Industry News of the Day for February 23, 2022

iDEA Growth Member News: 

• Saturday Down South, 2.22.22: Draftkings CEO Confident In Potential 2024 Florida Sports Betting Ballot Initiative 
  • Despite the window shutting on a 2022 citizens’ initiative to legalize Florida sports betting, DraftKings CEO Jason Robins is already confident in a potential 2024 ballot initiative that would see the launch of legalized Florida sports betting in 2025. 
• US Bets, 2.23.22: Ask A Bookmaker With Johnny Avello: Dealing With All-Star Games 
  • Welcome to our weekly “Ask a Bookmaker” feature, which answers many of the common (and uncommon!) questions gamblers and enthusiasts have about how sportsbooks operate in the modern age of sports betting. 

Overall Industry News: 

• Legal Sports Report, 2.22.22: The Week In Sports Betting News: Earnings Season Picks Up Pace 
  • Happy Tuesday, everyone. While there are still some Super Bowl reports lingering, the focus for sports betting news is turning toward legislation and earnings season. 

New York: 

• New York Times, 2.23.22: New York Now Leads Nation in Mobile Sports Betting 
  • Since New York State opened online betting in early January, it has become the biggest bookmaking market in the nation, surpassing Nevada, the nation’s gambling mecca, and New Jersey, which captured the No. 1 spot in mobile sports betting after legalizing the practice in 2018. 
• SBC, 2.23.22: New York Surpasses $2bn In Mobile Sports Wagering Handle 
  • The New York mobile sports wagering market has surpassed over $2bn in handle following its launch at the start of January. 

California:  

• Los Angeles Times, 2.23.22: California Voters Lean Toward Legalizing Sports Betting In New Poll 
  • California voters are open to the idea of creating a legal market for betting on college and professional sports but fewer than half of those surveyed in a new poll are sure of their support, an unsettled finding that serves as a prelude to a multimillion-dollar political battle in November. 

Delaware:  

• IGB, 2.22.22: Delaware Sports Betting Handle Down 28.2% Year-on-year In January 
  • Player spending on sports betting in Delaware fell 28.2% year-on-year to $8.4m in January, while the state also reported a 55.6% drop in revenue for the month. 

Virginia: 

• IGB, 2.22.22: Virginia College Sports Betting Bill Reaches State House 
  • A bill that would allow betting on college sports teams based in Virginia has been referred to the House Committee on General Laws after passing the state’s Senate last week. 

Tennessee: 

• Legal Sports Report, 2.23.22: Tennessee Sportsbooks Take Record Handle In January 
  • All it took was one Tennessee Titans playoff game for state sportsbooks to hit a new handle record. 

Louisiana:  

• Legal Sports Report, 2.22.22: Louisiana Sports Betting Handle Receives Mobile Boost 
  • Louisiana is the latest market to show the potential of mobile sports betting, but revenue will take some time to catch up. 

Illinois: 

• Play IL, 2.22.22: Projection: Illinois Will Set All-Time State Handle Record In March 2022, But Fall Shy Of $1 Billion In Sports Bets 
  • In March 2021, Illinois mobile sportsbooks set a then-handle record with $633.6 million in bets. At the time, it seemed gaudy. 

Missouri:  

• KSDK, 2.22.22: Sports Betting Being Debated In Missouri 
  • The bill would make Missouri one of the more than 30 states to allow sports gambling. The tax rate of 10% would be lower than Illinois but higher than other states. 
• Columbia Missouri, 2.22.22: Sports Betting Proposal Revived In Missouri Legislature 
  • Fans of Missouri professional sports may get the opportunity to win — or lose — big bucks. The House Committee on Public Policy examined on Tuesday the benefits and drawbacks of legalizing sports betting in Missouri. 
• Legal Sports Report, 2.23.22: Missouri Pro Teams, Casinos Back Sports Betting Effort 
  • A coalition of professional sports teams, casino operators and sportsbook companies are behind the latest push to legalize Missouri sports betting. 

Arkansas:  

• Action Network, 2.22.22: Arkansas Online Sports Betting Poised for March Launch 
  • Arkansas casinos can launch their mobile sports betting apps just in time for the biggest sports betting event of the year. 
• SBC, 2.23.22: Arkansas Mobile Sports Betting Set To Launch In Early March 
  • The Arkansas Joint Budget Committee has approved the state’s mobile sports betting rules during a meeting on Tuesday, according to SportsHandle, meaning mobile sports wagering will begin in the Natural State in just a matter of days.