Industry News of the Day for February 28, 2023

By iDEA | February 28, 2023

Industry News

  • PlayUSA: Study Suggests Lifting Casino Smoking Ban Exemptions
    • In many jurisdictions like New Jersey and Pennsylvania, casino smoking is one of the last bastions of indoor combustible tobacco usage. A new study suggests that casinos’ attempts to separate smoking areas are insufficient to protect guests and workers from harmful effects, however. The study measured solid matter in the air at casinos and found that the levels present were sufficient to potentially cause health problems.

Kentucky

  • Legal Sports Report: New Kentucky Sports Betting Bill Short On Time, Still Draws Optimism
    • Time is tight, but Kentucky sports betting proponents are hopeful this is their year.  Rep. Michael Meredith filed a bill to legalize KY sports betting last week. Unlike legislation filed earlier this session, Meredith’s HB 551 only legalizes sports betting, not online poker and daily fantasy sports. Without poker and DFS, the bill is more palatable to the Kentucky Senate, according to Sen. Damon Thayer, the Senate majority leader. Less than three weeks remain in the 2023 session, which Thayer said is “plenty of time to pass a bill.”

Massachusetts

  • PlayMA: Deadline For MA Sports Betting Diversity, Kiosk Studies Extended
    • Much like two states that have launched online sports betting in the past four months, Massachusetts sought to increase participation from businesses owned by minorities, women and veterans. The state’s sports betting bill, signed into law in August, required a diversity study be completed. The diversity study was to be conducted by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission and submitted by Dec. 31, 2022.
  • Gaming Today: Massachusetts Eyes Change to Sports Betting Affiliate Ban
    • Massachusetts gaming regulators are expected as early as Wednesday to revise a sports betting advertising regulation that prohibits compensation agreements between licensed sportsbooks and third-party affiliate marketing sites. The regulatory change was requested at a Monday roundtable discussion of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission by top-brand sportsbooks like FanDuel and BetMGM and licensed marketing affiliates.

Minnesota

  • Sports Handle: Minnesota House Committee Advances Sports Betting Bill
    • The Minnesota House Commerce, Finance, and Policy Committee moved HF 2000, a statewide mobile sports betting bill that puts tribes in charge, forward on Monday. The legislation has broad support from the state’s 11 tribes, as well as its professional sports teams. The bill, which is sponsored by Rep. Zack Stephenson, now moves on to the House Judiciary and Civil Law Committee.

New York

  • SBC Americas: NYSGC Adopts New Regs Banning “Risk-Free” Terms and Rev Share Deals
    • The New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) is the latest group to take a more stringent approach to US sportsbook advertising. The group approved an addendum to existing marketing rules to crack down on misleading terms like “risk-free”, revenue share affiliate agreements, and advertising which could appeal to people under the age of 21.

Texas

  • Legal Sports Report: Analysis: Why Texas Sports Betting Will (And Will Not) Happen In 2023
    • Some in the sports betting industry are encouraged by the Republican-backed, standalone online Texas sports betting bill released two weeks ago. Still, whether the Lone Star State will enact legal online TX sports betting this year remains to be seen. “I appreciate the pressures and the hurdles we have to work through,” industry lobbyist Bill Pascrell III recently told LSR. “I’d give it a 60-40 chance of getting done this year.”
  • PlayTexas: Doug Polk Launches Lobbying Group To Protect Texas Poker Rooms
    • Poker star Doug Polk has teamed up with several poker players and poker clubs throughout Texas to launch Texans for Texas Hold ’em. The group aims to stop potential threats to the state’s card room industry. The group is lobbying for the passage of House Bill 2345. It would make membership-based clubs legal in Texas.

 

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