Industry News of the Day for January 22, 2019

Federal Updates:

• Legal Sports Report, 1.22.19 – Last Week In Sports Betting: No Way, DOJ! Wire Act Memo Dominates Cycle
  • If you’re a fan of federal intervention in state-regulated commerce stemming from a legally questionable interpretation of an arcane law … well, this was the week for you!

New Jersey:

• NJ Biz, 1.21.19 – Lesniak: DOJ ruling could damage NJ’s online gambling, sports betting market
  • Lawmakers in New Jersey are warily eyeing the Department of Justice’s recent strict interpretation of the Wire Act, which critics say could heavily weaken the state’s online gambling and sports betting markets.
• NJ Online Gambling, 1.21.19 – New Jersey Considers $5 Million Sports Bet Ceiling
  • New Jersey gaming regulators apparently want to make sure none of its sportsbooks ever bend over backward too far for a high roller.
• Play NJ, 1.18.19 – How The NJ Sportsbook Partnerships Are Working Out At Prudential Center
  • Seven months after the launch of NJ sports betting, the Prudential Center in Newark has already signed marketing agreements with three companies for the 2018-19 season.

Mississippi:

• Sports Handle, 1.21.19 – Mississippi Sportsbooks Notch Double-Digit Hold Again
  • For the second time since launching sports betting in August 2018, Mississippi sportsbooks generated a double-digit hold percentage, resulting in $6.17 million in taxable revenue on $41.8 million in handle in December, according to the latest revenue report from the Mississippi Gaming Commission.

Minnesota:

• Fox 9, 1.21.19 – Facing long odds, advocates of legalized sports betting must make decision
  • The odds of legalizing sports gambling in Minnesota appear to be long in 2019, and one advocate says it’s time to compromise with Native American tribes that have thrown up a major roadblock.

Kentucky:

• Sports Handle, 1.22.19 – New Kentucky Sports Betting Bill Light On Particulars
  • A Kentucky sports betting bill filed ahead of the 2019 session has been referred to the Appropriations and Revenue Committee for review, but does not yet appear on the committee’s calendar.

Sports League News:

• AP, 1.21.19 – Player “prop” bets popular for Super Bowl, but NFL wants them gone
  • Many Americans in places where sports betting is legal for the first time are beginning to make wagers on the Super Bowl, including some bets on the performances of individual athletes.

iDEA Growth Member News:

• No new member updates to report.

Overall Industry News:

• Skift, 1.21.19 – Esports Disrupt How Brands and Events Engage With Their Communities
  • No matter how boring and trite you may find the concept of esports competition and culture, the hobby is on the forefront of a major shift in the habits of how we consume media and interact in online communities.
• Forbes, 1.21.19 – Opening 2019 Super Bowl Llll Odds And Record Betting Expected
  • The 2019 Super Bowl Llll match-up is set after a pair of thrilling conference championship overtime games sent the Los Angeles Rams and New England Patriots to the Super Bowl.
• Motley Fool, 1.21.19 – How Legalized Sports Betting Will Grow in 2019
  • It’s been eight months since the United States Supreme Court paved the way for legalized sports betting by ruling to strike down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act.