Industry News of the Day for February 14, 2020

iDEA Growth Member News:

• PlayIndiana, 2.13.20 – DraftKings And The Pacers Make Their New Sports Betting Partnership Official
  • Although Indiana NBA fans might have already noticed some elements of a new marketing push by DraftKings, they no longer should wonder why. The Pacers sports betting partnership that PlayIndiana reported on last month is now official.
• PlayIA, 2.13.20 – DraftKings Sportsbook Is Now Accepting Wagers Online In Iowa
  • Iowa residents and visitors, your access to one of the nation’s premier sportsbook brands is no longer restricted to retail. DraftKings Sportsbook is now accepting online wagers in the Hawkeye State.
• PlayPennsylvania, 2.13.20 – Cupid Strikes Early For 76ers And DraftKings: Paired Up For Multi-Year Partnership
  • DraftKings has expanded partnerships with the Philadelphia 76ers, Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers. A Feb. 13 official announcement makes DraftKings the exclusive daily fantasy, sportsbook and online casino partner of the 76ers.
• PlayPennsylvania, 2.13.20 – Philadelphia Eagles Popular With Bettors According To Recent NFL Report
  • Kambi’s NFL 2019/2020 Season Report is full of data which highlights new facts in the post-PAPSA world of sports betting. According to the report, the most popular sport to bet on in the United States in 2019 was football.

Overall Industry News:

• PlayPennsylvania, 2.13.20 – KonekTV Serves Up A Side Order Of Sports Betting With Your Hooters’ Wings
  • In a case of casual eating meets casual sports betting, a startup streaming information service is now playing on TVs at the Hooters of America restaurant chain in three states, including Pennsylvania.

Sports League News:

• SBC Americas, 2.14.20 – The Action Network Teams Up With XFL On Sports Betting Analysis And Content
  • The resurgent XFL American Football league has confirmed details of a new sports betting content agreement with The Action Network which now becomes a preferred source of XFL betting analysis and information.

New Jersey:

• Gambling Compliance, 2.14.20 – Bipartisan Bromance In New Jersey Yields Huge Dividends For Gaming (subscription paywall)
  • It is safe to say David Rebuck, New Jersey’s top gambling regulator, can keep his job as long as he likes even though he is a Republican who could be replaced at any moment by Democratic Governor Phil Murphy.
• NJ Online Gambling, 2.13.20 – Online Casino Revenues In New Jersey Keep On Truckin’
  • The Atlantic City casino industry’s revenues from online casino gaming have yet to “mature” – and in this case, that is a very good thing.
• Sports Business Daily, 2.13.20 – NJ Sports Betting Sees $540M Handle In January, Up 185% From Last Year (subscription paywall)
  • New Jersey sportsbooks “produced a total handle” of $540M in January, which represents a 185% increase from the same time last year.

Connecticut:

• Legal Sports Report, 2.13.20 – Lawsuits Seem Certain After Familiar CT Sports Betting Debate At Hearing
  • For many years, Connecticut sports betting or other gambling expansion has come up in the legislature. The same arguments are heard regarding tribal exclusivity, and the same threats are made about lawsuits.

New Hampshire:

• Legal Sports Report, 2.13.20 – Why NH Sports Betting Is Pacing Single-Operator States At The Start
  • There are currently three states with only one mobile sportsbook: Oregon, Rhode Island and the most recently launched, New Hampshire.

Virginia:

• Inside NOVA, 2.13.20 – Which Teams You Can Bet On Among Differences In Virginia Sports Gambling Bills
  • The Virginia House of Delegates and the Senate have passed bills that would make sports gambling legal in the state, but the chambers will have to reconcile differences in the bills.

Indiana:

• Cincinnati Business Courier, 2.13.20 – There Was A Surprising Change In Indiana Sports Betting, And More Growth Is On The Way (subscription paywall)
  • When gamblers placed their sports bets in Indiana last month, they set a surprising trend that’s fitting for the Hoosier State.

Illinois:

• PlayUSA, 2.13.20 – Will Illinois Sports Betting Begin In Time For March Madness? Odds Are 50/50
  • The excitement surrounding Illinois sports betting and when it will make its official debut is causing a frenzy amongst casual and expert bettors.

Iowa:

• PlayIA, 2.13.20 – Chiefs Help Iowa Sportsbooks Overcome Restrictive Regulations On Super Bowl Sunday
  • The first Sunday in February was super for Hawkeye State sportsbooks despite the state’s best efforts to hamper it. Iowa Super Bowl handle for the first time since the state legalized sports wagering wasn’t too shabby.

Florida:

• Orlando Sentinel, 2.13.20 – Florida Sports Betting Talks Don’t Include The Seminole Tribe
  • House and Senate leaders are continuing to huddle on a sweeping gambling deal that could open the door to sports betting in the state, but the Seminole Tribe of Florida — a key player in any agreement — isn’t yet part of the discussions, Senate President Bill Galvano said Thursday.

Georgia:

• The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 2.13.20 – Atlanta’s Pro Sports Team Push Online Betting
  • The heads of Atlanta’s big four professional sports teams continued their push for the legalization of online sports gambling in Georgia, promising Thursday that legislation will be introduced soon.
• Marietta Daily Journal, 2.13.20 – Atlanta Pro Sports Executives Talk Up Sports Betting
  • The top executives of the Atlanta Braves, Falcons and Hawks pitched legislation to legalize sports betting in Georgia Thursday at a luncheon sponsored by the Atlanta Press Club.

Oklahoma:

• Tulsa World, 2.14.20 – Tribes Ask Court To Dismiss Stitt’s Claims That Class III Gaming Is Now Operating Illegally
  • Gaming tribes involved in a legal dispute with Gov. Kevin Stitt on Wednesday asked a federal court to dismiss his counter claims.

Washington:

• Sports Handle, 2.14.20 – Washington House Says ‘Yes’ To Tribal-Only Sports Betting Without Statewide Mobile Wagering
  • Washington State is poised to become the first state in the West to legalize ports betting after the House overwhelmingly approved substitute HB 2368, 83-14, late Thursday night.
• Seattle Times, 2.13.20 – Sports Gambling Bill Passes In Nighttime Washington State Full House Vote
  • A quickly arranged full Washington state House floor vote on a bill to allow sports gambling in the state’s tribal casinos was overwhelmingly approved Thursday night and paved the way for possible passage into law by this spring.