Industry News of the Day for June 2, 2021

By iDEA | June 2, 2021

iDEA Growth in the News: 

  • Legal Sports Report, 6.1.21: Illinois Somehow Makes Sports Betting Law Worse With Latest In-Person Gaffe (John Pappas mentioned) 
    • Legislators appear to be doubling down on bad Illinois sports betting law that includes in-person requirements. The House passed SB 521 with a few amendments as the state’s legislature went into overtime Tuesday. One of those amendments sets up a trial run for betting on in-state colleges until July 2023. 

iDEA Growth Member News: 

  • IGB, 6.2.21: Kambi To Support NG Gaming With Latin America Sports Betting Launch 
    • Betting solutions provider Kambi has agreed a deal to provide its technology and services to NG Gaming to support the launch of its new Olimpo.bet online sports betting brand in Latin America. 
  • Play IA, 6.2.21: Some Tennis Bets Are Off Following Osaka Activism (DraftKings, PointsBet, FanDuel mentioned) 
    • Tennis has been rattled by the Naomi Osaka earthquake, but it began as a tremor on May 26. That’s when Osaka told Twitter followers and Roland-Garros officials she would not do post-match press conferences at the French Open. She considers the briefings detrimental to her mental health. 

Pennsylvania: 

Louisiana: 

New Hampshire: 

Maine:  

Virginia: 

  • Legal Sports Report, 6.1.21: Even Freshman Virginia Sports Betting Not Immune To Swoon 
    • Sportsbook operators generated $19.4 million in gross revenue, good for an 8.22% hold, according to a Virginia Lottery release Friday. Similar to most legal markets, Virginia sports betting took a dip as the sports calendar thinned. April wagers in the state were down 22% from March. 

Tennessee: 

Michigan: 

  • Play Michigan, 6.2.21: Q&A: New Michigan Gaming Control Board Director Henry Williams On Problem Gambling 
    • A few months after the launch of online gambling, Michigan is moving into the next phase in the sector’s natural timeline. Part of that process is continued management of problem gambling and increased promotion of responsible behavior. That’s one of the main issues on the plate of Henry Williams, who stepped into the job last month as executive director of the Michigan Gaming Control Board. 

Canada: 

  • Legal Sports Report, 6.2.21: Room For Hope With Canada Sports Betting Bill In The Senate 
    • It was just more than a week ago that Kevin Waugh, the bill sponsor for C-218, expressed doubt over the Senate’s ability to pass legislation that would pave the way for single-game sports betting in Canada. 

Nebraska: 

  • Legal Sports Report, 6.1.21: Retail Nebraska Sports Betting On Its Way After Governor Signs Gaming Bill 
    • Nebraska sports betting legislation was signed by Gov. Pete Ricketts last week. Ricketts approved the legislation Tuesday, less than a week following the unicameral legislature’s final vote on LB 561, a gaming expansion bill that includes sports betting in Nebraska. 

Illinois: 

  • Sports Handle, 6.1.21: Illinois On Verge of Removing Carveout For Sports Betting On In-State Schools 
    • SB 521 passed in the House Tuesday with a three-fifths majority required since it did not come to a vote prior to midnight. Rep. Bob Rita, who is one of the primary drivers of gaming laws in the state, navigated the bill through three Executive Committee votes Monday and brought the bill to the House floor shortly before 1 a.m. local time after a fourth amendment was approved. 

Washington, D.C.:  

  • Play VA, 6.1.21: NBA’s Adam Silver Helps Celebrate In-Arena Betting at Capital One Arena 
    • NBA head honcho Adam Silver was among the throngs who witnessed the opening of the first in-arena sportsbook in the US. This past week, William Hill unveiled a dedicated retail sportsbook at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. Unlike Virginia, where all sports betting is currently done online, DC sports bettors can now wager in person. 
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