Industry News of the Day for December 6, 2018

Industry news of the day:

Washington, DC:

• Legal Sports Report, 12.5.18 – Single-Operator Plan Wins First Round with Council in DC Sports Betting Discussion
  • Washington, D.C., sports betting bill cleared another significant hurdle on Tuesday as councilmembers progressed it with a few changes.

New York:

• Legal Sports Report, 12.5.18 – New York Sports Betting Will be too Big to Ignore in 2019, Assemblyman Says
  • When there’s an 800-pound gorilla in the room, people tend to take notice. Assemblyman Gary Pretlow called New York sports betting that “800-pound gorilla” that the state legislature isn’t going to be able to ignore in 2019.

Kansas:

• Kmuw, 12.5.18 – Lawmakers Say Legal Sports Gaming in Kansas is Likely
  • Kansans could be placing legal bets on their favorite sports teams next year. A legislative committee met Tuesday to discuss options for sports gaming. Many states are eyeing the tax money they could gather now that a federal ban on sports betting has been knocked down.
• The Wichita Eagle, 12.5.18 – As Kansas considers sports betting, lawmaker pushes industry-sponsored conference
  • A Kansas state senator leading a committee looking into sports betting said lawmakers should attend a conference sponsored by the gaming industry and suggested the committee hold off on approving its report to the Legislature until after the event.
• The Hutchinson News, 12.5.18 – Kansas senator bets on gambling insiders to craft bill for legal sports wagering
  • The senator chairing the Kansas Legislature’s committee exploring legalization of sports gambling in the state wagered that industry insiders working behind closed doors could work out an agreement on a bill before the start of the 2019 session in January.

Pennsylvania:

• 69 News, 12.5.18 – Sports betting already paying off for Berks-county casino company
  • Horse race wagering enthusiast Joseph D’Amato says he’s pleasantly surprised by the arrival of sports betting at Wyomissing-based Penn National Gaming’s Hollywood Casino in East Hanover Township, Dauphin County.

 

Federal updates:

• Forbes, 12.6.18 – Federal Framework for Sports Betting Gains Momentum as Orrin Hatch nears Retirement
  •  Weeks before Orrin Hatch completes his seventh and final term in the U.S. Senate, the Utah Republican plans to deliver on a promise he made following a historic decision by the Supreme Court in May.

 

Sports league updates:

• Sports Handle, 12.5.18 – Understanding the NBA’s Sports Betting Data Deals with Sportradar, Genius Sport
  • A federal sports betting bill that surfaced on Tuesday helps shed light on a deal the National Basketball Association announced one week earlier — that it’s joining forces with both Genius Sports and Sportradar to form non-exclusive sports wagering data partnerships designed to supply data to sportsbooks in legal, regulated U.S. markets.
• Reuters, 12.5.18 – This week in sports: MGM rolls the dice on baseball
  • Major League Baseball announced a partnership with MGM Resorts, as more leagues look to capitalize on legal sports betting.

 

Member updates:

• NJ Online Gambling, 12.5.18 – Industry-Wise NetEnt Promo Leads the Holiday Rush at NJ Online Casinos this December
  • There’s no denying that December is often the best month of the year for taking advantage of great promotions at NJ online casinos. This particular holiday season the bar has been set not by any one single operator, but by a software company that is offering its own prize drawings across numerous sites.
• Gaming Intelligence, 12.4.18 – Kambi to power Kindred’s Unibet sportsbook launch in New Jersey
  • Kindred has agreed a deal with Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City to launch sports betting and online casino operations under its Unibet brand in New Jersey, utilizing SG Digital’s Open Platform System and Open Gaming System.

 

Overall industry updates:

• Legal Sports Report, 12.6.18 – Irish Company Claims Intellectual Property Rights Over Sports Betting Cash Out Option
  • Dublin-based Marketmaker Software Ltd. claims that its cash out patents cover the popular sports betting option that allows bettors to exit a bet before the result is known.
• BBC, 12.6.18 – Gambling firms agree ‘whistle-to-whistle’ television sport advertising ban
  • The Remote Gambling Association (RGA), which includes Bet365, Ladbrokes and Paddy Power, has struck a deal to stop adverts during live sports broadcasts.
• Reuters, 12.6.18 – Gambling firms in UK agree to stop advertising during live sports broadcasts – BBC
  • Some of the biggest gambling companies operating in Britain have agrees to stop advertising during live sports broadcasts such as football matches, the BBC reported on Thursday.
• The Advocate, 12.5.18 – Former N.J. Gov. Chris Christie to take part in gaming event in New Orleans spotlighting sports betting
  • Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is set to speak at a gaming industry-sponsored event in New Orleans next month that is expected to draw state lawmakers from around the country.