Industry News of the Day For April 23, 2021

iDEA Growth Member News: 

• SBC, 4.22.21: SLING TV Launches Exclusive Sports Betting Channel With DraftKings 
  • Leading live TV streaming service SLING TV has confirmed the launch today of a new and exclusive sports betting information channel in collaboration with DFS and sportsbook operator DraftKings. 
• IGB, 4.23.21: DraftKings Partners With Streaming Service Sling TV To Launch Sports Betting Channel 
  • The DraftKings Basketball channel will allow Sling TV subscribers and Sling Free users to view real-time game scores and betting odds. 

New Hampshire: 

• IGB, 4.23.21: New Hampshire Sports Betting Revenue Rockets 979.3% YoY in March 
  • Gross gaming revenue from sports betting reached $4.3m in March, compared to $394,229 in the same month in 2020, though last year’s figures were significantly impacted by the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. 

Pennsylvania: 

• IGB, 4.23.21: Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board Issues $17,500 In Fines 
  • Two of the fines related to the theft of video gaming terminals (VGTs) at a truck stop, and the third related to Greenwood, for allowing the deployment of unapproved online games. 

New York: 

• Online Poker Report, 4.22.21: Cuomo Signs Off On Mobile Sports Betting In New York; Could It Pave The Way For Other Online Gambling Verticals? 
  • New York sports fans will soon have access to mobile betting. On Monday, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the state budget bill, which included the provisions to make that happen. Logically, if not politically, iGaming should not be far behind. 
• Queens Daily Eagle, 4.22.21: Opinion: Mobile Sports Betting Can Generate Millions For Education And Create Thousands Of Jobs (Written by NY State Senator Joseph Addabbo) 
  • Legalizing mobile sports betting has been a discussion in the New York State legislature for more than two years, since the U.S. Supreme Court allowed states to join Nevada and decide if they want to participate in the mobile wagering. 

Louisiana: 

• IGB, 4.23.21: Louisiana Lawmakers Deliberate Amended Betting Tax Proposals 
  • Stefanski’s House Bill 688, which appears to replace his previous proposal HB 628, sets a $250,000 application fee for a sports betting license. 

California: 

• Sports Handle, 4.22.21: Legal Sports Betting Could Get To California Sooner Than You Think 
  • Last year, a coalition of California tribes began the process of getting a referendum that would legalize in-person sports betting at California’s 69 tribal casinos and four horse racetracks onto the November 2020  ballot. 
• Play CA, 4.22.21: Dispute On Recall Eligibility Revealed As Court Delays CA Sports Betting Initiative 
  • Court filings related to an extension for two major California counties to verify initiative signatures reveal a battle brewing between Native American tribes and the Secretary of State over the sports betting measure’s eligibility for a gubernatorial recall ballot. 

Ohio: 

• Cleveland Scene, 4.23.21: Ohio’s Professional Sports Teams Support Legalized Betting, But They Want In On the Pie 
  • Ohio’s professional sports teams are in favor of legalized sports gambling and want in on the action. A coalition of eight pro teams (plus the Memorial Golf Tournament in Dublin) announced support for a legislative effort to legalize sports gambling in the state. 

Florida:  

• Sports Handle, 4.22.21: State Of Florida, Seminoles Expected To Release Details Of Gaming Pact Friday 
  • With seven days remaining in the regular legislative session, news of a potential single-operator, mobile sports betting deal has been swirling around all parts of the state, and late Thursday multiple sources confirmed that the state and Seminole Tribe on Friday will release details of a new gaming pact that includes statewide mobile sports betting. 
• Legal Sports Report, 4.22.21: Wait, Florida Sports Betting Really Might Happen This Time? 
  • As the 2021 legislative session draws to a close, Politico reported this morning the state is “poised to approve” a substantial gambling deal with the Seminole Tribe that would include sports betting. The Miami Herald also reported a deal had been agreed in principle. 
• Sun Sentinel, 4.22.21: Is Sports Betting Coming To Florida? Odds Are Better Than Ever 
  • As Florida’s legislative session winds down, a perennial issue has moved to the forefront — a sweeping gambling deal that would bring legalized sports betting to Florida. 

Virginia: 

• SBC, 4.23.21: Kindred Group’s Unibet Interactive Awarded Mobile Sports Betting Permit By The Virginia Lottery 
  • Kindred Group has entered the next phase of development and growth in the US this week, with its stateside arm Unibet Interactive receiving a mobile sports betting permit in Virginia from the Virginia Lottery. 
• IGB, 4.23.21: Kindred Group Awarded Virginia Mobile Sports Betting License 
  • Kindred said that after successful launches in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Indiana, and with signed agreements in a further 8 states, entry into Virginia will be a key part of Unibet’s expansion across the east coast of the US. 

Michigan: 

• Play Michigan, 4.22.21: The House Finally Wins: Michigan Online Sportsbooks Turn First Profit In March 
  • After reporting nearly $16 million in revenue loss over the first 38 days, sportsbooks finally came out ahead in March. 

Texas: 

• KXXV, 4.22.21: Gaming Interests Try New Approach In Effort To Bring Sports Betting To Texas 
  • What’s the big deal with gaming in Texas? Well, with the exception of the Texas Lottery, gambling is mostly outlawed in the Lone Star State. But the gaming business has long had its eye on Texas and the millions in revenue Texans could bring to the corporate bottom line. 

Colorado: 

• Play Colorado, 4.21.21: PointsBet Tees Up: TPC Colorado Championship Deal Latest All-In Push By The Sportsbook 
  • PointsBet announced on Wednesday that it is the exclusive, official sports betting partner of Korn Ferry Tour’s TPC Colorado Championship at Heron Lakes. 
• SBC, 4.22.21: PointsBet Designated Official Sports Betting Partner of Korn Ferry Tour’s TPC Colorado Championship 
  • Global sportsbook operator PointsBet has been designated as the Official Sports Betting Partner of the Korn Ferry Tour‘s TPC Colorado Championship at Heron Lakes.