Gambling, 4.9.19 – Move Over, New Hampshire: New Jersey May Become Leader Of The Pack Again In Legal Gambling Fight
  • A Department of Justice legal opinion made public in January titled “Reconsidering Whether the Wire Act Applies to Non-Sports Gambling” roiled the entire U.S. legal gambling industry. The opinion opened the door to the possibility that The Wire Act of 1961 could be applied to virtually all gambling — not just sports bets placed across state lines, as had been concluded by the same department just eight years earlier.

Ohio:

• Cincinnati Business Journal, 4.11.19 – Ohio Considers Sports Betting Bill
  • A Greater Cincinnati representative is one of two legislators who have proposed a bill that would legalize and regulate sports betting in Ohio.
• City Beat, 4.10.19 – New Bill in Ohio House Would Legalize Sports Betting
  • Under the proposed legislation, the Ohio State Lottery Commission would oversee betting on professional and collegiate sporting events at the state’s 11 casinos as well as at veterans halls and fraternal clubs, collecting a 10-percent tax on betting that would go to school districts and gambling addiction treatment and prevention.

Pennsylvania:

• PA Online Casino, 4.10.19 – PA Online Lottery Could Face Competition From Neighboring Ohio
  • In the time since former Gov. Tom Wolf passed Pennsylvania’s gambling expansion bill in Oct. 2017, the PA Lottery launched several different types of games, including PA iLottery instant-win games. All of this has come without in-state competition in the online space.

New Hampshire:

• NHPR, 4.10.19 – Sports Betting: On Track In New Hampshire?
  • A U.S. Supreme Court ruling last year allowed states to legalize gambling on sporting events. Now the Granite State appears poised to do so, with a House bill advancing through the legislature.

West Virginia:

• Play WV, 4.10.19 – Handle Nears $1 Billion; WV Sports Betting Still Without Mobile Betting
  • West Virginia sports betting suffered a down week after posting very impressive figures in the previous report. March Madness was in its second weekend and brought in plenty of betting action, but not nearly the showing from the opening few days.
• Play WV, 4.8.19 – What Locals Are Saying About The Lack Of Wv Mobile Sports Betting
  • West Virginia sports betting made plenty of news in recent weeks. That includes the closing of two live sportsbooks and the legalization of online gaming. The state’s sole mobile wagering option then went away completely.

Indiana:

• AP, 4.10.19 – Indiana Sports Betting, New Casinos Won’t Mean Windfall
  • A top Indiana budget writer doesn’t expect much of a state tax revenue boost if legislators approve proposals to legalize sports betting and allow new casinos in Gary and Terre Haute.

North Carolina:

• The News & Observer, 4.9.19 – Sports Gambling Is One Step Closer To Being Legal, At Least In One Part Of North Carolina
  • Gambling on sports could soon be legal in one small corner of North Carolina, and state lawmakers expect it to be a multimillion-dollar industry.
• Legal Sports Report, 4.10.19 – Could NC Sports Betting Reach The Finish Line First In 2019?
  • North Carolina is throwing their hat in the ring for the honor of being the first state to pass legislation authorizing sports betting in 2019. The state Senate passed an NC sports betting bill Tuesday that would permit wagering on sports and horse racing at tribal casinos.

Tennessee:

• AP, 4.10.19 – Sports betting bill gains traction in Tennessee
  • A Tennessee bill to legalize sports betting is gaining traction. A House committee advanced Democratic Rep. Rick Staples’ legislation Tuesday to allow statewide mobile and interactive sports gambling, without brick-and-mortar betting locations.
• Legal Sports Report, 4.10.19 – Tennessee Rep Says He’s Not A Sports Betting Expert, Then Volunteers Unprecedented College Ban
  • State legislative hearings produce some head-scratching moments and Tuesday’s gathering on Tennessee sports betting proved no exception.

Oregon:

• Legal Sports Report, 4.10.19 – Oregon Sports Betting Takes Another Step Forward As One Vendor Tries To Toss In A Monkey Wrench
  • Oregon sports betting is moving forward with bringing in SBTech as its provider. It could be finalized within the next couple of weeks.

Louisiana:

• The Times-Picayune, 4.10.19 – Should Universities Get A Cut Of College Sports Betting? LSU’s President Says Maybe
  • LSU President F. King Alexander said he would like legislators to consider giving some of the money earned from betting on college games back to the universities, if Louisiana moves forward with legalizing sports betting this year.

Montana:

• Great Falls Tribune, 4.10.19 – Bills Would Legalize Sports Betting And Regulate It
  • In the Montana Legislature Wednesday, the Senate Business, Labor and Economic Affairs Committee heard testimony on two bills that would legalize sports betting and regulate it through the Board of Horse Racing and the Montana Lottery, both of which have no oversight from the Gambling Control Division.
• MTN News, 4.10.19 – Bills To Legalize Sports Betting Advancing Through MT Legislature
  • Two bills to legalize sports betting in Montana are working their way through the Legislature — and the sponsors say it’s OK with them if both approaches are approved, allowing them to compete for bettors’ business.
• Sports Handle, 4.10.19 – Montana House Bills Start March Through Senate
  • Montana senators heard yet another round of testimony about sports betting as the Senate Committee on Business, Labor and Economic Affairs on Wednesday kicked off its consideration of two House sports betting bills.

Overall Industry News:

• Sports Handle, 4.10.19 – Barstool Sports’ Wrath Sparks A Firestorm; Exposing Problems With Offshore Sportsbooks
  • On Tuesday, the head oddsmaker for the Costa Rica-based sportsbook MyBookie.ag poked a bear — and then he and MyBookie got mauled.