Industry News of the Day for June 21, 2023
Industry News
- Legal Sports Report: US Congresswoman Asks For Clarity On Sports Betting Rules
- After a few headlines about NFL suspensions related to gambling, US Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV) wants professional sports leagues to be transparent on their sports betting policies. Titus sent letters to 13 professional leagues and the NCAA on Thursday, asking them to clearly outline their sports betting and gambling policies for athletes and employees. The Congresswoman expects responses by July 15.
- SBC Americas: SCOTUS Ruling In ICWA Adoption Case Reaffirms Tribal Sovereignty
- At first glance it may not be clear how a Supreme Court case on adoption ties to tribal gambling, however, a SCOTUS decision last week on the matter reaffirmed the tribal sovereignty at the core of the industry. The recent court challenge alleged that it was racial discrimination to give preference to Native American families in tribal adoptions over other races. The other aspect of the legal challenge was that the law undermined the state’s role in family law matters with a federal mandate.
- CBS: NFL Gambling Policy: League Lays Out Six Key Rules To Help Educate Players About Potential Violations
- The NFL is working through identifying and handing down punishments for violations of the league’s gambling policy this offseason, having already cited six players who broke the rules. The NFL may not be done yet, either. On Tuesday, the NFL held a conference call where the league discussed the gambling policy and education. Via NFL Media, it laid out six key rules for players to know and follow.
Kentucky
- Gaming Today: $2 Million: The Monthly Cost Of Not Launching Kentucky Sports Betting
- Every month that Kentucky delays its sports betting launch, it’s missing out on nearly $2 million in tax revenue. This amount trickles down from an estimated $208 million in monthly sports betting handle during the peak sports season. Handle is the total amount of money that customers wager. After payouts to players and promotional deductions, there’s little tax revenue left over. Gov. Andy Beshear is on the record hoping that sports betting will be live by the NFL season’s start.
- PlayKentucky: Exclusive: 71% Of Kentucky Residents Prefer 21 Over 18 For Sports Betting Age
- In a statewide survey, PlayKentucky found that 71% of Kentucky residents believe the legal age for sports betting in the state should be 21 instead of 18. Clearly, Kentucky residents don’t agree with lawmakers’ choice to make sports betting an 18-and-older industry. This result overlaps with concerns about the accessibility of online gambling that comes with sports betting apps and the family of concerns that branch out of the prospect of underage gambling.
Michigan
- PlayMichigan: Michigan Online Casinos Post Top 5 Month In May With $150 Million In Revenue
- Michigan online casinos put up a top-5 all-time revenue month in May of 2023, recording $150.6 million. While the total is a 5.5% drop from April 2023’s $159.4 million, it’s an 18% jump from May 2022’s $127.4 million. May’s total pushes Michigan’s all-time online casino revenue to just under $3.5 billion. It also leaves the lifetime tax revenue total dollars just below $900 million.
New Jersey
- PlayNJ: Basketball Betting Helps NJ Sportsbooks Bounce Back In May With $82 Million In Revenue
- Sportsbooks in New Jersey enjoyed a nice rebound in May revenue. And fittingly on the back of basketball betting. According to data from the Division of Gaming Enforcement, NJ sports betting accepted $778.9 million in bets last month. While it represents the industry’s lowest monthly total since August, it does stand as the second-highest May output since launching in 2018.
Ohio
- Legal Sports Report: Ohio Senate Passes Higher Sports Betting Tax Rate In Budget
- Sports betting in Ohio is still a relatively new product, but that does not mean its tax rate is exempt from change. Gov. Mike DeWine announced his intentions to raise the tax on Ohio sportsbooks to 20%, up from the 10% passed in 2021‘s enabling legislation. The House did not take up the proposed change in the version of HB 33 it passed in April. The Senate, however, reinserted the language into the bill, which passed the chamber Thursday.
Pennsylvania
- PlayPennsylvania: PA Online Casino Revenue Exceeds $170 Million In May For Second-Best Month
- As the sports calendar is winding down, Pennsylvania online casino revenue has not. In figures released by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB), online casino operators recorded $170.4 million in May revenue. It’s the second-best online casino revenue total in the state’s history. It’s the sixth straight month Pennsylvania has posted a revenue mark more than $160 million, and the second time in three months the state has exceeded $170 million.