Industry News of the Day for January 17, 2019
Federal Updates:
- Online Poker Report, 1.16.19 – Rosenstein Memo On Wire Act Surfaces From DOJ: Businesses Have ’90-Day Window’ To Comply With Changes
- US Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein has issued a memo regarding the recent reinterpretation of the federal Wire Act to include all forms of interstate gaming, not just sports betting. According to Rosenstein, the new Department of Justice opinion will not take effect for 90 days as it creates prosecutorial guidelines.
- Seeking Alpha, 1.16.19 – High-wire act for online gambling after DOJ bombshell
- Union Gaming analyst John DeCree weighs in on the reversal by the Department of Justice that the Interstate Wire Act of 1961 only applies to sports gambling.
Pennsylvania:
- Legal Sports Report, 1.17.19 – Pennsylvania Sports Betting Revenue Grows To $2 Million In December
- Legal sportsbooks in Pennsylvania took in more than $16 million in wagers during December, the first full month of regulated sports gambling. Revenue inched over $2 million during that period, good for a hold of 12.4 percent.
- The Tribune-Review, 1.16.19 – Pennsylvania casino revenue climbs above $3.2 billion
- Pennsylvania’s 12 casinos generated more than $3.2 billion in revenues in 2018, setting a record for the most money earned in a year since gambling was legalized in 2006.
- The Philadelphia Inquirer, 1.16.19 – Pennsylvania gamblers lost $3.25 billion in 2018; Parx Casino got the most at $603 million
- Pennsylvania’s 12 operating casinos captured a record $3.25 billion in winnings from gamblers in 2018, up $22 million or 0.7 percent from the previous year, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board reported Wednesday.
- AP, 1.16.19 – Buyers of Sands Bethlehem casino plan $190M in development
- An Alabama company that’s buying Las Vegas Sands Corp.’s Pennsylvania casino for $1.3 billion says it plans to build a second hotel and possibly a water park on the property.
- Penn Bets, 1.16.19 – Don’t Bet On A Pennsylvania Legal Online Casino Gambling Delay
- The state of Pennsylvania legalized online gambling in 2017, and it more than likely will move forward with launching internet casino games this year.
New York:
- Legal Sports Report, 1.19.17 – NY Sports Betting Launch By Spring? Countdown On As Regulations May Come This Month
- New York regulators are looking to get sports betting started at the state’s four upstate commercial casinos under existing state law, according to a source familiar with the process.
- Democrat & Chronicle, 1.16.19 – Sports betting in New York: Upstate casinos will soon get the go-ahead
- New York is expected to move soon to allow sports betting at four upstate casinos and Native American casinos.
- The Syracuse Post-Standard, 1.16.19 – Cuomo budget recap: ‘Syracuse Surge,’ sports betting, marijuana, more
- New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo released his $175 billion state budget proposal for 2019 on Tuesday, including plans to legalize sports betting in casinos and recreational marijuana.
Massachusetts:
- Legal Sports Report, 1.16.19 – Massachusetts Sports Betting Bills Arrive In Trio Before Friday Deadline
- Three Massachusetts sports betting bills from three different sponsors arrived in the state legislature Wednesday.
- Gloucester Daily Times, 1.16.19 – Legal sports wagering may be coming to Massachusetts
- States are rushing to legalize wagers on professional sports following last year’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling, and Massachusetts could be getting a piece of the action.
Iowa:
- Legal Sports Report, 1.16.19 – Prairie Meadows Partners With William Hill Pending Iowa Sports Betting Law
- An Iowa casino is making plans for sports betting in advance of possible legalization this year.
- Des Moines Register, 1.171.19 – Prairie Meadows finalizes sports betting plans as legislators share optimism for 2019 legalization
- Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino on Wednesday announced it has entered into a partnership with William Hill U.S. to operate the casino’s sports book should gambling on sporting events officially become legal in Iowa.
