Industry News of the Day for January 4, 2021

iDEA Growth Member News:

• The Wall Street Journal, 1.4.21 – MGM’s Entain Bet Could Help The House Keep Winning
  • Bricks-and-mortar casinos are placing bigger bets on online gambling. Given the continuing headwinds from the pandemic, they may have little choice—but the wager could keep driving growth even after those cease to be a factor.

Industry News:

• Online Poker Report, 12.30.20 – Gazing Into Crystal Ball: Seven Online Gambling Industry Stories To Watch For In 2021
  • Here are, in ascending order of importance, seven stories you can pretty safely expect to be reading within the next 12 months.
• Sports Handle, 1.1.21 – Get A Grip: The Week In Sports Betting: California Politics, Remote Registration Now Legal In Iowa, More
  • Here’s the weekend (or fashionably late) Sports Handle item, “Get a Grip,” recapping the week’s top US sports betting stories, highlighting some fresh news, and rounding up key stories.

New Jersey:

• PlayNJ, 12.31.20 – Atlantic City In 2021: Five Stories To Watch
  • As 2021 arrives, here are five things to watch for in the Atlantic City casino industry.

Pennsylvania:

• TRIB Live, 1.3.21 – Impact Of Pennsylvania Casino Closures Remains To Be Seen, Though Industry Was Surging This Fiscal Year
  • After more than a decade of continued growth for Pennsylvania’s gaming industry that has pumped billions of tax dollars into state coffers and local communities, the casino industry — and that cash flow — were largely upended in 2020 by the coronavirus pandemic.

New York:

• CNY Central, 12.30.20 – Online Sports Betting Could Bring In Millions But The Human Cost Could Be High
  • Currently, online sports betting is legal in 10 states, and the District of Columbia. State Senator Joe Addabbo said neighboring states are leaving behind New York, and he wants to change that.

New Hampshire:

• WMUR, 12.30.20 – NH Lottery Says First Year Of Sports Betting Profitable, Online Gaming Popular
  • Wednesday marked one year since sports betting became legal in New Hampshire. Sununu tweeted that over $300 million has been wagered, providing $10 million in funding for the state’s public education system.
• iGB North America, 1.4.21 – NH Sees Betting Handle Dip But Revenue Grow In November
  • The New Hampshire Lottery has reported a month-over-month decline in amounts wagered on sports for November, though revenue for DraftKings’ sportsbook in the state hit a new high of $4.8m.

Connecticut:

• WTNH, 1.1.21 – Sports Betting, I-Gaming & Recreational Marijuana: Will Lawmakers Make It All Legal In 2021?
  • State lawmakers are headed back to the Capitol in five days. They’ll focus on balancing a two-year $20-billion budget.
• The Hartford Courant, 1.3.21 – 11 Key Issues For Connecticut Legislature In 2021 Include Marijuana, Sports Betting And Affordable Housing
  • The Connecticut legislature is scheduled to convene on Jan. 6 and will adjourn on June 9. While there are a number of fresh faces at the Capitol this year, many key issues that will be under consideration over the next five months — including recreational marijuana and sports betting — are far from new.

Rhode Island:

• iGB North America, 1.4.21 – RI Sets New Sports Betting Revenue Record In November
  • The Rhode Island Lottery has reported a new monthly revenue record for sports betting in November, with operators generating a total of $6.3m during the month.

Washington, D.C.:

• Legal Sports Report, 12.30.20 – William Hill Launches Sportsbook App In Washington DC, Which Is Likely To Widen Gap With Lottery Offering
  • The bettors of Washington DC have already shown they will sacrifice some convenience rather than plan on a less-than ideal sportsbook app.

Tennessee:

• PlayTenn, 12.30.20 – What 2020 Meant For The Tennessee Gambling Industry
  • At the beginning of 2020, the only legal gambling in Tennessee was the state lottery. Now at the year’s conclusion, the Volunteer State is celebrating a record-breaking sports betting debut that redefines industry standards.

