Industry News of the Day for February 3, 2020

iDEA Growth Member News:

• Associated Press, 2.1.20 – Some Tennessee Online Sports Betting Rules Face Criticism (DraftKings)
  • Professional sports leagues, players’ unions and major gambling companies are hoping to convince Tennessee officials to tweak proposed rules to their liking for the state’s yet-to-be-implemented sports betting program.
• WBUR, 1.31.20 – DraftKings Expected To Handle Tens Of Millions Of Dollars In Super Bowl Bets
  • Boston-based DraftKings expects to handle tens of millions of dollars in wagers on the big game — far more than last year, but still a small fraction of what the company envisions in a future of expanded, legal sports betting.

Industry News:

• USA Today, 2.2.20 – 2020 Super Bowl Will Be Huge For Sports Betting
  • The 2020 Super Bowl kicks off this evening and in the world of sports betting, today is the biggest day of the year. With the legalization of sports betting in various states around the country, it could be even bigger than ever.
• Legal Sports Report, 2.3.20 – The Week In Sports Betting News: Record Super Bowl Handle Expected, Barstool Sportsbook Appears
  • Happy Monday, everyone, and a heartfelt congratulations to the great state of Kansas … er, Missouri.
• Sports Handle, 1.31.20 – Get A Grip: Penn National-Barstool, Super Bowl LIV, Bills Galore Nationwide
  • Here’s the weekend Sports Handle item, “Get a Grip,” recapping the week’s top stories and rounding up key stories in the world (and industry) of legal U.S. sports betting.
• Legal Sports Report, 1.31.2 – Who’s Got Next? Five States That Could Legalize Sports Betting In 2020
  • It was a big year for sports betting in 2019 as nine states legalized the activity, bringing the total of states with legal sports betting to 20.
• WSN, 2.3.20 – States New To Sports Betting Anticipate Big Super Bowl Profits
  • The highly anticipated Super Bowl 54 between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers marked a new milestone for sports betting in America.

Overall Industry News:

• Online Poker Report, 1.31.20 – Super Bowl 54 Highlights The Battle Of Legal US Sportsbooks Vs. Offshore Betting
  • While legal US sports betting is expanding, it’s also a pretty good time to be an offshore sportsbook. And differentiating yourself as a sportsbook that’s licensed and regulated in the US is not necessarily easy to do.
• CNBC, 1.31.20 – Super Bowl Betting Is Expected To Be $6.8 Billion. The IRS Will Want A Piece Of Your Winnings
  • If your weekend plans include dropping a bet on the Super Bowl, don’t forget that Uncle Sam wants a piece of anything you win.
• Forbes, 2.2.20 – When It Comes To Gambling On The Super Bowl, You Can Bet The IRS Is Watching
  • From friendly wagers to jackpots, gambling winnings are reportable for federal income tax purposes.
• PlayIndiana, 1.31.20 – Hooters Connecting With BetRivers For New In-Restaurant Betting Product
  • Hooters is hoping to become the go-to destination for sports betting fans.

Sports League News:

• Crain’s Detroit Business, 2.2.20 – MLB Mulls Change To Gambling Rules To Accommodate Sports Betting At Ilitch-Owned MotorCity Casino
  • The bill passed in December legalizing sports and online gambling in Michigan lacks any language addressing the dual ownership of a professional sports team and casino.

Washington:

• Sports Handle, 1.31.20 – Sports Betting Showdown In Washington State: Tribes Vs. Commercial Interests
  • Karen Keiser, Chair of the Washington State Senate’s Labor and Commerce Committee graciously referred to Thursday’s hearing on legal sports betting as “robust.” She would have been just as right to say the battle lines have been drawn.
• MyNorthwest, 1.31.20 – Should Washington State Allow Sports Betting?
  • The Washington state Legislature takes up two measures this week that would potentially legalize sports gambling, and would allow sports betting at tribal casinos in the state.
• KIRO Radio, 2.1.20 – It’s Time For Washington To Legalize Sports Gambling
  • The Super Bowl is this Sunday, and it is estimated that $400 million will be legally gambled on the game in the United States. And the state of Washington will not see one penny of any of that sports gambling money.

Massachusetts:

• Gambling Compliance, 2.3.20 – Massachusetts Committee May Punt On Sports-Betting Deadline (subscription paywall)
  • Progress remains stalled on sports betting in Massachusetts as a key legislative deadline approaches and Governor Charlie Baker, a major supporter, grows increasingly frustrated.
• WWLP, 1.31.20 – Massachusetts Sports Betting Bill On Hold, Super Bowl Days Away
  • The Super Bowl takes place this Sunday and Massachusetts is one of the only states in New England that doesn’t offer sports betting.

