Industry News of the Day for January 2, 2024
Happy New Year!
Industry News
- SBC Americas: Is The US Still The Land Of Opportunity Or Is The River Running Dry?
- It was a monumental period when PASPA was repealed by the Supreme Court of the United States in May 2018, opening the doors for millions of American sports fans to legally wager on their team. In the years that have followed, global operators flocked into the country as 37 states opened their doors to legal sports betting. Seeking the pot of gold at the end of the proverbial rainbow, these operators spent millions of dollars in marketing. After all, sportsbooks must demonstrate the features of its product to attract users in an extremely competitive field.
- CDC Gaming Reports: 19 Gaming Experts Predict What’s In Store For 2024
- The gaming industry is constantly changing and evolving. In 2023, the increased use of artificial intelligence and advances in slot and igaming technology affirmed that innovation is constant. October’s Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas attracted more than 25,000 visitors. SBC’s conferences in Secaucus, New Jersey, Miami, and Toronto also drew record crowds. FanDuel and DraftKings continued to vie for sports-betting dominance, commanding nearly 80% of all sports-betting revenue. And in news that made all gaming operators take notice, MGM Resorts and Caesars Entertainment in September were victimized by separate cyberattacks.
Delaware
- PlayUSA: Delaware Online Gambling Is Now Live On BetRivers Casino
- BetRivers officially launched in Delaware on Dec. 27, taking over online gambling operations in the state. Delaware casino players can now access new online slots, table games, and online sports betting platforms, all powered by BetRivers. Delaware’s legal retail sports betting market launched in June 2018, but online sports betting wasn’t available until this week. As the Delaware Lottery announced on its website, BetRivers online gambling went live through three retail casinos: Bally’s Dover Casino Resort, Casino at Delaware Park, and Harrington Raceway and Casino.
Nevada
- Sports Handle: Nevada Sports Wagering Handle Virtually Flat At $921 Million In November
- The Nevada Gaming Control Board reported sports wagering handle of just over $921.1 million for November on Thursday, with the amount a slight year-over-year decline that has bucked trends elsewhere for the month. The Silver State’s handle was down 0.7% from the $927.9 million worth of accepted bets in November 2022. Entering the final month of 2023, the year’s $7.4 billion handle is 5.1% lower compared to the first 11 months of last year. Despite a hold under 4.5%, the adjusted gross revenue of $41 million was 8.8% higher than last year.
North Carolina
- NC Sharp: Seven Early Bird Operators Met The NC Online Sports Betting Application Deadline
- While more than a dozen sports betting operators requested applications to enter the North Carolina market, only seven met the recommended deadline of Dec. 27. Per the NC Lottery, those seven are FanDuel, BetMGM, DraftKings, Fanatics, Bet365, ESPN Bet, and Underdog. Caesars Entertainment, which operates the state’s two Harrah’s casinos, applied for a service provider license and could enter the state through one of the two tribal sports betting licenses on offer. The NC Lottery Commission, the regulator of the industry, has yet to announce a launch date, but they have narrowed the launch window.
Virginia
- PlayVirginia: Virginians Bet $638 Million On Sports In November, A 23% Increase From 2022
- Sports bettors in Virginia wagered $638.8 million in November, a figure that represents a 23.1% increase over the same month in 2022. The total handle stems from bets placed online and at retail sportsbooks. The state received $5.5 million in tax revenue in November, according to the Virginia Lottery. The general fund gets the bulk of that total, while 2.5% is allocated to the Problem Gambling Treatment and Support Fund, which is administered by the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.
West Virginia
- PlayWV: West Virginia Online Casinos To Exceed $150 Million In 2023 Revenue
- The end of the year is approaching, and the West Virginia Lottery is close to reporting December online casino revenue in the Mountain State. Operators are expected to set a record of more than $150 million in earnings this year. WV online casinos experienced a slight summer slide but rebounded nicely in the fall to set monthly revenue records. As long as West Virginia operators record about $8.5 million in December revenue, the state will exceed $150 million in yearly earnings. That should not be a problem, as the state has not generated less than $8.5 million in monthly revenue since June 2022.