Industry News of the Day for April 26, 2021

iDEA Growth Member News: 

• SBC, 4.23.21: FanDuel Teams With Captain Morgan In Pro Soccer Pick ’em Promotion 
  • Drinks brand Captain Morgan and sportsbook FanDuel have announced the launch of the Captain Morgan Soccer Pick ‘Em contest series as one of the most highly anticipated seasons in the history of the United States and Canada’s top-flight professional soccer league gets underway. 

Sports League News: 

• Play NY, 4.23.21: DraftKings Continues Its Push To Dominate MMA Betting By Striking A Deal With Professional Fighters League 
  • DraftKings and the PFL announced their collaboration Tuesday, making the former the “Official Sportsbook and Daily Fantasy Partner” of the MMA promotion circuit. DraftKings gets signage around the venue and mentions during broadcasts of events. 

New York: 

• Buffalo News, 4.24.21: Letter: Mobile Sports Betting Could Worsen Problems 
  • This April, New York passed the legalization of mobile sports betting. Although leaders believe this will have a positive economic impact for New York State, potentially closing the budget deficit over time, increasing the availability and accessibility of gambling options may cause problems for those at risk. 
• Legal Sports Report, 4.26.21: NY Sports Betting Regulator Reveals What A Platform Provider And Operator Actually Are 
  • The NYSGC answered select questions from the industry now that sports betting in New York is finally going mobile. The answers are definitely helpful but do not go into all the necessary details yet. That means some of the confusion around the legislative language will continue for now. 

Tennessee: 

• TN Bets, 4.23.21: Tennessee Sports Betting Handle Bounces Back To $205.9M In March 
  • Buoyed by the availability of wagering on the NCAA tournament for the first time since legal sports betting went live in Tennessee, sportsbook operators in the state reported handle of $205.9 million for March, according to a release from the Tennessee Education Lottery Corporation on Friday. 

North Carolina: 

• Carolina Journal, 4.26.21: Lawmakers Introduce Retail And Online Sports Betting Bill 
  • A recently introduced Senate bill would authorize and regulate sports betting in North Carolina beyond the tribal casinos with the revenue primarily going to schools and economic development. 

Florida:  

• IGB, 4.26.21: Florida Approves Exclusive Sports Betting Agreement With Seminole Tribe 
  • A gaming compact allowing sports betting in Florida exclusively through the Seminole Tribe – which may partner with the state’s pari-mutuel operators under the agreement – has been approved by Florida governor Ron DeSantis. 
• SBC, 4.26.21: Florida State And Seminole Tribe Agree 30-year Compact To Include Sports Betting 
  • The State of Florida and the Seminole Tribe of Florida have entered into an historic new 30-year compact. The agreement, confirmed by Governor Ron DeSantis, is expected to generate a minimum of $2.5bn in new revenue over the next five years and an estimated $6bn by 2030. 
• US Bets, 4.23.21: Online Sports Betting Coming To Florida Pending Legislative Approval 
  • After months of contentious negotiations, Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Seminole Tribe of Florida agreed to a new 30-year gaming compact that, pending the state legislature’s approval, will bring online sports betting to the Sunshine State. 
• Legal Sports Report, 4.26.21: Opinion: Why Florida Sports Betting Deal Still Might Not Happen 
  • A landmark deal reached between Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Seminole Tribe of Florida sees the Sunshine State extend the Tribe’s gaming exclusivity deal in exchange for a 30-year agreement to make payments of at least $500 million annually to the state. 

Michigan: 

• MI Bets, 4.23.21: Regulator: Michigan Doing Its Job To Address Illegal Machines, But They Won’t Be Wiped Out 
  • The presence of illegal gambling machines at common storefront and bar locations has been a plague in Michigan as elsewhere, but the state’s top regulator believes it has confronted it more effectively than most. 
• MI Bets, 4.23.21: Executive Director Of The Michigan Gaming Control Board Stepping Down, Deputy Director Stepping Up 
  • Richard Kalm, the executive director of the Michigan Gaming Control Board, will be leaving his post after 14 years atop the state’s sports betting and casino gambling pyramid. 
• Play Michigan, 4.23.21: Michigan Gaming Control Board: Executive Director Kalm Stepping Down, Deputy Williams Next Leader 
  • Richard Kalm announced Friday morning that he’s stepping down as executive director of the Michigan Gaming Control Board after more than 13 years in the post. Soon after, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced her appointment to fill the position, as deputy director Henry Williams will be tabbed.