Industry News of the Day for February 26, 2021

By iDEA | February 26, 2021

iDEA Growth in the News:

Baltimore Sun, 2.25.21 – Maryland Lawmakers Continue To Weigh Details Of Legal Sports Betting (subscription paywall)
- Halfway through the General Assembly session, Maryland lawmakers are still working out how, exactly, to set up a new sports gambling industry in the state.
PlayOhio, 2.25.21 – Paper, Plastic Or Parlay? Ohio Grocery Stores Ask For Sports Betting (iDEA Growth mentioned)
- At Wednesday’s meeting of the Senate Select Committee on Gaming, a representative from the Ohio Grocers Association asked lawmakers to authorize sports betting at more than 600 Ohio grocery stores that offer lottery tickets.

Sports League News:

Sports Handle, 2.25.21 – Vegas Golden Knights Announce Stunning Partnership With A Tout Service
- In some ways, it feels fitting that the city most associated with sports betting has a pro sports franchise making the first partnership with a picks service, also known as a “tout” for touting winning selections.

Pennsylvania:

Connecticut:

Sports Handle, 2.25.21 – Connecticut Tribal Leader Says Sports Betting Negotiations In ‘A Pretty Decent Spot’
- As Connecticut lawmakers prepare to consider Gov. Ned LaMont’s latest budget bill, gaming stakeholders say this could be the first concrete step toward legalizing sports betting and multiple forms of iGaming in the state.

Washington, D.C.:

Washington Business Journal, 2.26.21 – Director Of DC Lottery, Manager Of City’s Sports Betting Operation, Resigns
- The director has served just over two years in the position.

Maryland:

WBAL, 2.25.21 – Highly Anticipated Bill Would Allow For Sports Betting To Begin In Maryland
- While sports betting in Maryland is now legal, the General Assembly still needs to create a mechanism to make it happen.
Maryland Matters, 2.25.21 – Gaming Companies Make Pitch For More Mobile Sports Betting Licenses
- Gaming companies — and those hoping to climb aboard the sports gambling bandwagon — on Thursday urged a House panel to greatly expand the number of licenses for mobile-device-based betting.

Tennessee:

PlayTenn, 2.25.21 – TwinSpires Could Launch Betting App In Tennessee By March Madness
- Churchill Downs, Incorporated (CDI) plans to launch its TwinSpires sportsbook in Tennessee this March.

Illinois:

PlayIllinois, 2.25.21 – Illinois Casinos Still Trying To Get On Same Page On Internet Gambling
- Illinois casinos still haven’t reached a consensus on the language for internet gambling.
PlayIllinois, 2.25.21 – Hollywood Casino Aurora Sets Stage For First Barstool Sportsbook In Illinois
- It has long been suspected, but Barstool Sportsbook is officially coming to the Hollywood Casino Aurora.

Minnesota:

Bemidji Pioneer, 2.25.21 – Other Views: Chance To Legalize Sports Betting Being Squandered Again In St. Paul
- An opportunity to be seized — a sure bet, really, with Minnesota taxpayers the ones who would cash in — appears on its way to being missed once again in St. Paul.

Iowa:

PlayIA, 2.26.21 – Caesars-Carousel Deal Will Likely Bring Sportsbetting.Com To Iowa
- It’s too early to set a 2021 over/under on the number of online sportsbooks in Iowa, but the number keeps growing. Soon, SportsBetting.com sportsbook will likely join the list.
Gambling.com, 2.25.21 – Iowa Looking To Gain Approval To Add 3^rd Sports Betting Skill
- Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (IRGC) Administrator Brian Ohorilko said he hopes the state will let casinos add a third sportsbook skin.

Georgia:

Sports Handle, 2.26.21 – Georgia Now Heading Down Longer Road To Legal Sports Betting
- It’s looking a lot more like Georgians won’t be able to bet on sports until 2023, at the earliest.
Georgia Recorder, 2.25.21 – Senate Panel Creates New Path For Legalized Online Sports Gambling
- A Senate panel pushed through a revised proposal to legalize online sports betting in Georgia Thursday while pairing it with a proposed constitutional amendment that some have argued is an unnecessary companion.

Louisiana:

WSN, 2.26.21 – After Long Wait Louisiana Now Open For DFS License Applications
- After more than two years since voters in most Louisiana parishes approved daily fantasy sports (DFS) contests, businesses can now finally begin applying for licenses to begin operating the games within the state.

Texas:

PlayUSA, 2.25.21 – Texas Lawmakers File State’s Fourth Sports Betting Bill
- Despite comments from Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, lawmakers continue to push forward with efforts to change the state constitution to allow for sports betting in Texas.

Arizona:

Legal Sports Report, 2.25.21 – Another Wrinkle Emerges in Arizona Sports Betting Journey
- The path to Arizona sports betting took another strange twist this week. During a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing, SB 1797 was held over.

Colorado:

Legal Sports Report, 2.25.21 – Steady Climb Continues In Rockies For Colorado Sports Betting Market
- Billed from the start as one of the great experiments in early US sports betting, Colorado hit another new high in January.
PlayColorado, 2.25.21 – Colorado Sports Betting Hits Another Record Month Thanks To Table Tennis
- The question that defines Colorado sports betting got yet another resounding answer.
The Daily Sentinel, 2.25.21 – Colorado Sees Another Month Of Record Growth In Sports Betting With $326.9 Million Wagered In January
- Colorado set another sports betting record in January with $326.9 million wagered, the state’s revenue department said Thursday.

Nevada:

Legal Sports Report, 2.25.21 – Nevada Sports Betting Market Surges With College Football Playoff In Tally
- The US sports betting industry is shaping up for another record-breaking month with Nevada reporting strong results in January.
iGB North America, 2.25.21 – Nevada Sportsbooks Enjoy Strong Start To 2021
- Nevada gaming revenue improved month-over-month in January, though lagged behind prior year levels, while the state’s sportsbooks posted strong figures for the month.

Washington:

Sports Handle, 2.25.21 – Washington State Gambling Commission Rolls Out ‘Pre-licensing Investigation’ Rule
- The Washington State Gambling Commission on Wednesday took its first steps toward rolling out sports betting rules when it approved “pre-licensing qualification rules,” which lay out a list of what would-be sportsbook operators can begin to pull together ahead of the application process.

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