Industry News of the Day for August 24, 2020

iDEA Growth in the News:

• The Nevada Independent, 8.24.20 – As Online Gaming Expands In The U.S., Experts Worry Nevada Could Be Left Behind (iDEA Growth mentioned)
  • In April and May combined, when Nevada’s casinos were closed to slow the spread of COVID-19, statewide gaming revenues totaled $9.44 million, a more than 99 percent decline over the same two months in 2019.

iDEA Growth Member News:

• Legal Sports Report, 8.21.20 – Illinois Online Sportsbooks Don’t Need To Register Bettors In Person In Reversal By Gov. Pritzker (DraftKings)
  • Illinois sportsbooks can now resume taking remote registrations for online betting thanks to a new executive order from Gov. JB Pritzker, the latest twist in what has been a confusing launch for sports gambling in the land of Lincoln.
• Sports Handle, 8.21.20 – It’s Back: Pritzker OKs Remote Registration For Sports Betting In Illinois, Again (DraftKings)
  • The new normal is constant change in Illinois. On Friday afternoon, reports surfaced that Gov. J.B. Pritzker once again rolled back the in-person registration requirement for Illinois sports betting until Sept. 19.
• PlayWV, 8.21.20 – DraftKings Casino Provides New Promotions For West Virginia Online Casino Customers
  • West Virginia sportsbooks are almost back to normal, offering popular markets and generating a solid betting handle.

Industry News:

• Sports Handle, 8.23.20 – Get A Grip: The Week In Sports Betting: Illinois Surprises, Sneak Peaks; Tennessee Eyes Runway, More
  • Here’s the weekend (or fashionably late) Sports Handle item, “Get a Grip,” recapping the week’s top U.S. sports betting stories, highlighting some fresh news, and rounding up key stories.

Overall Industry News:

• Online Poker Report, 8.24.20 – Why Penn National Rebranded Its Social Casino To MyChoice
  • Penn National Gaming announced last week that it would release a new play money casino app, powered by Game Account Network (GAN).

New Jersey:

• Online Poker Report, 8.21.20 – Wynn Quietly Launches Sportsbook, Online Casino In New Jersey
  • Wynn Sports recently had one of the quietest online gambling launches in the history of New Jersey. The sportsbook app went live with an integrated online casino, Wynn’s first foray into that space.

Connecticut:

• The Day, 8.23.20 – OTB Operator Says Tribes Are ‘Roadblock’ In Connecticut Sports-Betting Debate
  • With another special legislative session on tap, Connecticut’s off-track betting operator has renewed its push for the legalization of sports betting, labeling the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes as the “roadblock” that’s kept state government from progressing toward a resolution of the matter.

Michigan:

• PlayMichigan, 8.21.20 – If You Want To Bet NBA Draft Or Esports In MI, You’ll Have To Do It On Tribal Land
  • As Michigan sports betting resumed this summer after the pandemic shutdown, sports bettors at tribal casinos have more options than players at Detroit’s Greektown Casino-Hotel, MGM Grand Detroit and MotorCity Casino.

Illinois:

• Gambling Compliance, 8.24.20 – Illinois Governor Reinstates Remote Sports-Betting Registration (subscription paywall)
  • The most volatile sports-betting market in the United States took yet another turn on Friday as Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker reinstated as executive order permitting remote registration for online wagering accounts.

Arkansas:

• Gambling.Com, 8.21.20 – Arkansas Sports Betting Still Limited But Casinos Up In July
  • With just one sportsbook open for part of July, Arkansas reported a sports betting revenue loss for the month.

Colorado:

• PlayUSA, 8.21.20 – Colorado Sports Betting Expands Again – And Will Again In A Few Weeks
  • Since going live May 1, Colorado sports betting saw 10 operators roll out online sportsbooks, not to mention four retail sportsbooks and a bank of kiosks at another casino.

Oklahoma:

• iGB North America, 8.21.20 – DOI Ratifies Oklahoma Tribal Compacts
  • The US Department of the Interior has approved the two most recent gaming compacts, signed by Oklahoma’s Kialegee Tribal Town (KTT) and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians (UKB).
• Law360, 8.21.20 – Okla. Gov. Says 2 Gambling Compacts ‘Deemed Approved’ (subscription paywall)
  • Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt said the federal government has “deemed approved” new gambling compacts with two eastern Oklahoma tribes, the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians and the Kialegee Tribal Town.