Industry News of the Day for February 2, 2024

Industry News

  • SBC Americas: Underdog Fantasy Voices Support For Problem Gambling Measure
    • A problem gambling measure has received approval from an emerging operator. Underdog Fantasy, which is planning to launch sports betting operations later this year, has voiced support for the proposed Gambling Addiction Recovery, Investment, and Treatment Act (GRIT). The measure, introduced by Sen. Richard Blumenthal and U.S. Rep Andrea Salinas, would make history as the first piece of legislation to provide federal funding to address problem gambling. “There is a need for dedicated federal resources to aid problem gambling prevention, research, and treatment,” said Underdog VP of Responsible Gaming Adam Warrington in a statement.

Colorado

  • SportsHandle: Colorado Posts Record $716 Million In December Sports Betting Handle
    • Colorado became the eighth state in the post-PASPA era to post a $700 million monthly sports betting handle Thursday after the Division of Gaming reported sportsbooks accepted $716.4 million worth of wagers in December. The Centennial State joined New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Arizona in this select circle, with Colorado achieving the feat one month after clearing $600 million for the first time. December handle was up 38.3% compared to the final month of 2022, and the $5.56 billion handle for 2023 was up 7.3% versus the previous year.

Florida

  • PlayFL: Bills Legalizing Daily Fantasy Sports In Florida Clear Senate Committee
    • Legislation to legalize daily fantasy sports in Florida is gaining traction. Senate Bills 1566 and 1568 both passed through the Senate committees this week. Republican Sen. Travis Hutson sponsored the legislation that defines daily fantasy sports and outlines how the state would regulate a DFS industry. The bills unanimously passed the Regulated Industries committee by a 7-0 margin. Now, the bills head to the fiscal policy committee for another hearing and vote. Currently, Florida daily fantasy sports are not specifically legal. While Floridians can play them at several sites, they are not regulated, so the state does not receive tax revenue from them.

Georgia

  • PlayUSA: Georgia Sports Betting Passes Senate With Constitutional Amendment Added
    • Georgia sports betting legislation gained approval in the Senate on Thursday, though not quite as planned by proponents. The bill brought to the Senate floor, backed by sports betting companies and Georgia sports entities, proposed operating Georgia sports wagering under the lottery so as not to require a constitutional amendment. Before passing Sen. Clint Dixon’s SB 386 by a vote of 35-15, the Senate voted 34-7 to adopt an amendment requiring that voters approve a constitutional amendment for Georgia to move forward with sports betting.

Mississippi

  • Legal Sports Report: Online Mississippi Sports Betting Bill Clears House With Significant Support
    • Online Mississippi sports betting legislation conclued a busy few days by clearing the state House. On Thursday, the House sent an online Mississippi sports betting bill, House Bill 774, to the Senate, 97-14. That came just days after Rep. Casey Eure introduced the bill Monday and promptly guided it through the House Gaming Committee Tuesday. Before the session, some industry stakeholders viewed Mississippi as one of the most likely states to pass online sports betting legislation. Sports betting in the Magnolia State launched in 2018, with in-person sportsbooks and apps within the geofenced casino properties.

New York

  • PlayNY: Detailing Some Of The Changes Made In Amended Bill To Legalize NY Online Casinos
    • Sen. Joe Addabbo amended and recommitted legislation to the New York Senate Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee, continuing his quest to legalize online casinos in the Empire State. As performed on the first day of February, Addabbo pushed forward with his effort to pass S8185, which would legalize online casinos in New York as well as NY online poker and internet lottery. Addabbo added Article 15 to the bill, spelling out “legislative intent and findings.” In it, the senator detailed how seven states have authorized online casino gaming, including in bordering states New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut.

Rhode Island

  • PlayUSA: Rhode Island Readies For March 1 Launch Of Online Casino Market
    • Rhode Island is getting ready to introduce online casino gaming in precisely one month from now. The Rhode Island online casino law set the launch date as March 1, 2024, which state officials have confirmed. The Rhode Island Division of Lottery will oversee online casino regulation, as it currently supervises the Bally’s two physical casinos in the state: Bally’s Twin River Lincoln and Bally’s Tiverton. Paul Grimaldi, spokesperson for the Rhode Island Department of Revenue (RIDOR), confirmed the scheduled launch date of Rhode Island online casinos without revealing any specifics.

Vermont

  • Vermont Public: Sports Betting Could Bring Even Bigger Bucks This Year Than Vermont Officials Anticipated
    • The Scott administration is expecting the newly launched online sports betting program to generate more revenue this year than originally projected. Just before the program started on Jan. 11, the three gambling companies licensed to operate here revised their market estimates to reflect greater participation by Vermonters. Budget and Finance Commissioner Adam Greshin says the state was expecting just over $1 million in new revenue for the second half of the current fiscal year. But he says that estimate has jumped to just over $3 million.