Industry News of the Day for December 31, 2018

Industry news of the day:

• PlayNJ, 12.28.18 – What Makes Atlantic City Casinos Different from Las Vegas Casinos? 
  •  As a Las Vegas resident who covers its gaming industry, I walk through nearly every Las Vegas casino four times a year. But I decided to make a trip to Atlantic City recently and compare the two gambling destinations.

Michigan: 

• Online Poker Report, 12.28.18 – Gov. Snyder Vetoes Michigan Online Gambling Bill 
  • Just one week after Michigan legislators pushed through an online gambling bill in a late-night legislative session, the bill is dead.
• Online Poker Report, 12.28.18 – Michigan Online Gambling Sponsor on Governor’s Veto: ‘Incredibly Disappointing’ 
  • Michigan Rep. Brandt Iden, sponsor of the internet gambling bills vetoed by Gov. Rick Snyder on Friday, called the vetoes a ploy to monopolize the money coming into the lottery for the state in a phone interview with Online Poker Report.

• Sports Handle, 12.28.18 – Michigan Governor Vetoes Package of iGaming Bills that had Opened Door to Legal Sports Betting 
  • With 48 hours remaining in his term, outgoing Republican Michigan Governor Rick Snyder on Friday vetoed the package of iGaming bills that passed the state legislature earlier this week, Representative Brandt Iden (R-District 61) told Sports Handle.
• Crain’s Detroit Business, 12.28. 18 – Snyder vetoes online gambling, fantasy sports betting bills 
  • Gov. Rick Snyder on Friday vetoed legislation that would have authorized online gambling in Michigan through Detroit’s three casinos and out-state tribal casinos because of his fear of reduced lottery tax revenue for schools and concerns about making it “much easier” to gamble.
• Poker News Report, 12.30.18 – Michigan Online Gambling Bill Vetoed by Governor Snyder 
  • Hopes of Michigan becoming the fifth state to pass online poker and gambling legislation were dashed with a veto by outgoing Governor Rick Snyder.
• Casino News Daily, 12.30.18 – Michigan’s Outgoing Governor Says ‘No’ to Online Gambling 
  • Michigan’s outgoing Governor vetoes online gambling bills due to concerns over the financial and social impact of the practice

California:

• Legal Sports Report, 12.30.18 – California Sports Betting Faces Tough But Not Impossible Road 
  • California is the fifth largest economy in the world — if you carved it out of the US — but is still in the 20th Century regarding gambling regulation.

New Jersey: 

• NJ Online Gambling, 12.28.18 – A Look Back (and Ahead) at the Year that was for NJ Sports Betting 
  • There is no question that the most important day of 2018 for sports betting legalization in New Jersey — and across the U.S. — was on May 14, when the U.S. Supreme Court threw out a 26-year-old federal law that made such activity illegal in most states.

West Virginia: 

• Gambling.com, 12.28.18 – West Virginia Online Sports Betting Site Launched 
  • It looks like 2019 will be a very good year for West Virginia sports bettors.
• WSAZ 3, 12.28.18 – UPDATE: Sports betting launches in two more West Virginia casinos 
  • Sports betting is officially offered at Mardi Gras Casino after lawmakers passed a bill in early 2018 permitting West Virginia’s five casinos open sports books.

Delaware: 

• Delaware Business Now, 12.28.18 – Dover Downs online player hits nearly $214,000 jackpot 
  • A Dover Downs online player got a Christmas present on Christmas day when hitting a nearly $214,000 jackpot through the state’s iGames feature.

Pennsylvania: 

• Penn Bets, 12.28.18 – Expanding Gambling Netted PA $322 Million in Fees Alone in 2018 
  • In the fall 2017, PA lawmakers were grappling with a $2.2 billion budget deficit and desperate for new revenue streams with the potential to shore up state coffers. 

Nevada: 

• Forbes, 12.31.18 – Las Vegas Casinos Get the November They Needed 
  • November, like October, was a good month for gaming operators in Nevada. 

South Dakota: 

• Keloland, AP article, 12.28.18 – Fiscal Analysis: Sports Betting Wouldn’t Bring Big Tax Boost 
  • A legislative financial analysis projects that a South Dakota ballot measure to allow legal sports betting in Deadwood wouldn’t be a huge moneymaker for casinos or bring in much tax revenue, but supporters say it would help keep the historic mining town competitive as a gambling destination.

Rhode Island: 

• Boston.com, 12.28.18 – Gamblers wager nearly $683,000 in first week of Rhode Island sports betting 
  • Gamblers placed nearly $683,000 in wagers on professional sports during the first week of legalized sports betting in Rhode Island.

Federal updates: 

• No new federal updates to report. 

Sports league updates: 

• No new sports legal updates to report. 

Member updates: 

• Casino Beats, 12.31.18 – Golden Nugget, Caesars, Stars and Delaware North: The Week in Numbers 
  • Each week, CasinoBeats breaks down the numbers behind some of the industry’s most interesting stories. As we close out the year, this week’s edition carries a distinct US flavour, featuring fines in Atlantic City, a court reversal in Kentucky and West Virginia sports betting.
• Gambling.com, 12.31.18 – Paddy Power Betfair Bid for WA TAB Not Backed by Pubs 
  • Paddy Power Betfair could bid for the Western Australian TAB when it goes up for privatisation next year, but they will not have the backing of many in the state.

Overall industry updates: 

• Legal Sports Report, 12.31.18 – Searching for Clues About Which States will Pass New Sports Betting Bills in 2019 
  • Congress will go back into session this week and state legislatures throughout the country will follow shortly thereafter.
• Sports Handle, 12.28.18 – 2019 Promises Wave of Sports Betting Legalization 
  • If the Sports Handle Power 15 Rankings of the states most likely to legalize sports betting are any indication, there’s good reason to think as many as 8-10 more states will take the plunge in 2019.
• Sports Handle, 12.28.18 – “Get a Grip’: The Week in Sports Betting & Sports: NY Sports Betting, WV Launches, More 
  • It’s information overload everywhere, and there’s not time enough to sleep and eat and stay fully apprised of what’s happening on this crazy blue dot of ours (two out of three ain’t bad).
• Daily Caller, 12.28.18 – Opinion: States are Right to Legalize Online Gaming
  • A chief priority for President Reagan was federalism, which involves limiting the federal government by emphasizing the powers of the states.
• Huff Post, 12.28.18 – Race is on to Make Sports Gambling Legal Across America 
  • Americans illegally wager $150 billion a year. Twenty states are poised to approve sports betting in 2019.