Industry News of the Day for February 26, 2024

Industry News

• Gaming Today: Apple Sports App First Impressions: ‘Simplicity’ Doesn’t Excuse Lack Of Features
  • On Wednesday, Apple announced the launch of their new Apple Sports app. The product was designed with “speed and simplicity” in mind. It offers live scores, DraftKings sports betting odds, statistics, and standings. That’s about it. The announcement made it the top sports app in the Apple Store. While the features sound pretty good to the average sports fan, there’s a reason why the app leaves much to be desired. It just doesn’t compare with what’s already available on the market. Let’s dive into our Apple Sports app first impressions, including how it integrates betting odds from DraftKings and what can improve the product.

California

• PlayUSA: Tribe Launches First California Online Sports Betting App, With A Twist
  • Voters rejected giving California tribes the right to do sports betting, but one California tribe has figured out a way to offer a sports betting product. Earlier this month, the Chicken Ranch Tribe of Me-Wuk Indians launched Playbawk, a Class II bingo-based, sports-themed betting app that allows people to wager on the performances of professional athletes. Chicken Ranch partnered with Vetnos to offer the product called PlaySqor, which can be branded to the tribe. Chicken Ranch uses Playbawk as a chicken-themed play on its name.

Georgia

• Legal Sports Report: Why Georgia Sports Betting Bill Appears Headed For Familiar Fate
  • The rocky future of Georgia sports betting legislation could also affect the road ahead for a new daily fantasy sports bill in the Peach State. Rep. Ron Stephens introduced House Bill 1329 Wednesday, aiming to regulate the DFS industry with language friendly to pick’em operators including home-state entry PrizePicks. The legislation comes as a Georgia sports betting bill passed in the Senate awaits House action, but industry sources worry the legislation’s odds of passage are dwindling.

Maryland

• SportsHandle: Maryland Sports Betting Legislation Inspired By ‘60 Minutes’ Segment
  • Maryland Delegate Pamela Queen shared Thursday at a House committee meeting that her new sports betting bill was inspired by a recent 60 Minutes segment on sports betting. Queen’s proposed Maryland sports betting legislation, House Bill 1087, would ban wagering on in-state college campuses. Queen spoke briefly about the bill at a Thursday meeting of the House Ways and Means Committee, and while there wasn’t a vote on the bill, Queen shared that a 60 Minutes segment from late January sparked the bill’s generation.

Michigan

• PlayMichigan: Caesars To Bring Entirely New Online Casino To Michigan With Wynn Purchase
  • Getting a leg-up on competition in the online casino industry is something every operator would like to do. Caesars made a big play to do just that this week when it purchased WynnBet’s Michigan license. With the purchase, Caesars intends to launch a new online casino in Michigan which is unique and separate from Caesars Palace Michigan. That will give it three different iGaming (online casino) options in Michigan. All other operators have just one. What will this new online casino look like and what could it mean for Caesars’ business in Michigan?

Mississippi

• Biloxi Sun Herald: After Controversial Approval, Mississippi Senate To Crack Down On New Coast Casino Sites
  • Apparently the Secretary of State isn’t the only one concerned with the way a casino was given site approval on the beach in Biloxi. Senate Bill 2780 — introduced before Monday’s legislative deadline — seeks to change the state constitution. It would require any company wanting to use Public Trust Tidelands as part of a casino project to obtain a tidelands lease from the Secretary of State and not through any city, county or other municipality.

New Jersey

• PlayNJ: Division Of Gaming Enforcement Ends Evolution Investigation, Finds No Wrongdoing
  • New Jersey gambling regulators wrapped up an investigation of online casino software provider Evolution and found no evidence of alleged misconduct, according to a company press release. The NJ Division of Gaming Enforcement concluded its inquiry into allegations that Evolution, a live dealer partner for several NJ online casinos, violated US sanctions by operating in unauthorized international jurisdictions. The accusations originated from a 2021 report submitted to regulators by an “unidentified firm.”

Ohio

• PlayOhio: Ohio Regulators Ban NCAA Player Prop Bets
  • The Ohio Casino Control Commission has officially banned player prop bets on NCAA games in the state. The decision comes from OCCC Executive Director Matthew Schuler in response to the NCAA’s request to remove such bets from Ohio sportsbooks. “I have carefully considered information submitted by the NCAA and Ohio’s licensed sports gaming operators to conclude that good cause supports granting the NCAA’s request. Therefore, the prohibition is adopted and included in the Ohio Casino Control Commission’s approved catalogue of sporting events and wager types. I am appreciative of the information that both the NCAA and Ohio’s licensed sports gaming operators provided during this process.”

West Virginia

• SBC Americas: White Hat Studios And Caesars Digital extend its partnership To West Virginia
  • White Hat Studios has agreed to extend its partnership with Caesars Palace to West Virginia. The online slot provider’s range of products, including titles like “The Goonies” and “Peaky Blinders”, will be available to customers in the Mountain State through Caesars Palace Live Casino, marking the third state that the two parties are linking up in. “White Hat Studios is a valuable partner for us that continues adding impressive gaming content to our platforms,” said Caesars Digital Vice President of Online Gaming, Ricardo Cornejo Rivas.

• PlayWV:Online Casinos Hit Record $16.4 Million In January Revenue
  • West Virginia online casinos set a new high mark for revenue in January. Operators recorded $16.4 million in earnings last month, topping December’s previous best of $15.9 million. WV online casinos have been booming as of late, all while undergoing a series of turnovers. Prominent operators have left the market as others have stepped in, not missing a beat. West Virginia online casinos started off 2024 with a bang and a record for the second straight month. Platforms delivered $16.4 million in January, a new all-time high. It’s the first time operators have exceeded $16 million in a single month.