New Hampshire:

• The Boston Glove, 2.2.20 – New Hampshire Sports Betting Faring Well
  • The Patriots missed the cut, but heading into Super Bowl weekend New Hampshire was confident about how well its sports betting product is faring.
• New Hampshire Union Leader, 2.1.20 – Sports Betting Pays Off In NH; Officials Expect Super Bowl Spike
  • While the San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo once played for the hometown team, New Hampshire residents are counting on the Kansas City Chiefs to win the Super Bowl — at least when it comes to legal sports betting.
• WMUR, 1.31.20 – NH Lottery Says Sports Betting Brought In $1.2 Million In Net Profit In First Month
  • The New Hampshire Lottery says online and mobile sports betting is exceeding all expectations in the first month.
• New England Public Radio, 1.31.20 – New Hampshire Prepares For 1^st Super Bowl With Legal Sports Wagering
  • Sunday’s Super Bowl will be the first where betting on the big game will be legal in New Hampshire. And a significant amount of those wagers figure to be from out-of-state customers.

Vermont:

• NHPR, 2.2.20 – Are New Lottery Games, Sports Betting The Way To Pay For Vt. Child Care?
  • Phil Scott wants more accessible and affordable child care in Vermont, and he wants to expand the lottery and bring sports betting to the state to help fund it.

Connecticut:

• Hartford Courant, 2.3.20 – Marijuana, Sports Betting And 7 More Things Connecticut Legislators Plan To Tackle This Year
  • State lawmakers will have a full plate when the 2020 legislative session kicks off Wednesday, having already pledged to tackle issues ranging from marijuana legalization to age discrimination.

New Jersey:

• NJBIZ, 1.31.20 – NJ Sportsbooks Gear Up For Super Bowl LIV
  • Sportsbooks across the nation expect about 26 million people to place bets on Super Bowl LIV, in which the Kansas City Chiefs will take on the San Francisco 49ers in Miami.

New York:

• New York Law Journal, 1.31.20 – The Constitutionality Of Mobile Sports Wagering In New York State
  • As the 2020 legislative session in New York state gets under way, one of the topics on the agenda is sure to be whether New York will for the first time allow New Yorkers to engage in mobile sports betting.
• WGRZ, 1.31.20 – Sports Betting In New York Casinos: What You Need To Know
  • For the first time ever in New York State, people can place their Super Bowl bets at casinos.
• New York Daily News, 2.2.20 – No Gold Rush: Against Mobile Sports Betting In New York
  • More than 26 million of us will bet an estimated $6.8 billion on today’s Super Bowl, and a declining fraction of those wagers will be placed in Las Vegas, which used to be home to the nation’s only sportsbooks.

Pennsylvania:

• Fox 56, 1.31.20 – Place Your Bets: PA Enjoying Legal Sports Betting On Super Bowl For First Time
  • There are only two more days until Super Bowl Sunday and plenty of people are looking to cash in on it now that Pennsylvanians can bet on sports.

Maine:

• WGME, 2.3.20 – Sports Betting Is Illegal In Maine. Here’s How Much Other States Are Making In Tax Revenue
  • A record 26 million Americans were expected to bet on Sunday night’s big game to the tune of nearly $7 billion, according to the American Gaming Association.

Rhode Island:

• iGaming Business, 2.3.20 – RI Sports Betting Revenue Reaches $12M In First Half
  • The Rhode Island Lottery has reported sports betting revenue of $12m for the first half of the state’s 2020 financial year.
• WPRI, 1.31.20 – All Eyes On Glitchy RI Sports-Betting App Heading Into Super Bowl Weekend
  • Heading into the busiest sports betting weekend of the year, Rhode Island’s technology partner IGT continues to field thousands of calls from customers having trouble with the mobile sports-betting app, RI Sports Book.

Washington, D.C.:

• Sports Handle, 2.3.20 – Who Is Shane Augusts, The Regular Guy Planning To Open A D.C. Sportsbook?
  • The nation’s capital legalized sports betting about a year ago, and is now in the application process. D.C. is currently the only jurisdiction in which an individual would stand a chance at opening a sportsbook.
• WJLA, 1.31.20 – DC Sports Betting Won’t Be Ready In Time For Super Bowl LIV. Find Out Why
  • Several sports seasons have come and gone since sports betting was officially legalized in the District in 2018.

Virginia:

• The Bristol Herald Courier, 2.1.20 – Virginia Lawmakers Have 20-Plus Gaming Bills To Consider
  • This Thursday marks the midway point of this year’s 60-day General Assembly session, but more than 20 gaming bills have yet to make it onto the House or Senate floor for discussion or debate.

