Industry News of the Day for April 22, 2020

iDEA Growth Member News:

• WSN, 4.22.20 – DraftKings Looking To Bring eSports To Iowa
  • DraftKings has made an appeal to the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission in order to legalize eSports betting in the state of Iowa.

Industry News:

• Gambling Compliance, 4.22.20 – The Evolution Of Joe Biden On Internet Gambling (subscription paywall)
  • Former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, who is all but certain to be the Democrat challenging Donald Trump in the November 3 presidential election, is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma when it comes to internet gambling.
• Online Poker Report, 4.21.20 – US Online Gambling Is A Bright Spot As Casino Industry Stalls; Will It Expand
  • It’s no secret that online casinos have benefited from social distancing measures. People have few entertainment options and have been spending more time online in general.

Sports League News:

• PlayIllinois, 4.21.20 – NFL Will Swipe XFL Innovations Yet Again, This Time In The Sports Betting Realm
  • The brief XFL 2.0 season served as an experiment that the NFL could learn from; the main lesson was how to highlight the growing legal sports betting culture.

Pennsylvania:

• Legal Sports Report, 4.21.20 – Could PA Sports Betting Revenue Help Homeowners In Keystone State?
  • A state lawmaker wants to use revenue from PA sports betting to help homeowners cope with financial difficulties related to the coronavirus.

Virginia:

• Legal Sports Report, 4.21.20 – Virginia Sports Betting Bill Sponsor Expects Passage Of Northam’s Asks
  • Virginia sports betting should get another stamp of approval from state legislators Wednesday, according to a bill sponsor.
• The Virginia-Pilot, 4.21.20 – Long Live The Queen: Nearly Banned, “Queen Of Virginia” Games May Stick Around To Boost State’s Revenue Amid COVID-19
  • Virginia’s General Assembly voted to ban skill games in late March by including them in the state’s definition of illegal gambling, but this month, Northam proposed an amendment that would let them live for one more year.

Michigan:

• PlayMichigan, 4.21.20 – Horse Racing Industry Surging Outside Of Michigan Over The Past Month
  • Though Michigan gamblers can’t currently take part in betting, the COVID-19 pandemic has provided an opportunity for one sport to gain traction, and horse racing is taking advantage.

Kansas:

• KSHB, 4.21.20 – Kansas Lawmakers Must Get Creative With Projected Budget Shortfall
  • Kansas is facing a $653 million budget shortfall by June 2021 due to lower tax revenues, according to projections.

Tennessee:

• Gambling Compliance, 4.22.20 – Final Tennessee Rules Address Industry Concerns On Bet Types, Advertising (subscription paywall)
  • Although a payout cap unpopular among online sportsbooks remains in Tennessee’s sports-betting regulations, officials did make a host of other changes to the rules to address concerns expressed by prospective operators.

Colorado:

• KOAA, 4.21.20 – Sports Betting Preparations Underway In Cripple Creek
  • Despite no major sports playing due to COVID-19, preparations are still underway for sports betting to come online May 1st in Colorado.

Oklahoma:

• Legal Sports Report, 4.21.20 – OK Then: Oklahoma Sports Betting Approved In Tribal Compacts
  • Sports betting in Oklahoma is now legal through at least two tribal casino operators authorized by Gov. Kevin Stitt as part of compact negotiations.
• Gambling Compliance, 4.22.20 – Oklahoma Governor Inks New Compacts With Two Tribes (subscription paywall)
  • Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt reached a deal on Tuesday with two Indian tribes authorizing them to offer sports betting and build new casinos, in a deal that was quickly criticized by the state’s top tribal gaming lobbyist.
• Tulsa World, 4.21.20 – Stitt Announces New Tribal Gaming Compacts As Lawsuit With Other Tribes Stretches On
  • Kevin Stitt on Tuesday afternoon announced an update to negotiations over tribal gaming in Oklahoma, as two tribes have agreed to new compacts with the state.

Nevada:

• KOLO, 4.21.20 – Sports Betting Revenue Down, But Still Coming In Amid Pandemic
  • When games started getting canceled in mid-march, it was clear that COVID-19 was going to have a big impact on the sports betting industry.