Industry News of the Day for April 2, 2020

Industry News:

• Washington Examiner, 4.1.20 – Online Bets Help To Ease Revenue Loss From New Jersey’s Casino Shutdown
  • The casinos in Atlantic City may be shut down for the time being thanks to the coronavirus pandemic gripping the country, but New Jersey is still finding a way to generate revenue off gaming.
• Online Poker Report, 4.1.20 – Level Up: Why Online Gambling Companies Should Learn From Video Games
  • The gambling industry in recent years has often been accused of a lack of innovation — from mobile sportsbooks that look the same as the 1980s betting coupons to slot mechanics that have barely changed since their inception.
• Online Poker Report, 4.1.20 – SBC Making The Best Of A Bad Situation With Digital Summit
  • The Sports Betting Community (SBC) has announced that it will be hosting the world’s largest digital betting and gaming event.
• Las Vegas Sun, 4.2.20 – William Hill Has Turned To Everything From Sumo To Table Tennis To Keep Sports Betting Going
  • Shortly after all the major professional and collegiate American sports leagues announced cancellations or postponements due to the coronavirus, Nick Bogdanovich called a staff meeting with a simple message to impart.

Sports League News:

• NJ Online Gambling, 4.1.20 – NJ Horsemen: No Need To Wait For Supreme Court On Our $150M Lawsuit Against Sports Leagues
  • New Jersey’s thoroughbred horsemen have fired back at the NFL and its four fellow plaintiffs in a $150 million lawsuit, asserting that the sports organizations are “blaming the victim” as they seek to have their case heard by the U.S. Supreme Court.
• PlayIA, 4.1.20 – NBA Hopeful Of Salvaging Season, Looking At Late Spring Or Summer Return
  • The NBA officially suspended its season on March 11 when Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19. Since then every major professional sports league in the US has followed suit, and we don’t know when or if the NBA will crown a champion in 2020.

New York:

• Sports Handle, 4.1.20 – No Details On Spectrum New York State Gaming Study, And Mobile Still At Standstill
  • The future of mobile sports wagering in one of nation’s largest markets remained uncertain early on Wednesday, as New York lawmakers failed to complete a state budget before a midnight deadline.

Kentucky:

• Gambling.Com, 4.1.20 – Kentucky Approves Budget, But Sports Betting Has To Wait
  • Sports betting won’t be coming to Kentucky this year.

Colorado:

• Legal Sports Report, 4.2.20 – What Colorado Sports Betting Could Reveal About The Future Of The US Market
  • Colorado sports betting looms ever closer, with the state still pushing toward a May 1 launch date despite the lack of sports during the coronavirus pandemic.

Nevada:

• PlayUSA, 4.1.20 – PlayUSA Rewind: eSports Betting Gets Green Light In Nevada
  • The entertainment world has had a void for several weeks due to the coronavirus. Gaming regulators in two states, however, have signed off on esports betting.

California:

• Gambling Compliance, 4.2.20 – California Cardrooms Seek Regulatory Relief, Tribes Facing Economic Shock From Closures
  • As cardrooms remain closed in California, state gaming regulators have approved measures designed to give licensees some relief regarding licensing and financing requirements.

Pennsylvania:

• PlayPennsylvania, 4.1.20 – PA Gaming Review: New Normal In Sports Betting, Divine Fortune Strikes Again
  • Welcome to the new normal in Pennsylvania gaming during the time of COVID-19 disruptions, with brick-and-mortar casinos everywhere closed.
• PlayPennsylvania, 4.1.20 – Most Popular Games At Pennsylvania Online Casinos, Scientific Games Makes PA Debut
  • Pennsylvania is home to eight online casinos which offer many of the same slots and table games players recognize at brick-and-mortar casinos. The first online casinos launched in mid-July and libraries are still evolving.
• Penn Bets, 4.1.20 – Sportsbook Prospects Dimmed At Westmoreland Mall Mini-Casino
  • A sportsbook will evidently not be part of the gambling picture if and when a mini-casino opens at Westmoreland Mall in suburban Pittsburgh.