Industry News of the Day for January 26, 2021

iDEA Growth Member News

• SBC Americas, 1.26.21 – NetEnt Welcomes Bigger US Presence As Michigan iGaming Goes Legal
  • Last Friday saw gaming solutions specialist NetEnt broaden its footprint significantly in the burgeoning US igaming sector as a number of its partners launched operations in the newly regulated Michigan market.
• SBC Americas, 1.26.21 – FanDuel Group And The Washington Football Team Link-Up In Virginia
  • FanDuel Group and the Washington Football Team have announced this week what they claim is the first-ever market access partnership between a National Football League team and an online sports gaming platform in the US.
• PlayVirginia, 1.25.21 – First A VA Sportsbook, Next A VA Stadium For The Washington Football Team? (FanDuel)
  • On the day legal sports betting launched in Virginia, the question was inevitable: Is the Washington Football Team relocating to Virginia?

Sports League News:

• Sports Handle, 1.25.21 – PointsBet, PGA Tour, NBC Sports Combine For Betting Companion Show
  • PointsBet Sportsbook, the PGA Tour, and NBC Sports announced Monday they are teaming up to create the first betting companion show during a PGA Tour event that will be available on Peacock Premium.

New York:

• Sports Handle, 1.25.21 – New York Releases Long-Awaited Gaming Study, But Questions Remain On Scope Of Mobile Sports Betting Market
  • Since the start of the new year, New York has dominated gaming industry headlines as Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s pivot on mobile sports betting has unlocked the possibility that one of the nation’s largest markets could open within the next 12 months.
• The Action Network, 1.25.21 – New York Sports Betting Study Shows Massive Potential For A Competitive Market
  • A long-awaited New York gaming study says the state could bring in nearly $100 million in annual online sports betting tax revenue — assuming it doesn’t follow Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s proposal.

Connecticut:

• WSN, 1.26.21 – Connecticut Inches Closer To Legal Sports Wagering For 2021
  • It seems almost weekly we are seeing headlines of new US states debuting their launch into the promising opportunity of legalized sports wagering and online gaming.

Virginia:

• The Action Network, 1.25.21 – Virginia Sports Betting: BetMGM Sportsbook To Launch Wednesday
  • BetMGM Sportsbook will launch online sports betting in Virginia this Wednesday, Jan. 27, sources tell The Action Network.

Michigan:

• PlayMichigan, 1.25.21 – First Weekend Of Legal Michigan Online Gambling Sets Records
  • The Great Lakes State figured to be a monster for the sports betting and online casino industries. That proved prophetic for the opening weekend, which jumped to the top of the space after Friday’s launch.
• Detroit Free Press, 1.25.21 – Some Glitches, $100,000-Plus Losses In First Weekend Of Michigan Online Sports Betting
  • The opening weekend for legal online sports betting in Michigan saw many bonus offer redemptions, a few technical glitches and at least a couple $100,000-plus losing bets.

Illinois:

• PlayIllinois, 1.25.21 – Will Barstool Sportsbook, More Operators Launch In Illinois In Time For The Super Bowl?
  • Illinois hosts five mobile sportsbooks at the moment, and it’s been that way since mid-September.

Ohio:

• WHIO, 1.25.21 – Legalizing Sports Betting Back For Study
  • The on-again, off-again drive to legalize sports betting in Ohio that hit a brick wall in late 2020 is making a comeback.
• PlayOhio, 1.25.21 – Let’s Take It Back: Ohio Ready To Take Another Crack At Sports Betting In 2021
  • Brigid Kelly is the last person standing among Ohio sports betting sponsors. With Sen. John Eklund termed out, and Rep. Dave Greenspan and Sen. Sean O’Brien losing their re-election bids, Kelly is bridging the gap between Ohio sports betting efforts in 2020 and 2021.

Nebraska:

• Sports Handle, 1.26.21 – 3 Nebraska Lawmakers File Bills That Would Legalize Sports Betting
  • When Nebraska voters in November 2020 passed a trio of bills that expands gaming in the state, there was some question as to whether or not sports betting would be included in the mix.

Iowa:

• PlayIA, 1.25.21 – Minnesota, Nebraska Sports Betting Bills Are No Threat To Iowa Sportsbooks Yet
  • Historically, change in gambling laws has come incrementally and slowly. Despite the sports betting bills in nearby Minnesota and Nebraska, sportsbook operators in Iowa shouldn’t worry about losing handle from out-of-state bettors anytime soon.

Minnesota:

• KARE 11, 1.26.21 – Minnesota Lawmakers Prepare To Introduce Bill To Legalize Sports Betting
  • Placing a wager on your favorite team isn’t currently legal in Minnesota, but two lawmakers are hoping to change that.

Mississippi:

• WJTV, 1.25.21 – State Sen. Moran Introduces Mobile Sports Betting Legislation
  • On Monday, State Senator Philip Moran (R-District 46) announced the introduction of legislation to allow for online sports wagering in the state.
• WXXV 25, 1.25.21 – Mobile Sports Betting Bill Introduced In Mississippi
  • The process to allow mobile sports betting in Mississippi is gaining traction once again.

Arkansas:

• Gambling.Com, 1.25.21 – Arkansas Sees Slight Increase In December Sports Betting
  • Arkansas saw a modest increase in December sports betting handle, but the lack of mobile sports betting is evident in the low overall numbers, especially with casinos still limiting capacity because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Colorado:

• The Denver Post, 1.25.21 – Colorado Sports Betting Brings In $1.2 Billion In Shortened First Year, Despite Pandemic
  • Colorado’s nascent sports betting industry seemingly beat the odds last year with nearly $1.2 billion in wagers placed May through December.
• PlayColorado, 1.25.21 – Colorado Bettors Have Already Wagered $1 Billion On Sports
  • Thanks to the record December handle, Colorado topped $1 billion in wagers for the year. For the eight months since the launch of sports betting, the state brought in $1.2 billion.
• SBC Americas, 1.26.21 – Colorado Shaping Up To Be The Most Innovative US Sports Betting Market
  • Colorado became the sixth state to surpass the $1bn mark for wagers in a single year as sportsbooks closed 2020 with yet another record month.

Washington:

• iGB North America, 1.26.21 – Washington Regulator Agrees Gaming Compact Amendment
  • The Washington State Gambling Commission has reached a tentative agreement with the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe to amend the Class III gaming compact for the Tribe’s gaming operations in the US state.

Hawaii:

• US Bets, 1.25.21 – Hawaii Could Take Steps Toward Sports Betting, Other Forms Of Gambling
  • Hawaii is one of the most unfriendly states in the nation to gambling. It has no legal commercial gambling of any kind. But could the ball get rolling on changing that in 2021?