Rhode Island:
- Legal Sports Report, 1.16.19 – Online Rhode Island Sports Betting? Senate President Introduces New Bill
- Rhode Island could have online sports betting apps as soon as this year if one of the top lawmakers in the state gets his way.
- Providence Journal, 1.16.19 – Senate President Ruggerio introduces legislation for mobile sports betting
- Senate President Dominick Ruggerio has introduced his long-promised legislation to allow mobile sports betting on Wednesday, setting the stage for Governor Gina Raimondo to include millions in potential new gambling revenue in the proposed 2019-20 budget she delivers to lawmakers 24 hours later.
- AP, 1.16.19 – Senate president introduces bill for mobile sports betting
- Senate President Dominick Ruggerio has introduced a bill to allow mobile wagering for sports betting in Rhode Island.
Mississippi:
- ESPN, 1.16.19 – ‘Roll Tide’: A successful CFB season for Mississippi sports betting
- This year’s national championship game between Clemson and Alabama was winding down on the dozens of TVs scattered throughout the new hybrid sportsbook/bar at Beau Rivage, a high-end casino resort on the Gulf Coast.
New Jersey:
- CardPlayer.com, 1.15.19 – New Jersey Gaming Revenue Increases For Third Consecutive Year
- Atlantic City casinos closed out 2018 on a strong note. After releasing their revenue reports for December 2018, the city’s brick-and-mortar casinos generated $209 million for the month, which brought the total revenue for the year to $2.51 billion.
Maryland:
- Baltimore Sun, 1.17.19 – Maryland legislative leaders exploring fast-track plan to legalize sports betting without asking voters
- Maryland General Assembly leaders are considering a fast-track proposal under which lawmakers would legalize betting on football, basketball and other sports without first seeking voter approval in the 2020 election.
Indiana:
- My Wabash Valley, 1.16.19 – Senator Ford Doubles Down on Casino Bill
- If the idea of a casino coming to Terre Haute sounds familiar, it’s because it is.
Sports League Updates:
- Fox News, 1.16.19 – NFL, NBA and MLB come around to sports betting after realizing it could be a cash cow
- As more than 70,000 people gear up to pack Atlanta’s Mercedes Benz Stadium for the National Football League’s Super Bowl LIII, it’s almost a sure bet that fans around the country will wager cash on the annual spectacle.
- ESPN, 1.16.19 – NBA to reinforce gambling policies, eyes EPL as example
- The NBA is preparing to double down on policing its players, teams and staff amid the expansion of legalized sports gambling in the United States, deputy commissioner Mark Tatum told ESPN.
- Sports Handle, 1.17.19 – ‘Pro Football Handle’ NFL Conference Championship Weekend Betting Breakdown: Chiefs-Patriots, Saints-Rams
- The guys discuss the DraftKings Sports Betting National Championship and the NFL Divisional Round timing issue that impacts all sportsbooks. “I guarantee DraftKings will come out of this stronger,” Walker says.
iDEA Growth Member News:
- Bloomberg, 1.16.19 – NFL-Backed Data Firm Gears Up for Surge in U.S. Sports Betting
- Sportradar AG, a data provider backed by the NFL and Michael Jordan, is launching a new sports-gambling marketing company, seeking to capitalize on the rapidly growing billion-dollar industry.
- iGaming Business, 1.16.19 – Sportradar launches sports betting marketing service
- Sportradar has expanded its range of sports betting services by launching ad:s, a new full-service marketing solution for bookmakers.
Overall Industry Updates:
- Fox News, 1.16.19 – States take gamble with sports betting
- Professional sports leagues show stronger interest in getting on board with states.
- Baltimore Post-Examiner, 1.17.19 – Traditional US Casinos getting Edged Out by Online Gambling Sites
- Online gambling has become a popular way for players all over the world to engage in exciting real money gambling action from home. There is a thought that many land-based casinos in the U.S. will be edged out by online casinos if they do not make some changes.