Industry News of the Day for February 13, 2023
Industry News
- SBC Americas: BF Games Ups North American Expansion Efforts With Entry Into Ontario
- BF Games is now authorized to offer its portfolio of slots to licensed operators in Ontario as the games development studio seeks to realize its ambitions in the North American market. Gaining a supplier license in the Canadian province via the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), the London-based studio is starting to make waves across the pond as part of plans to expand its commercial side.
- Sports Handle: GeoComply Logs Over 100 Million Super Bowl Geolocation Checks
- Sunday’s Eagles-Chiefs game was objectively one of the best Super Bowls ever, and it was also — very objectively — the sports betting event with the most geolocation checks ever, according to GeoComply. Over 100 million geolocation checks were logged in states where online wagering is legal. This marks a 25% year-over-year increase, according to a press release from the company.
- iGB North America: Bally’s Appoints Gamesys Veteran Robeson Reeves As CEO As Fenton Steps Down
- Bally’s has announced that current CEO Lee Fenton is to step down, and named the company’s president of interactive, Robeson Reeves, as his replacement. Incoming CEO Reeves joined Gamesys in 2005 and has held a number of leadership positions with the company since, including COO and director of gaming operations. Reeves’ appointment will become effective on March 31 2023.
Massachusetts
- PlayMA: Massachusetts Gaming Commission Debates Cooling Off Period for Problem Gamblers
- A shorter self-exclusion period may be available for Massachusetts bettors when online sports betting debuts later this year. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) reviewed the option of a short-term “cooling off period” for gamblers to take a break from sports wagering, for as little as 72 hours or a week.
Michigan
- PlayMichigan: Michigan Senate Bill Proposes Responsible Gambling Education Be Taught In Schools
- This week, bipartisan legislation was introduced to help inform Michigan teenagers about the risks associated with gambling. Introduced by Sen. Joseph N. Bellino Jr. (R-Monroe), Senate Bill 54 would see responsible gambling education taught in schools. SB54 has been referred to the Senate Education Committee for consideration.
Mississippi
- SuperTalk Mississippi Media: Legislation Opening The Door To Legalize Mobile Sports Betting Passes Mississippi House
- The Mississippi House of Representatives has passed legislation that would open the door to legalizing mobile sports betting in the Magnolia State. House Bill 606, introduced by Representative Casey Eure, R-Biloxi, was approved in overwhelming fashion, receiving 110 yea votes and just four nay votes.
New York
- Legal Sports Report: NY Sports Betting January Returns Makes FY24 Projection Look Possible
- Gov. Kathy Hochul’s fiscal year 2024 executive budget projections for online NY sports betting tax revenue are ambitious but perhaps not far-fetched given January’s returns. Hochul’s office projected the Empire State to bring in $896 million in tax revenue from online NY sports betting for FY2024. That equates to around $75 million per month.
Ohio
- PlayUSA: Ohio Executive Budget Includes Increase Of Ohio Sports Betting Tax Rate
- Only a month into Ohio sports betting, Gov. Mike DeWine wants to double the tax rate from 10% to 20%. DeWine included the tax increase in his biennial executive budget proposal for the 2024-25 fiscal years. A spokesman for DeWine told PlayUSA that the tax increase … is related to some sports betting proprietors and customers who have not followed the rules during the first month of Ohio sports betting.
Ontario
- PlayCanada: 46 Operators Have Stopped Taking Grey Market Bets From Ontarians
- Forty-six Ontario online casino and sportsbook operators have left the non-legal grey trade to join the province’s burgeoning legal and regulated market. That’s the word from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario in a statement made last week to PlayCanada. “We can confirm that a total of 28 of the 36 operators currently live in Ontario’s regulated iGaming market were previously active in the province’s unregulated market, said the statement from the AGCO communications team.