Industry News of the Day for June 16, 2023

By iDEA | June 16, 2023

Industry News

  • District of Columbia: DC Strips Budget Of Problem Gambling Funds From Sports Betting
    • The District of Columbia passed a budget Tuesday that stripped annual funding for problem gambling that comes from DC sports betting taxes. Stripping the funds from the fiscal 2024 budget came despite responsible gambling advocates urging the District and Mayor Muriel Bowser to reconsider. It appears the money will divert to programs for substance abuse and behavioral health.
  • SBC Americas: AGA: US Industry Sustains Growth With Eighth Straight $5bn+ Revenue Month
    • The American Gaming Association has noted that the US gambling industry has continued its upwards trajectory, marking eight consecutive months of revenue exceeding $5bn. Publishing its Commerical Gaming Tracker for April, the AGA noted that commercial operators generated $5.41bn in revenue in April, up 7.8% YoY. This also marks 26 straight months of growth as the US industry hasn’t looked back since the pandemic.
  • The Sydney Morning Herald: The Guardian To Forfeit ‘Millions’ As It Dumps Gambling Ads
    • The Guardian will stop accepting gambling advertising across all its channels, in a move its local boss says will cost it millions of dollars. Coming into effect on Thursday, the ad ban applies to all Guardian’s services locally and globally, including the United Kingdom where it continues a print edition. With the inquiry into online gambling advertising expected to offer its recommendations early next week, Guardian Australia editor Lenore Taylor said: “We’ve been thinking about this at a global level for quite a long time.”

Kentucky

  • PlayKentucky: Responsible Gaming Expert Says 18+ Is Safe For Kentucky Sportsbooks
    • Once you’re 18, the U.S. government views you as an adult. At that age, you can do nearly everything your parents can. Except drink alcohol, bet on sports or go to casinos, at least in most states. However, when the Kentucky sports betting bill was introduced and passed, the legislation allowed 18-year-olds to bet on sports in the Bluegrass State.

Massachusetts

  • PlayMA: Fanatics Gets $123K In Beta Testing Handle, DraftKings Grows MA Lead Over FanDuel
    • Fanatics reported $123,108.74 in handle while its beta product was live in Massachusetts for the final week of May. That’s according to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, which released May sports betting handle and revenue figures on Thursday. DraftKings expanded its lead in the Massachusetts online sports betting market over FanDuel. The Boston-based sportsbook had $221.1 million in May betting handle for 49.8% of the market, while FanDuel’s handle was $135.3 million for 30.5% of the market.

North Carolina

  • PlayUSA: Signing Of North Carolina Sports Betting Bill Starts One-Year Window To Launch
    • Online sports betting is officially coming to North Carolina in the first half of 2024. Gov. Roy Cooper signed HB 347 on Thursday at 11:18 am at the Spectrum Center, home of the Charlotte Hornets. “Let’s face it, sports wagering already is happening in our state,” Cooper said. “Surrounding states here and across the country are already taking advantage. … This legislation allows the state of North Carolina to regulate it and to put safeguards on it, as well as provide funding for helping people with problem gambling.”
  • TheLines: North Carolina Sports Betting Celebrated By Professional Teams In NC
    • With North Carolina sports betting being signed into law this week, teams in the state have announced their support. The measure, HB 347, not only brings some of the best sports betting sites to the Tar Heel State but also allows for retail sportsbooks at local stadiums. Eight local arenas are eligible to host NC sports betting at brick-and-mortar sportsbooks. The Charlotte Hornets, Carolina Panthers, Carolina Hurricanes, and Charlotte Football Club are among the teams that can offer sports betting.

Rhode Island

  • PlayUSA: Rhode Island Legislature Sends Online Casino Bill To Governor
    • Just when it looked like no state would legalize online casino in 2023, little old Rhode Island comes out of nowhere. The Rhode Island House of Representatives passed legislation 57-11 Thursday to authorize online casino. The Senate passed the bill by a 30-4 vote last week. Despite several hostile amendments and back-and-forth discussion on the House floor, the bill passed unamended. Therefore it does not need to go back to the Senate for concurrence. Now the legislation heads to the desk of Gov. Daniel McKee.
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