Industry News of the Day for January 22, 2020

iDEA Growth Member News:

• Gambling Compliance, 1.22.20 – Deal Pricing Upended As Regulatory Threats Hit Gambling M&A (subscription paywall)
  • A deal announced in December between DraftKings and SBTech is the latest piece of gambling M&A to highlight the extent to which regulatory considerations are now intrinsic to all potential transactions.

Industry News:

• Legal Sports Report, 1.21.20 – The Week In Sports Betting News: NJ, PA Sports Betting Show Mobile Gains
  • Legislatures are in full swing, which means there are plenty of sports betting stories to go over.

Federal News:

• PlayPennsylvania, 1.21.20 – PA Congressman Reschenthaler Revives Congressional Gaming Caucus
  • Pennsylvania Congressman Guy Reschenthaler is helping to relaunch the Congressional Gaming Caucus.

Overall Industry News:

• Gambling Compliance, 1.22.20 – AI And Facial Recognition Can Be Tools For Casino Security, Player Engagement (subscription paywall)
  • The ability of a casino to use artificial intelligence (AI) and facial recognition to welcome patrons to a property and welcome them with their favorite cocktails already exists, but operators, regulators and customers are not ready to accept it yet.

New York:

• Legal Sports Report, 1.21.20 – Cuomo Leaves ‘Irresponsible’ Mobile NY Sports Betting Out Of Budget Proposal
  • New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo ended his budget proposal speech to the state legislature Tuesday by calling the state the “progressive capital of the nation.” That progress, though, will not include bringing NY sports betting into the digital age.
• Sports Handle, 1.21.20 – Cuomo Leaves Mobile Sports Betting Out Of Proposed Budget For Second Straight Year
  • A fiscal year 2021 state budget outlined by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday slightly amended sports wagering restrictions inside upstate casinos lounges but largely left a ban on mobile sports wagering unchanged.
• Gambling Compliance, 1.22.20 – New York’s Cuomo Calls For Mobile Sports Betting, But Only At Casinos (subscription paywall)
  • New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s budget proposal includes a proposed expansion of sports betting, but not quite to the scale that supporters had hoped to see.
• New York Upstate, 1.21.20 – Cuomo Budget Slightly Expands Sports Betting, But Not As Far As Online
  • Andrew’s Cuomo wants to expand — slightly — the state’s year-old entry into sports betting.

Pennsylvania:

• PlayPennsylvania, 1.21.20 – Injunction Denied: Latest Round In PA Skill Games Fight Goes To The State
  • A Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court judge ruled Tuesday morning against a preliminary injunction that would have continued to prevent PA State Police from seizing more “skill game” machines.
• Online Poker Report, 1.21.20 – Pennsylvania Online Gambling Sites Close Out 2019 On A High Note
  • Last year was a record year for gambling in Pennsylvania. While brick-and-mortar casino revenue was up, growth largely came from the introduction of sports betting and online gambling, as well as gains by the daily fantasy sports industry.
• Penn Bets, 1.21.20 – Football Season Brought First Potential Evidence Of Increased Gambling Problems In PA
  • When a new national coalition studied problem gambling funding and programs in 14 states, it found Pennsylvania among six using tax revenue as intended on the issue.

Maine:

• Sports Handle, 1.21.20 – Sports Betting In Maine: Wait And See On Possible Veto Override
  • Ahead of tonight’s State of the State address by Governor Janet Mills in Maine, the state Senate declined to take up a possible sports betting veto override.

Georgia:

• Sports Handle, 1.21.20 – Survey Says! Georgians Support Sports Betting
  • If Georgia lawmakers decide to pursue legal sports betting. they’ll likely have the support of voters.

Kentucky:

• Online Poker Report, 1.22.20 – Kentucky Online Poker Bill Clears First Committee Hurdle With Ease
  • As expected, the Kentucky legislature was quick to get the ball rolling on online poker this year.
• Eagle Country Online, 1.21.20 – Kentucky Lawmakers Consider Legalizing Sports Betting
  • A proposed bill would allow the state’s horse tracks and Kentucky Speedway to apply for sportsbook licenses.

Michigan:

• Legal Sports Report, 1.21.20 – Why It Might Take A Year To Launch Mobile Michigan Sports Betting
  • Mobile Michigan sports betting could be up by the Super Bowl — in 2021.
• The Detroit News, 1.21.20 – Detroit Casinos Post Record Revenues Ahead Of Sports-Betting Legalization
  • The total revenue from Detroit’s three casinos in 2019 set a new record even before sports-betting becomes legal this year in Michigan.
• WWMT, 1.21.20 – West Michigan Tribal Casino Prepares For 2020 Launch Of Sports Betting
  • After years of waiting, sports gambling in the state of Michigan was officially signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in December.
• Michigan House Republicans, 1.21.20 – Iden’s Work Recognized At Ceremonial Signing Of New Gaming, Sports Wagering Laws Protecting Michigan Consumers
  • Brandt Iden’s efforts to protect Michigan consumers and modernize the state’s gaming laws were formally recognized and celebrated yesterday.

