Industry News of the Day for December 27, 2023
Industry News
- Sports Handle: A Look Back, A Look Ahead For FanDuel And DraftKings As The Sportsbook Wars Heat Up
- Nigel Eccles, one of FanDuel’s co-founders, is not surprised to see his old company — he left in 2017 — sitting atop the sports betting app leaderboard along with their old daily fantasy sports (DFS) rival, DraftKings. “I remember laughing at the time, when people would say Wynn and Caesars are going to dominate, and I was like … no,” he said. “What people don’t understand is online sports betting is a very, very different product than offline casino. Running an offline casino is massively complex, a huge undertaking. I know people who run casinos. It’s incredible. But it’s totally different.”
- The London Economic: 888 Holdings Rejects Big Money Takeover Bid From Playtech
- However, as can often happen at the sharp end of the gambling world, the ambitious acquisition bid from Playtech to take over one of their market competitors, 888 Holdings, was rejected by the sports gambling giant. The online casino UK industry continues to be fluid, with big-name companies searching for new ways to revolutionize the industry and attract punters within the ever-developing world of sports betting. Where both parties will go from here but with astronomical sums of money being banded around and negotiations not believed to be completely finished, the impact of 888 rejecting the Playtech acquisition may well be fully realised in the future.
Colorado
- PlayUSA: Colorado Lottery Audit Questions Jackpocket, Lotto.com Courier Services
- A performance audit from the Colorado Lottery has brought scrutiny to courier services, which are third-party companies like Lotto.com and Jackpocket. Among the main concerns found in the audit is the legality of couriers. Colorado law prohibits buying lottery tickets from an unauthorized or unlicensed retailer, and since couriers aren’t licensed retailers, they’re on shaky legal ground. The Colorado Lottery performance audit stated: “According to the Lottery, couriers are not selling lottery tickets; rather, they are taking an order for a lottery ticket from a player and then purchasing the ticket from their associated licensed retailer on the player’s behalf.”
Arizona
- The Arizona Republic: World Series Boosted Sports Wagering In Arizona To Highest Level In 19 Months
- The Arizona Diamondbacks’ surprise run to the World Series may have boosted sports gambling in Arizona in October, making it one of the busiest months on record since sports betting began in September 2021. According to data released Wednesday by the Arizona Department of Gaming, bettors in Arizona placed $646.41 million worth of bets in retail sportsbooks and on betting apps in October, $37.15 million more than what was placed in September. October was the month with the most sports wagering in Arizona so far in 2023, and the busiest month since March 2022.
Florida
- Miami Herald: New Florida Gambling Bill Puts Miami-Dade Casino Opponents On High Alert
- A bill filed Thursday in the Florida Senate would allow for the relocation of gambling permits, prompting questions about whether the legislation is aimed at bringing new casinos to Miami-Dade County. Senate Bill 1054, filed by state Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, R-Spring Hill, says gaming permit holders should be allowed to transfer their permits to a new location. Under the legislation, those with greyhound dog racing permits and authorization to conduct casino activities could move their operation of “all pari-mutuel wagering and gaming activities” to a location within a 30-mile radius.
- SBC Americas: Florida Supreme Court Case Could Hinge On A Single Turn Of Phrase
- The verdict in the Florida Supreme Court sports betting case could all boil down to the phrase “typically found in casinos.” West Flagler filed its response brief in the state court case on Tuesday and most of its argument centered on Amendment 3 and its phrasing “typically found in casinos”. Amendment 3, passed in 2018, requires that any expansion of gaming outside of tribal lands requires a voter referendum. As West Flagler’s argument noted, at the time the amendment was voted on, sports betting was already a hot topic of discussion.
Michigan
- PlayMichigan: “Don’t Regret The Bet” Campaign To Receive $3 Million In Funding In 2024
- Michigan’s award-winning responsible gambling program “Don’t Regret The Bet” has been allocated $3 million in funding. The money is allocated in the Fiscal Year 2024 state budget. This comes following support from the office of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and legislators. The “Don’t Regret The Bet” website was launched last March with a website and advertising campaign across the state to promote responsible use of legal sports betting and casino play under the auspices of the Michigan Gaming Control Board. Specifically, Michigan is one of only six states that currently has active legal online casino and sports betting apps.