Industry News of the Day for February 8, 2024

By iDEA | February 8, 2024

Industry News

  • Ifrah Law: Super Bowl LVIII’s Record-Breaking Number Of Bettors Illustrates Benefits And Success Of Legalization
    • In the five or so years since the Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in Murphy v. NCAA, which gave way for state legislatures to legalize sports betting, more than 35 states have done so. Each successive year seems to be a record breaker for the sports betting industry as states continue to legalize and regulate the industry, offering a consumer and state friendly means to wager on sports. This year’s Super Bowl is no different and it highlights the need for continued legalization and regulation.

California

  • PlayUSA: California Indian Tribes Call Fantasy Pick’Em Games Illegal Sports Wagering
    • California’s largest association of Indian tribes submitted comments to the state attorney general questioning the legality of daily fantasy sports and calling pick’em games illegal sports wagering. James Siva, chairman of the California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA), submitted the letter to California Attorney General Rob Bonta on behalf of the association’s 52 member tribes. Daily fantasy sports have operated in a gray area in California for years. CNIGA’s comments are presented as a legal opinion on fantasy sports contests under California law. The attorney general hasn’t made public the comments submitted for the opinion, which were due by the end of January.

Maryland

  • US Bets: Maryland Online Casino Bill To Next Be Discussed In Late February
    • A bill to legalize online casinos in Maryland (SB 603) is expected to be discussed by the state’s Senate Budget and Taxation Committee on Feb. 28, and there isn’t expected to be any formal movement on the legislation prior to that meeting.  The bill, which was introduced by Sen. Ron Watson in late January, taxes operators at 47%. The majority of tax revenue would go to the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Fund, an educational funding measure. SB 603 would tie licenses to the state’s six existing retail casinos, giving each entity two mobile skins.

Massachusetts

  • PlayMA: Study Shows New Program Results In More Casino Visits, Less Money Lost
    • A recent study of the habits of players who participate in Massachusetts’ PlayMyWay self-budgeting program found that users lost less money at casinos after they enrolled in the program. PlayMyWay players also visit casinos more and report enjoying their experiences more than before entering the program. Dr. Michael Wohl, a professor of psychology at Canada’s Carleton University, shared the study’s findings on PlayMyWay’s effectiveness at the Feb. 1 Massachusetts Gaming Commission meeting. The International Center for Responsible Gaming funded the research.

Nebraska

  • Gambling News: Supporters Of Mobile Betting In Nebraska Organize A Public Poll
    • Since 2018 when the US Supreme Court struck down PASPA, sports betting expanded rapidly across the country. By now, 38 US states along with DC offer some form of legal wagering, leaving a handful of states that are currently trying to legalize the activity and a several that do not have any active legislation. Currently, Nebraska offers only retail sports betting options. The state borders Iowa, Colorado, Kansas and Wyoming, all of which offer mobile sports betting. While nearby Missouri is anticipating legalizing wagering, South Dakota, another bordering state, is offering only retail sports betting.

Oklahoma

  • SBC Americas: New Legislative Session In Oklahoma Welcomes Sports Betting Measure
    • Oklahoma lawmakers are making efforts to bring regulated sports betting to the state. The Sooner State has started a new legislative session by introducing a sports betting measure that proposes to regulate wagering with oversight from the Oklahoma Lottery Commission. Senate Bill 1434, introduced this week by Sen. Casey Murdock, underwent its first reading which resulted in the measure being referred to Oklahoma’s Senate Rules Committee. Following SB 1434’s second reading, the bill has been referred to the state’s Appropriations Committee.

Ontario

  • PlayCanada: Rivalry’s 2024 Business Update Exudes Confidence After Record-Setting 2023
    • Toronto-based online gambling operator Rivalry took pause to reflect on a historic 2023 that saw the outfit reach record heights across a variety of key metrics. But, in true company fashion, that pause remained brief, and it was right back to focusing on 2024. On Feb. 5, the Gen Z-centred iGaming site released a letter informing shareholders of all it’s accomplished in the past year. The note, which surely didn’t lack assurance, also included insights into Rivalry’s strategic priorities for 2024 and beyond. Originally known as a niche esports wagering operator, Rivalry has made significant strides since its formation in 2016. In particular, the company touted the rapid ascent of its Ontario online casino and Ontario sports betting offerings.

West Virginia

  • PlayWV: West Virginia Online Poker To Launch ‘Later This Year’
    • West Virginia is a rich gambling state with several available options. It recently joined the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA) so online poker players could compete against those in other states. However, players cannot participate until operators launch a poker component within West Virginia. PlayWV spoke with West Virginia Lottery Executive Director John Myers on the timeline of a launch. In order to participate, the state needs an operator to first launch a poker platform. Myers was expecting someone to come forward during Q1, but that appears extremely unlikely. “At this time, from what I understand, they’ve had other priorities and just haven’t gotten it launched yet,” Myers told PlayWV.
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