Industry News of the Day for August 28, 2019

iDEA Growth in the News:

• PlayUSA, 8.27.19 – The DOJ Is Ignoring All Good Wire Act Advice And Going After The Wrong Target [Jeff Ifrah as iDEA Growth spokesperson]
  • The DOJ has decided to appeal the June Federal District Court decision from New Hampshire that tossed out its latest interpretation of the 58-year old Wire Act.

Industry News:

• Online Poker Report, 8.28.19 – Apple Blocks Access To Social Casinos, Unless You’re 17
  • Apple announced recently that it will be applying a 17+ age restriction to all apps including “Frequent/Intense Simulated Gambling,” across all App Store markets.

New Jersey:

• Legal Sports Report, 8.28.19 – New Jersey Is The Leader Of US Sports Betting, Beats Nevada Handle In July
  • New Jersey is the undisputed king of US sports betting. At least for now. Nevada sports betting numbers revealed that New Jersey had the most money wagered in July, and by quite a wide margin.

Pennsylvania:

• PlayPennsylvania, 8.28.19 – No PA Online Poker Launch This Week, But Soon
  • Earlier this week, a rumor circulated social media that PokerStars could go live with online poker in Pennsylvania this week. Sadly, PlayPennsylvania has officially received word that there is no testing for this week.
• PlayPennsylvania, 8.27.19 – Fox Bet Online Sportsbook Coming To PA Sept. 3
  • Who needs a retail sportsbook when you can just bet online? That appears to be the approach for Fox Bet Sportsbook, which is launching its online sports betting app in advance of a retail sportsbook.

Georgia:

• WABE, 8.27.19 – State Lawmakers Renew Consideration Of Casinos, Horse Racing, Sports Betting
  • Georgia state lawmakers are looking at new kinds of gambling in the state, including casinos, horse-racing and sports betting.

West Virginia:

• PlayWV, 8.28.19 – FanDuel Sportsbook Brings Back West Virginia Online Sports Betting
  • After nearly six months, West Virginia online sports betting has been revived, and residents can thank FanDuel Sportsbook for that.
• US Bets, 8.27.19 – West Virginia Mobile Live – And With FanDuel App, Patrons Can Co-Mingle DFS, Sports Betting Funds
  • FanDuel has filled the mobile sports betting void in West Virginia. On Monday, the company unveiled proprietary wallet and account technology when it went live with on its West Virginia mobile site, the first to do so since Delaware North shut down its two mobile sites in March.

Illinois:

• Chicago Sun Times, 8.27.19 – State Gambling Regulators Seek Public Comment On Sports Betting Rules
  • Before Illinoisans can start putting dollars down on sports contests, state regulators want their two cents on how to roll out the newly legitimized world of sports betting.

Indiana:

• AP News, 8.28.19 – Indiana Just Days Away From Legalized Sports Betting
  • Sports betting is just days away from becoming legal in Indiana and the state’s casinos are lining up to start collecting wagers.

Tennessee:

• AP News, 8.27.19 – Grizzlies Official Tapped For Tennessee Sports Betting Panel
  • A Memphis Grizzlies official is joining a council that will regulate Tennessee’s new online-only sports betting law.

Oregon:

• KTVL, 8.27.19 – Oregon To Become 12^th State To Offer Legal Sports Betting
  • Oregon is to become the 12th state to offer legal sports betting. The Mill Casino in North Bend says they’ll soon add sports betting for their customers, including the NCAA.
• The Oregonian, 8.27.19 – Legal Sports Betting Begins In Oregon As Chinook Winds Casino Opens Wagering Lounge
  • Chinook Winds Casino opened its sports wagering lounge in Lincoln City on Tuesday, with former Dallas Cowboys star Ed “Too Tall” Jones placing the first bet.

Iowa:

• Argus Leader, 8.28.19 – Grand Falls Launches Online Sports Betting, With In-House Sportsbook Opening Friday
  • Sports fans in Sioux Falls can now place bets on their favorite team as long as they make a short drive.

Kentucky:

• The State Journal, 8.27.19 – Carroll Tries Again With Bill To Legalize Sports Betting
  • State Sen. Julian Carroll, D-Frankfort, has prefiled legislation establishing the framework to allow sports wagering at any horse racing track or off-track wagering facility.

Maine:

• Legal Sports Report, 8.27.19 – Maine Sports Betting Still Stuck After Special Session Provides No Answers
  • When Maine Gov. Janet Mills declined to act on a passed sports betting bill in July, speculation grew about whether she would call a special session to address her issues with it.
• Portland Press Herald, 8.28.19 – Letter To The Editor: Gov. Mills’ Rejection Of Sports Betting Bill Costs Maine Tax Revenue
  • With Gov. Mills declining to sign a sports gambling bill, betting on sports likely won’t be legalized in Maine until 2020. Unfortunately, the model proposed in that bill (L.D. 553) would have resulted in significant tax revenue for the state.

Rhode Island:

• AP News, 8.28.19 – Town Wants Quick Ruling On Rhode Island Sports Betting Suit
  • A Rhode Island town has asked a judge to quickly decide whether the state should have sought voter approval before legalizing and launching sports betting.
• Providence Journal, 8.27.19 – Tiverton To Court: Rule Quickly On Sports Betting
  • The Town of Tiverton has delivered a potential boost to the group trying to force a statewide vote on legal sports betting in Rhode Island.

Washington:

• Gambling Compliance, 8.28.19 – Maverick Gaming Lobbies For Sports Betting As It Acquires Washington Card Rooms [subscription paywall]
  • A Las Vegas-based regional gaming company is buying six more house-banked card rooms in Washington state, as company executives continue to lobby lawmakers about the potential benefits of legal wagering on sports.

Sports League News:

• Reuters, 8.27.19 – S. Football Fans Will Have To Wait For Official Sports Betting Partners
  • As football fans get ready for the start of the National Football League season on Sept. 5, they may think the league will finally endorse a legal U.S. sports betting operator.
• NJ Online Gambling, 8.27.19 – Meadowlands Racetrack Boss Says NFL ‘Lucky They Didn’t Win’ Sports Betting Suit
  • Meadowlands Racetrack operator Jeff Gural landed a plum spot on the Fox Business Channel’s Mornings with Maria on Tuesday.