Industry News of the Day for June 10, 2021

iDEA Growth Member News: 

• IGB, 6.10.21: PointsBet Secures Maryland Market Access Deal With Riverboat Group 
  • Sportsbook operator PointsBet has entered into an agreement with the Riverboat Group’s Riverboat on-the-Potomac venue in Maryland to secure market access in the US state. 
• SBC, 6.10.21: Draftkings Commits To Supporting AGA Campaign For Safer Gambling (Draftkings, Sportradar mentioned) 
  • DraftKings Inc has confirmed today that it will collaborate with the American Gaming Association (AGA) to promote the AGA’s Have A Game Plan. Bet Responsibly. public service campaign. 

Overall Industry News: 

• SBC, 6.9.21: Integrity Remains High On The Agenda As Pro Sports Leagues Acclimatize To Legalized US Sports Betting 
  • The turnaround in attitudes from the professional sports leagues towards legalized sports betting in the US was one of the main topics for discussion during today’s SBC Digital North America conference. 

Pennsylvania: 

• Penn Bets, 6.9.21: Legislative Proposal Would Open Esports To Wagering In Pennsylvania For First Time 
  • Pennsylvania would join other states recognizing the growing popularity of eSports by legalizing sports betting on it under a bill introduced Tuesday. HB 1580, sponsored by Philadelphia Democrat Rep. Ed Neilson, was referred to the House Gaming Oversight Committee. There is no indication whether it is likely to move forward in the Republican-controlled legislature. 

Louisiana:  

• Legal Sports Report, 6.9.21: Louisiana Sports Betting Bill Down To Final Chances 
  • Louisiana sports betting legislation is in a race for passage before the end of the session. While Gov. John Bel Edwards already signed HB 697, two other pieces of LA sports betting legislation are still in progress. The session ends Thursday. 

Wyoming: 

• Legal Sports Report, 6.9.21: Wyoming Sports Betting On Track For September Launch With Rules Move 
  • The Wyoming Gaming Commission rolled through its fifth draft of sports betting rules with relatively little discussion and approved the rules for submission to Gov. Mark Gordon. The draft then enters a 45-day public comment period before the commission addresses any other rule changes for sports betting in Wyoming. 

Ohio: 

• Sports Handle, 6.9.21: Changes Made To Ohio’s Sports Betting Bill In Quick Committee Meeting 
  • After a two-hour delay due to budget hearings, the Ohio Select Committee on Gaming met for a 14th time for approximately five minutes Wednesday afternoon to announce changes to the proposed sports betting bill, SB 176. 

Vermont: 

• Covers, 6.9.21: Vermont Takes Small Step Toward Legal Sports Betting 
  • Vermont Gov. Phil Scott has signed a bill into law that will launch a study of legalized sports betting and that the Republican hopes will spur the state legislature to take action. 

Massachusetts: 

• NECN, 6.10.21: After Stalling Last Session, Sports Betting Debate Re-Emerges in Mass. 
  • More than two years after holding a two-day hearing that revolved around whether or how to legalize sports betting in Massachusetts, the Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies will revisit the issue next week. 

Tennessee: 

• Play Tenn, 6.9.21: Tennessee’s Responsible Gaming Hotline Calls Are On The Decline 
  • Six months after sports betting’s launch in Tennessee, calls to the Tennessee REDLINE, the state-specific hotline for gambling addiction resources, are beginning to level out. The organization reports a decline in calls across multiple categories. 

Illinois: 

• SBC, 6.10.21: Illinois Becomes No.2 In US Sports Betting Despite April Revenue Fall 
  • Illinois became the second biggest US sports betting state in April, despite suffering the steepest month-on-month decline in sports wagering volume in the young market’s history. Alongside New Jersey it becomes only the second state to achieve an April handle of more than $500m. 
• Legal Sports Report, 6.9.21: Illinois Sports Betting Latest Market To Report April Slowdown 
  • Sports betting revenue also fell, albeit at a much lower rate of 1.6% to $43.6 million, according to the state report. That brought hold up to 8.1%, the highest it’s been for IL sportsbooks since January. 

South Dakota: 

• Legal Sports Report, 6.9.21: South Dakota Sports Betting Rules Push Forward 
  • The Legislative Rules Review Committee gave its OK to the Commission on Gaming’s proposed rules for sports betting in South Dakota. The Commission on Gaming will hold a public hearing to adopt additional sports wagering rules on July 14. 

North Carolina: 

• The Richmond Observer, 6.9.21: Sponsors Of N.C. Sports Betting Legislation Hope For Discussions This Month 
  • Senate Bill 688, sponsored by Sens. Jim Perry, R-Wayne, and Paul Lowe, D-Forsyth, was referred to the Committee on Rules and Operations of the Senate on April 8 and has sat there since. As previously reported by Carolina Journal, that legislation aims to authorize and regulate sports betting in North Carolina beyond the tribal casinos, with the revenue primarily going to schools and economic development.