Industry News of the Day for February 28, 2019
iDEA Growth in the News:
- iGaming Business, 2.28.19 – State of the Union: iDEA takes on Wire Act opinion and more (Founder J. Ifrah quoted in article)
- This week’s State of the Union, in partnership with Segev LLP, looks at the latest legal challenge launched against the DoJ’s revised Wire Act opinion, plus developments in Virginia, Arkansas, Indiana and more.
- US Gambling Sites, 2.27.19 –New Legal Challenge Emerges Against the DOJ Wire Opinion (Founder J. Ifrah mentioned in article)
- As of this week, a third lawsuit has been filed against the DOJ involving the Wire Act opinion. iDEA Growth is a trade group that works to advocate for online gambling regulation. They have now decided to work with the Ifrah Law firm in order to file suit.
Industry News:
- Cincinnati Enquirer, 2.27.19 – Indiana and Kentucky advance sports betting but Ohio is in no hurry
- Ohio already lost the race to legalize sports betting before neighbors Pennsylvania and West Virginia, but the state might soon be passed by Indiana and Kentucky, too.
Connecticut:
- Online Poker Report, 2.28.19 – Online Poker Faces Little Opposition During Marathon Connecticut Hearing
- A marathon 11-hour committee hearing in Connecticut on Tuesday mostly glossed over online poker and casinos, the least contentious forms of gambling expansion under consideration.
- Legal Sports Report, 2.28.19 – Anything Still Seems Possible In Connecticut Sports Betting Legislative Scrum
- While the tussle over tribal exclusivity dominates the Connecticut sports betting discussion, a number of other outstanding issues remain as well. A law governing CT sports betting already exists, but most stakeholders feel new legislation is needed to clear up a number of items.
- Legal Sports Report, 2.27.19 – Tribal Exclusivity Again At The Fore In Connecticut Sports Betting Hearing
- A public hearing including Connecticut sports betting carried on for 11 straight hours Tuesday, with one clear theme emerging through it. In the latest round of an ongoing battle between Indian tribes and state officials, exclusivity took center stage.
- Play USA, 2.27.19 – Connecticut Hearing Highlights Difficulties Of Sports Betting Legalization
- Analysts and pundits are predicting a wave of states will legalize sports betting in 2019. If Tuesday’s marathon hearing in Connecticut is any indication, the wave might be more of ripple.
- WNPR, 2.27.19 – East Windsor Casino, Sports Betting Debated As Connecticut Considers Gaming Expansion
- State lawmakers are taking up several gambling related bills, including ones that would expand sports betting and another on a proposed East Windsor casino.
Kentucky:
- Sports Handle, 2.27.19 – Religious Groups Line Up Against Kentucky Sports Betting Bill
- As proponents of a sports betting and online poker proposal in Kentucky work toward reaching the 60 votes in the House that are needed to send the legislation to the Senate, some of the state’s most prominent religious groups are campaigning against it.
- Chief Investment Officer, 2.28.19 – Odds Improving that Kentucky Will Pass Sports Betting to Help Bolster Pensions
- However, bill would need 60 of 100 House votes to pass. Kentucky moved closer to legalizing sports betting after the state’s House Licensing, Occupations and Administrative Regulations Committee approved a bill that was introduced earlier this month.
Illinois:
- Sports Handle, 2.27.19 – IL Lawmaker: It Will Be A ‘Failure’ If Sports Betting Doesn’t Become Law
- Mike Zalewski is a baseball fan. Chicago White Sox, if we’re getting specific. So, it’s only natural that he likens the path to legalized sports betting Illinois to the flow of America’s pastime.
Indiana:
- Indianapolis Recorder, 2.28.19 – Sports gambling inches closer to reality
- Despite it being technically illegal in Indiana, sports gambling remains a popular pastime for fans. However, on Feb. 26 the Indiana Senate passed Senate Bill 552, which legalizes sports gambling, putting it one step closer to becoming another form of state-approved gaming.
- iGaming Business, 2.27.19 – Indiana edges closer to sports betting as Senate passes bill
- The Indiana Senate has passed a bill that could lead to the legalization of sports betting in the state, with the House now set to debate the legislation.
West Virginia:
- WV Online Sports Betting, 2.27.19 – MLB Doesn’t Want You Betting On Spring Training Games
- West Virginia sportsbooks will offer spring training betting. Currently, WV sports betting has one mobile sports betting app, BetLucky and it is offering some action.
Virginia:
- WFMY, 2.27.19 – Virginia Legislators Approve Casino Bill
- Virginia lawmakers have made up their minds about new casino legislation. The bill legalizes casino gaming in the state specifically 3 cities including Danville, VA.
South Dakota:
- Rapid City Journal, 2.27.19 – January casino revenue up in Deadwood compared to last year
- Deadwood casinos reported an increase in revenue in January when compared to the first month of 2018, according to data from the South Dakota Commission on Gaming.
Iowa:
- KCRG, 2.28.19 – Poll: Most Iowans against legal sports betting
- A new poll says most people in Iowa are against legal sports betting within the state, according to a Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll.
iDEA Growth Member News:
- Legal Sports Report, 2.27.19 – Sportradar Signs Official Sports Betting Data Deal With Major League Baseball
- With regulated legal sports betting continuing to expand nationwide, the need for accurate and credible data remains high. To that end, Major League Baseball (MLB) landed a data partner Wednesday.
Overall Industry News:
- Legal Sports Report, 2.27.19 – Japan Push Continues For MGM With Title Sponsorship Of MLB Opening Series
- MGM Resorts announced this week its title sponsorship of Major League Baseball’s Opening Series in Japan. The deal adds another log to the fire of the gaming giant’s ambitions to earn a casino license in Japan. The country legalized limited casino gaming in 2018, authorizing three licenses that major casino companies covet.