Industry News of the Day for July 12, 2022

iDEA Growth Member News

  • Bonus.com, 7.11.22 – Connecticut Launches Live Dealer Games, Evolution’s Jeff Millar Talks to Bonus.com
    • Connecticut‘s live dealer studios soft-launched today. If all goes well, the full launch will happen on July 18. Meanwhile, Bonus.com talked to the North American representative of the company behind the online casino gambling offering. Jeff Millar, Evolution’s North American commercial director, talked to Bonus.com about the Connecticut studio and more.
  • Michigan Sharp.com, 7.11.22 – Exclusive FanDuel Live Dealer Games Now Available in Michigan
    • FanDuel Casino now offers exclusive live dealer games in Michigan. This comes after FanDuel signed an exclusivity deal with Evolution to offer only Evolution’s live dealer games. Part of the deal includes FanDuel-branded live dealers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and wherever live dealer games become approved elsewhere in the US.

Sports League News

  • iGB, 7.12.22 – NFL’s Bengals apply for Ohio betting license
    • NFL franchise the Cincinnati Bengals has applied for a sports betting license in the state of Ohio, as have FanDuel and Fanatics. The team becomes the fifth business – but the first professional sports team – to apply for an Ohio operator license. It is the fourth to apply for approval as a type-A sports gaming proprietor – which would allow it to offer an online product – following Jack Cleveland Casino, Thistledown Racino and Hall of Fame Village.

Industry

  • US Bets, 7.12.22 – 60-Year-Old Wire Act Still Has Teeth
    • In 2011, the U.S. Department of Justice clarified that the Wire Act of 1961, which banned gambling across state lines, only applied to sports betting. In 2018, the same body declared that it applied to any form of gambling. In 2020, a federal judge ruled that the more limited 2011 interpretation ruled the day. A 2021 judicial panel agreed — mostly.

California

  • Play CA, 7.12.22 – History Says California Sports Betting Question(s) Will Pass
    • With just under four months until Election Day, the general consensus is that one — or both — of the California sports betting ballot questions could fail. However, history suggests the smart money would be on California becoming the sixth state to permit sports betting via the voting booth. Legalized sports gambling initiatives are a perfect five-for-five in state elections.
  • Sports Handle, 7.11.22 – California Democrats Vote To Oppose Online Sports Wagering
    • The California Democratic Party on Sunday voted to join the mounting chorus of those opposed to Proposition 27, an online sports wagering initiative put forth by seven national companies.
  • Play CA, 7.11.22 – CA Democrats Come Out Against Online Sports Betting Proposal
    • The dominant political party in California is opposing a November ballot initiative that would legalize online sports gambling. The executive board of the California Democratic Party voted to formally oppose Proposition 27. The proposal would amend the state constitution to permit online sports betting in California. It requires online gaming operators to partner with tribal casinos and dedicates a set percentage of revenue to homelessness and mental health services.

Iowa

  • Sports Handle, 7.11.22 – Iowa Sports Wagering Revenue A Year-Low $6.6 Million For June
    • The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission reported nearly $6.6 million in sports wagering revenue for June, a monthly low for 2022 as operators could not sustain their momentum from May while dealing with the seasonal summer downturn in handle.

Maryland

  • Legal Sports Report, 7.12.22 – Could Online Maryland Sports Betting Finally Move Forward This Week?
    • Online Maryland sports betting could take a significant step forward this week after long stretches of inaction. The Sports Wagering Application Review Commission posted draft applications and regulations on its website Monday. The SWARC will meet Wednesday to discuss and vote on the MD sports betting drafts.
  • Sports Handle, 7.11.22 – Maryland Sports Wagering Handle Tails Off To $19.1 Million For June
    • Maryland Lottery and Gaming reported a modest $19.1 million in sports wagering handle for the state in June and revenue dropped steeply thanks to the public performing well at MGM National Harbor.

Michigan

  • Michigan Sharp.Com, 7.11.22 – New Budget Increases Funding for Michigan Gaming Control Board
    • The regulatory body that oversees gaming in Michigan, including online sports betting and retail sports betting, as well as casino activity, will receive a funding boost in the 2022-23 budget. Lawmakers in Michigan passed their omnibus bill for the 2023 fiscal year last week, and the legislation is awaiting the signature of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who is expected to sign it into law. The bill assigns an increase of $7 million in funding for the Michigan Gaming Control Board. The funding was agreed to on a bipartisan basis.

New Jersey

New York

  • Legal Sports Report, 7.12.22 – Opinion: Cry Me A River Over NY Sports Betting Tax Rate
    • The talk of tax rates on NY sports betting revenue continues well into this summer. In a recent story from Front Office Sports, it was reported that New York sports betting operators are unhappy with the 51% tax rate in New York and the strict rules that prohibit the deduction of promotions. This is, of course, not necessarily new, as there has long been griping about former Governor Andrew Cuomo‘s ‘compromise’ that brought sports betting to the Empire State.