Industry News of the Day for June 19, 2019

By iDEA | June 19, 2019

iDEA Growth in the News:

  • Online Poker Report, 6.18.19 – Congress To Consider Defunding DOJ Enforcement Of 2018 Wire Act Opinion (iDEA Growth mentioned in article)
    • Congress is involving itself in the attempt by the Department of Justice to expand the scope of the Wire Act. And believe it or not, federal lawmakers are acting on behalf of state-regulated online gambling industries. Members of the Rules Committee filed an amendment to an appropriations bill on Tuesday that would block the funding needed to enforce a new interpretation of the 1961 law.

Industry News:

  • Sports Handle, 6.18.19 – State Of States 2019: There’s No Template For Legal Sports Betting
    • Six months into 2019 and with many legislative sessions adjourned or winding down, we thought it would be a good time to take stock of what’s happened so far. Five states have legalized sports betting this year with two more on or near the cusp (New Hampshire, Colorado).
  • Law 360 (subscription paywall), 6.17.19 – Sports Betting Will Break Free Of Casinos As States Cash In
    • As online sports betting proliferates, operators of these platforms are often hamstrung by state laws requiring them to partner with traditional brick-and-mortar casinos and racetracks, yet such partnerships may soon fall by the wayside as experts say they hinder the development of the burgeoning new industry.

New York:

  • Legal Sports Report, 6.19.19 – NY Sports Betting Bill Clears Senate Hurdle, But Many More Await
    • As New York Sen. Joseph Addabbo Jr. told Legal Sports Report earlier Monday, his NY sports betting legislation cleared the Senate on a 57-5 vote. He also believes there is general support in the Assembly to pass the bill if leadership allows it to happen.
  • Gambling Compliance (subscription paywall), 6.18.19 – New York Senate Approves Mobile Sports Betting, But Obstacles Remain
    • Legislation that would legalize mobile sports betting in New York cleared its first hurdle on Monday afternoon, but the two largest hurdles still remain in place with no immediate signs of movement.
  • Spectrum News, 6.18.19 – Constitutional Concerns Over Mobile Sports Betting Remain For Assembly
    • Allowing bets on sporting events on mobile devices continued to stall at the Capitol on Tuesday, as Democrats in the Assembly continue to have concerns over the measure’s constitutionality. The bill, approved in the state Senate on Monday, would allow sports bets to take place on apps for smartphones and tablets, with severs placed in casinos.
  • Action Network, 6.18.19 – New York Senate Approves Mobile Sports Betting Bill, Hurdles Still Remain
    • The New York State Senate passed a sports betting bill on Monday that, if passed in the Assembly and signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, would provide for mobile sports betting in the state. While the passage in the Senate, by a 57-5 vote, is a positive sign, it hardly means this is a done deal. The Assembly doesn’t automatically have to bring it to a vote and Cuomo has previously said that mobile betting could be unconstitutional.
  • Spectrum News, 6.17.19 – Seneca Casinos Preparing To Start Sports Betting
    • The Seneca Nation of Indians said Monday it is preparing to bring sports betting in its casinos, although the timeline isn’t clear yet. Last week, the New York Gaming Commission approved rules and regulations for licensing, owning and operating sports gaming facilities. The rules apply only to the four Upstate casinos and Native American facilities and wagers must be placed in person.

New Jersey:

  • Asbury Park Press, 6.18.19 – NJ Sports Betting: With Nearly $3 Billion Wagered, Is First Year A Success?
    • It’s been one year since gambling in the United States, and ultimately the entire sports landscape, was altered inexorably when New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy walked up to the betting window at the Monmouth Park Sports Book by William Hill in Oceanport and began this grand experiment by plunking down $20 future wagers on Germany winning the World Cup and Devils winning the Stanley Cup.
  • South Jersey Times, 6.18.19 – After First Match, N.J. Sports Betting Looks Solid | Editorial
    • Measured on the added activity and dollars that have been flowing around since June 14, 2018 — the first day that the first legal sports bet dollar was wagered here — New Jersey’s long-frustrated, but ultimately successful, attempt to get a federal ban reversed have worked out well.

Pennsylvania:

Maine:

  • Press Herald, 6.18.19 – Bill To Legalize Sports Betting Advances In Maine Legislature
    • Lawmakers gave initial approval Tuesday night to legislation that would add Maine to the growing list of states that have legalized betting on athletic events. The Senate voted 19-15 and the House voted unanimously to approve a bill that would allow individuals 21 or older to gamble on professional and most collegiate sports in Maine.

Illinois:

Iowa:

  • US Bets, 6.18.19 – Iowa Casinos Requesting ‘Aggressive Timetable’ For Sportsbooks, Regulator Says
    • Iowa is slowly but surely moving toward kicking off sports betting this year. The state legalized sports wagering in May and officials expect to have books open in August, according to The Courier. At an Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission hearing last week, a state regulator told commissioners that the casinos in the state are eager to begin betting for the upcoming NFL football season.

Federal News:

  • Law 360 (subscription paywall), 6.17.19 – The Fight Over DOJ’s New Wire Act Opinion Continues
    • In January 2019, the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel released its 2018 opinion of the Wire Act, concluding that it prohibits all state-authorized and regulated online gambling. In doing so, it surprisingly replaced its 2011 opinion, which found the Wire Act only applies to sports betting.
  • Legal Sports Report, 6.18.19 – What We Can Learn From Ted Olson’s History With The Wire Act?
    • Ted Olson‘s history with the Wire Act goes back a lot farther than you think. Olson played a role advocating in favor of a broad interpretation of the Wire Act long before he stepped to the plate as leader-by-proxy representing Neopollard as part of New Hampshire‘s successful effort to have the new Justice Department opinion on the scope of the Wire Act changed.

Sports League News:

iDEA Growth Member News:

  • Legal Sports Report, 6.18.19 – Maybe Golden Nugget Will Accept NBA Bets In New Jersey After All
    • A new NJ sports betting bill would lift an NBA betting ban that stifled the first year of wagers at Golden Nugget in New Jersey. Mirroring bills in the New Jersey Assembly and Senate propose eliminating the restriction on those who own casinos and sports franchises.
  • NJ Gambling Sites, 6.18.19 – Golden Nugget’s Frown May Turn Upside Down If NBA Betting Ban Lifts
    • Golden Nugget could soon have NBA betting at its sportsbooks and those of its online sports partners in New Jersey. The state’s Assembly Appropriations Committee on Tuesday approved a proposed bill that allows any casino owner who holds a stake of 10% or more in any sports franchise to accept wagers on events within those leagues.

Overall Industry News:

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