Industry News of the Day for June 27, 2023

By iDEA | June 27, 2023

Industry News

  • Legal Sports Report: Analysis: Does DraftKings Offer For PointsBet Make Business Sense?
    • Days after the conclusion of the 2023 NBA Draft, PointsBet is on the clock with DraftKings and Fanatics. Shareholders of the Australian gaming company are set to decide on the path forward for the US-facing segment during their upcoming June 30 meeting. The proposed $150 million deal with Fanatics Betting & Gaming announced last month is suddenly mired in some uncertainty.
  • SBC Americas: DFS Company PrizePicks Sued For Patent Infringment
    • A new lawsuit filed against daily fantasy sports company PrizePicks contends it stole the proprietary technology and its product is infringing on patents owned by Vetnos Technology. “By copying the Vetnos Technology, PrizePicks was able to launch a fixed-odds daily fantasy sports game and learn to effectively manage the risk associated with offering such a game without engaging in the significant trial, error, and loss that Vetnos’ predecessor engaged in to develop the Vetnos Technology,” the lawsuit claimed.

Arizona

  • PlayAZ: Cronkite School Offers First-Of-Its-Kind Sports Betting Degree
    • Social media has transformed many aspects of society, including journalism. It’s also changed the sports betting industry. Now, a new education program combines the two at one of the top journalism schools in the US. The Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University is one of the nation’s top journalism programs. This summer, it will offer professional education programs based in Los Angeles that will teach how to cultivate personal social media brands, including those related to sports betting.
  • Play USA: Arizona Q4 Tribal Contributions Put Total To Arizona Benefits Fund Over $2 Billion Since 2004
    • The Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG) released its report for Q4 of Fiscal Year (FY) 2023. As the ADG announced last week, the state generated $42.2 million in tribal gaming contributions to the Arizona Benefits Fund for the quarter. This milestone backs another year of record tribal gaming in Arizona contributions to the state’s Benefits Fund, with more than $153 million collected in FY 2023.

California

  • PlayCA: One CA Tribe Is Using Free-To-Play Sports Betting App To Boost Casino
    • California law prohibits traditional sports betting, but that doesn’t mean legal sports gaming options don’t exist in the state. The 29 Palms Band of Mission Indians recently launched a social betting platform that allows bettors to participate in free-to-play sports wagering and redeem credits for use inside the tribe’s casinos. Created in partnership with “social betwork” Sparket, the platform allows bettors to pick winners of sporting events, reality TV show competitions, esports and more.

Delaware

  • iGB North America: Delaware Sports Betting Handle Continues Decline In May
    • Sports betting handle in Delaware fell again in May, but the amount spent on igaming during the month hit a year-high. Consumers bet $2.8m betting on sports in May, down 45.1% from $5.1m in the same month in 2022 and also 17.7% behind $3.4m in April this year. This was also the lowest monthly total since August 2022. Revenue from sport betting during the month amounted to $245,474. This was 50.5% down from $495,676 last year and 34.5% lower than $374,568 in April.

Kentucky

  • PlayKentucky: Derby City Gaming Will House The Churchill Downs Sportsbook
    • We don’t yet know which operator Churchill Downs will partner with for its retail sportsbook. But we do know where that sportsbook will be located. Derby City Gaming, the flagship historical horse racing gaming facility of Churchill Downs Inc., will house the retail sportsbook affiliated with the legendary Louisville horse racetrack when the Kentucky sports betting market launches. Earlier this month, Derby City Gaming held a grand opening for its newest additions — a 123-room hotel, chophouse, bourbon bar and sports bar.
  • WDRB.com: Gambling, Hazing And Gender Services Among New Kentucky Laws Taking Effect This Week
    • New laws are going effect this week in Kentucky that impact everything from gender services to gambling. State lawmakers passed more than 170 bills during the 2023 legislative session, and the Kentucky Constitution states that new laws take effect 90 days after the legislature adjourns. That makes June 29 the effective date for most measures that weren’t put into effect immediately.

New York

  • PlayNY: Assembly Considering Legislation To Legalize Super Bowl Squares-Style Games As NY Sports Betting Grows
    • New York Assembly member Jarett Gandolfo introduced two bills that would legalize Super Bowl Squares pools at bars and restaurants in New York State. The change in law requires an amendment to the state constitution, which one of the bills would accomplish if passed. Super Bowl Squares is a popular casual betting game most often played among office pools, families and friends. Many local bars and restaurants have run squares pools during the Super Bowl, even though it’s not strictly legal despite the proliferation of legal online NY sports betting.

North Carolina

  • NC Sharp: North Carolina Schools Have Responsible Gambling Resource in Stacked Deck Program
    • Middle and high schools interested in teaching responsible gambling in North Carolina can receive state grants to offer the Stacked Deck program. Run through the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Stacked Deck, per the NCDHHS website, is “the only [Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Association] approved evidence-based curriculum for problem gambling prevention among teens and young adults.” To receive a $5,000 grant to run the program, a school must have at least 30 students participate.

Rhode Island

  • Legal Sports Report: Business By The Books: Could RI Opening Affect Bally Bet Plans?
    • The state of Rhode Island added another project to Bally’s plate that could distract from its sports betting issues. Gov. Daniel McKee signed SB948 into law last week, approving Bally’s to launch online casino in Rhode Island. It comes at a time when Bally’s has a lot on its plate, including a new casino in Chicago and the relaunch of sports betting brand Bally Bet.
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