West Virginia:

• Legal Sports Report, 1.31.20 – BetMGM Arrives Before Super Bowl Betting In Growing Online WV Market
  • BetMGM now operates in two states after recently launching its mobile WV sports betting app.
• WV Metro News, 1.31.20 – Sports Betting Relaunched At Wheeling Island, Mardi Gras Casinos
  • Just in time for the biggest sporting event of the year, Super Bowl Sunday, sports betting is back at Wheeling Island Hotel Casino Racetrack in Wheeling and Mardi Gras Casino in Cross Lanes.

Kansas:

• Hays Post, 2.1.20 – Kansans Can’t Bet The House On Super Bowl, But LV Is A Possibility
  • Kansans thinking about wagering a few bucks on the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl appearance this weekend would have to go to one of 14 states to do it legally.

Illinois:

• Chicago Tribune, 2.1.20 – Legal Illinois Sports Betting Not Ready For The Super Bowl, But Should Be Live By March Madness
  • They won’t be ready by Super Bowl Sunday, but it’s a good bet the first Illinois sports books will be open by March Madness.

Iowa:

• CBS 2, 2.2.20 – Special Report: Sports Betting Sweeps Across Iowa
  • In total, there was $212,225,667.68 wagered on sports across all Iowa casinos between August 15 and the end of 2019.

Indiana:

• WDRB, 2.1.20 – Indiana Casinos Already Cashing In With New Sports Betting Ahead Of 2020 Super Bowl
  • The 2020 Super Bowl between the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs will be the first with legal sports betting in Indiana. Lawmakers started allowing it in September 2019, and it’s already earned the state a few million dollars in tax revenue.
• WSBT, 2.2.20 – Business Booming At Indiana Casino Following Legalization Of Sports Betting
  • Super Bowl 54 is the first one since Indiana legalized sports betting late last year, and it’s bringing in lots of wagers.
• CBS 4 Indy, 1.31.20 – Hoosiers Place Legal Super Bowl Bets For The First Time
  • For the first time, Hoosiers can place bets legally on the Super Bowl, so some people may try it out for the first time.

Tennessee:

• Chattanooga Times Free Press, 2.1.20 – Proposed Rules For Tennessee’s Online Sports Gaming Program Near Approval
  • As football fans eagerly anticipate Sunday’s opening kickoff in Superbowl LIV, Tennessee gamblers are still waiting for implementation of the state’s online sports-gaming law that will allow them to make legal bets on such events.

Kentucky:

• Online Poker Report, 1.31.20 – Kentucky Interest Group Warns Of Hurdles Ahead For Online Gambling Bill
  • It’s been two weeks since a Kentucky online gambling bill passed the Licensing, Occupations and Administrative Regulations Committee (LOARC) with unanimous support. It’s now in the hands of the House Rules Committee, whose job is to decide when it’s ready for a full vote.

Mississippi:

• The Dispatch, 2.1.20 – Going All In: 18 Months After Legalization, Sports Betting Brings Big Bucks To Mississippi
  • Since legalization, $526.3 million has been wagered on sports in Mississippi, generating $59.6 million in taxable revenue.

Florida:

• WLRN, 2.3.20 – Sports Betting In The Sunshine Economy
  • After playing in Miami this year, it is a long shot that Florida will have legal sports gambling by the time the game kicks off in Tampa in 2021.  However, supporters are sharpening their arguments, hoping to push the line to make it legal to bet on sports.

Arkansas:

• Local Memphis, 2.2.20 – In Southland Casino’s First Few Days Of Sports Betting, Thousands Of Dollars Were Bet On The Outcome Of The Super Bowl
  • The Super Bowl is one of the most competitive days every year for sports betting. Sports betters came out to Southland Casino in West Memphis, on Sunday, to place their bets on the outcome of the Super Bowl game.

Alabama:

• CBS 42, 1.31.20 – Sports Betting Remains Illegal In Alabama As Predicted Wagers Reach $6.8B For Super Bowl
  • One thing that struck Rep. Mary Moore during a trip to Las Vegas a few years ago was how many people she saw were wagering money on Alabama football games, something that remains illegal in the very state the Crimson Tide calls home.

Colorado:

• Sports Handle, 1.31.20 – Colorado Inches Closer To May Sports Betting Launch Despite Integrity Concerns
  • Colorado moved closer to a May 1 target for launching legal sports wagering across the state following two key stakeholder meetings on Friday.
• KDVR, 2.2.20 – Colorado Casinos Preparing Sportsbooks, Betting Apps Ahead Of Legal Sports Wagering
  • With less than 90 days to go until sports wagering becomes legal in Colorado, local casinos are designing and preparing to start construction on Vegas-style sportsbooks, complete with big-screen monitors, betting windows and kiosks.

Oklahoma:

• Online Poker Report, 1.31.20 – Oklahoma Governor, Tribes Remain At Odds Over Gaming Compact
  • Gov. Kevin Stitt submitted his answer last week to the federal complaint filed by three Native American tribes in Oklahoma.