Michigan:

• WILX, 1.1.21 – Online Sports Gambling Legalized In Michigan, Sen. Hertel Talks Rollout
  • Online sports gambling is legal and today State Senator Curtis Hertel is breaking down the timeline for when we can expect online gambling to launch in Michigan.
• WLNS, 12.30.20 – Online Gambling In MI Expected To Launch Mid-January
  • Officials with the Michigan Gaming Control Board expect online gambling to launch sometime in the middle of next month.
• PlayMichigan, 1.4.21 – Wait… What About Online Poker? How 2021 Looks For Michigan Players
  • For online poker enthusiasts in Michigan, all of 2020 must have felt like waiting for the flop. The good news is that 2021 looks promising for Michigan online poker.

Illinois:

• PlayIllinois, 12.31.29 – Year In Review: Top 5 Stories Of The Illinois Gaming Industry In 2020
  • Illinois entered 2020 without a single sportsbook operator. Fast-forward to the end of the year, and it’s the fastest-growing market in the US.

Iowa:

• Des Moines Register, 12.30.20 – New Iowa Sports Betting Rules Will Give Customers More Choices In 2021
  • Iowa may have launched sports wagering earlier than any of its Midwest counterparts, but to most operators, the state has been taking its revenue potential at a jog, and not a sprint.
• The Action Network, 1.1.21 – Iowa Sports Betting: Online Registration & Mobile Betting Now Live As Of Jan. 1, 2021
  • Iowa sports betting will start the new year with an easier online registration process and a brand-new sportsbook.
• PlayIA, 12.31.20 – On Jan. 1, You Can Register For An Iowa Sports Betting Account From Your Couch
  • With the advent of 2021, Iowa’s in-person registration requirement (IPR) for online sports betting will expire. As of Jan. 1, 2021, Iowa sportsbooks will be accepting new account sign-ups entirely over the internet.
• PlayIA, 12.31.20 – BetRivers Sportsbook Iowa Going Live Officially On New Year’s Day
  • If you’ve been uncertain whether online sportsbook brands would rush to go live in Iowa once the state’s in-person registration requirement expires, doubt no more. At least one such operator, BetRivers Sportsbook Iowa, plans to go live in the Hawkeye State at first crack.
• KCCI, 1.1.21 – Casinos Bet On Big Rewards From New Sports Gambling Law
  • Executives at Iowa casinos are hopeful a change to Iowa’s law on sports betting brings them new business.
• The Gazette, 12.31.20 – Easier Access To Iowa Sports Betting Could Create ‘Buzz’
  • Sports betting in Iowa is expected to see another bump in wagering activity in 2021 when an in-person registration requirement is lifted Friday, according to industry watchers and regulators.
• Legal Sports Report, 12.30.20 – Iowa Sports Betting Market Ready To Expand As In-Person Registration Requirement Ends
  • Fully online sports betting registration will be available as of Friday in Iowa, ending the pointless requirement of bettors creating accounts at casinos.

Indiana:

• The Indianapolis Star, 12.31.20 – Gambling On Sports During Pandemic: Big Win
  • Indiana gambling roared out of the shutdowns caused by the Coronavirus, and in September, the state reported $207 million in sports betting handle, with more than 80% gambled via mobile apps.

Florida:

• WFLA, 12.30.20 – New Legislation Seeks To Legalize Sports Betting In Florida
  • As many Americans prepare to finish out their fantasy football seasons this week, a State Senator is hoping next year you may be able to legally play for money.

Colorado:

• iGB North America, 1.4.21 – Colorado Sportsbook Stakes Continue Growth In November
  • Colorado’s regulated sports betting market continued its upward trajectory into November, with amounts wagered growing 9.7% month-over-month to $231.2m.
• PlayColorado, 12.31.20 – Looking Back, Looking Forward On Colorado Sports Betting
  • This past year was incredibly difficult for many of us, but Colorado sports betting offered a pleasant diversion.
• PlayColorado, 12.30.20 – 2020 In Review: An Unusual First Year In Colorado Sports Betting
  • Here are the top five Colorado sports betting stories for 2020.