Missouri:

• Fox 4 KC, 1.21.20 – Momentum Building For Missouri To Join Ranks Of States Legalizing Sports Betting
  • Missouri State Rep. Wes Rogers, a democrat from Kansas City, said there’s bipartisan support for several bills that could legalize sports betting in the Show-Me-State.

California:

• Los Angeles Times, 1.21.20 – California Could Become America’s Sports Betting Capital As Rival Groups Eye November Ballot
  • Two years after the U.S. Supreme Court removed legal barriers to sports betting, California voters could be asked in November to join 14 other states in allowing legal wagers on athletic contests, creating a lucrative industry worth billions of dollars and intense competition among rival gambling interests in the state.

Connecticut:

• Hartford Business Journal, 1.21.20 – Ritter: Growing Momentum For Sports Betting In Upcoming Session
  • After two years of failed attempts to strike a deal on legalizing sports betting in Connecticut, House Majority Leader Matt Ritter says he’s optimistic the third time will be the charm.

Vermont:

• Bloomberg, 1.21.20 – Vermont Governor Makes Pitch For Sports Betting In Budget (subscription paywall)
  • Phil Scott proposed bringing sports betting and the Keno lottery game to Vermont, which he estimated would bring $4 million annually to the state.
• Associated Press, 1.21.20 – Vermont GOP Gov. Scott Lays Out $6.3B Spending Plan
  • Vermont Republican Gov. Phil Scott presented the Democratic-controlled Legislature on Tuesday a $6.3 billion spending plan for the next fiscal year, a 2% increase over the current year.
• Burlington Free Press, 1.22.20 – How Gov. Phil Scott Would Legalize Sports Betting In Vermont – And 4 More Budget Takeaways
  • Phil Scott is asking the Vermont Legislature to let people gamble on sports games as part of a state revenue package.

Tennessee:

• Betting News, 1.21.20 – Oh Tennessee… What Is Taking So Long Down There?
  • Last week, Tennessee wrapped up a public comment period for its proposed rules and regulations for online sports betting.

Maryland:

• The Washington Post, 1.22.20 – Daniel Snyder Wants Legalized Gambling At A Future Redskins Stadium In Maryland
  • Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder urged Maryland legislative leaders on Tuesday to allow gambling at a future Redskins stadium in the state, according to three lawmakers who attended the meetings.
• Washington Business Journal, 1.22.20 – Dan Snyder Pitches Sports Betting For Potential NFL Stadium In MD (subscription paywall)
  • The owner of Washington’s NFL team floated the proposal during meetings in Annapolis.

Washington, D.C.:

• Washington Business Journal, 1.21.20 – Monumental Submits Sportsbook Application, DC Mobile App To Launch In March (subscription paywall)
  • Monumental is the first to fully submit a sportsbook application.

Ohio:

• PlayIndiana, 1.21.20 – Competing Ohio Sports Betting Bills Could Slow Down Progress In The Buckeye State
  • The process of legalization in the Buckeye State has hit a snag. There’s no telling right now how long the delay will last as well.

Indiana:

• Cincinnati Business Courier, 1.21.20 – Here’s How Much Indiana Sports Betting Activity Has Increased, And A Mobile Betting Update (subscription paywall)
  • Sports betting activity in Indiana rose for the third straight month in December, but it’s showing signs of leveling off until mobile betting becomes more widespread.
• Muncie Star Press, 1.22.20 – Why Ball State Has Not Implemented Any New Policy To Address Legalized Sports Gambling In Indiana
  • Ball State University officials have had conversations about the changing landscape of sports gambling in the state of Indiana.

Sports League News:

• Axios, 1.22.20 – The NBA’s Engagement Problem
  • Look for leagues to continue experimenting with digital partners on new ways to reach and monetize fans, while investing in new sectors like sports betting as they prepare for the future of sports consumption.
• SBC Americas, 1.22.20 – SportsGrid Network Extends Fantasy Content Agreement With NBA
  • SportsGrid, the self-claimed nation’s first and only 24-hour sports, fantasy and wagering video network, has extended its agreement with the National Basketball Association (NBA) to continue providing NBA fantasy content across NBA.com, SportsGrid Network and the SportsGrid syndication publisher platform.