Industry News of the Day for March 1, 2021

iDEA Growth in the News:

• Yogonet, 3.1.21 – Both Maryland Legislative Chambers Discussing Sports Betting Rules (iDEA Growth mentioned)
  • Members of a Maryland House of Delegates committee on Thursday heard testimony on a detailed proposal to create the rules for legal sports betting from Democratic Speaker Adrienne A. Jones.

iDEA Growth Member News

• Legal Sports Report, 2.26.21 – It Sounds Like DraftKings Sportsbook Is Coming To Oregon
  • DraftKings appears like it will be taking over as the legal sportsbook operator and brand in Oregon.
• PlayIA, 2.26.21 – FanDuel Encouraged By Iowa Registration Numbers As March Madness Approaches
  • The sunset of the in-person registration requirement is paying big dividends for FanDuel, one of the top sportsbook in Iowa.

Industry News:

• Sports Handle, 2.27.21 – Get A Grip: Week In Sports Betting: Vegas Golden Knights Surprise, AZ And TX Developments, New Business, And More
  • Here’s the weekend (or fashionably late) Sports Handle item, “Get a Grip,” recapping the week’s top US sports betting stories, highlighting some fresh news, and rounding up key stories.

Sports League News:

• ESPN, 2.27.21 – Vegas Golden Knights End Brief Partnership With Sports Betting Pick-Seller
  • The Vegas Golden Knights have terminated a brief partnership with UpickTrade, a company based in Mexico that sells sports betting picks, including on the NHL.
• PlayPennsylvania, 2.26.21 – Philadelphia Eagles Write The Playbook On Sports Betting And iGaming Partnerships
  • Off the field, when it comes to sports betting partnerships, the Eagles have a solid roster.

Maryland:

• Legal Sports Report, 2.26.21 – Maryland Sports Betting Bill Leaves Hopeful Operators Wanting More
  • There was plenty of positive testimony on Maryland sports betting Thursday, but those looking to get involved want more opportunities.
• Sports Handle, 2.26.21 – Maryland Lawmakers Hear Plenty As Sports Betting Framework Takes Shape
  • The Maryland House of Delegates on Thursday afternoon took a small but necessary and important step toward implementing the framework for legal sports betting in the state — an expansion that voters overwhelmingly approved via ballot referendum in the November 2020 election.

Pennsylvania:

• TribLive, 2.28.21 – Several Pennsylvania Organizations To Participate In Problem Gambling Awareness Month
  • The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board is working in conjunction with other state entities to promote Problem Gambling Awareness Month in March.
• PlayPennsylvania, 2.26.21 – Help Is Near: Problem Gambling Resources Focus Of PGCB March Campaign
  • March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month on the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board‘s calendar, a time to heighten awareness of the resources available to help individuals with a gambling problem.

Connecticut:

• The Day, 2.26.21 – Public Hearing On Gaming Bills To Be Held Virtually Tuesday
  • Several proposals dealing with sports wagering, online casino gaming and other gaming matters are among more than a dozen bills scheduled for an airing Tuesday during a virtual public hearing conducted by the legislature’s Public Safety and Security Committee.
• CT Post, 3.1.21 – With CT Lottery Growing, Could It Expand To Sports Betting?
  • Two years ago, the new chief executive of the Connecticut Lottery Corp. invited lawmakers and reporters to hear his vision of a gambling future in which CT Lottery could take bets on sports and make lottery games available online.

Massachusetts:

• MassLive, 2.27.21 – Adam Gomez, Orlando Ramos Introduce Bill To Allow Sports Betting At Small Massachusetts Businesses
  • Several Western Massachusetts legislators seek to make it easier to place a bet among friends.
• WWLP, 2.26.21 – MA Lawmakers File Sports Betting Bill For Bars And Restaurants
  • Two local legislators are proposing to legalize sports betting at bars and restaurants.

Rhode Island:

• iGB North America, 3.1.21 – Rhode Island Sports Betting Handle Reaches Record $39.8M In January
  • Sportsbooks in Rhode Island processed a record $39.8m in sports wagers during January, while the US state also saw a 12.7% year-on-year increase in sports betting revenue.

Virginia:

• PlayVirginia, 2.26.21 – New Bill Wants To Make Laws On Gray Gambling Machines More Black And White
  • Virginia law enforcement could have the latitude it needs to finally clamp down on illegal gambling machines and their operators.

West Virginia:

• iGB North America, 3.1.21 – MediaTroopers Secures Permanent Sports Wagering Supplier License In WV
  • Digital marketing agency MediaTroopers has secured a permanent sports betting supplier license from the West Virginia Lottery.

Tennessee:

• WREG, 2.27.21 – TN Lawmakers File Bill To Stop You From Getting A Payday Loan And Waging A Bet At The Same Place
  • Darren Jernigan and other legislators are targeting Advance Financial, a Nashville-based lending service. They say allowing high risk loans and sports gambling should not happen under the same roof.

Georgia:

• Legal Sports Report, 2.26.21 – How Voting Rights Could Affect Georgia Sports Betting Hopes In 2021
  • Constitutional arguments and state politics are throwing the chances of legalizing sports betting in Georgia this year into doubt.
• GPB, 2.26.21 – Lawmakers Brief: Gambling Legislation On The Ropes At The State Capitol
  • A House bill to allow online sports betting in Georgia, along with other gambling bills, could be in jeopardy as House Democrats threaten to pull support.
• Gambling.com, 2.26.21 – Politics Could Slow Georgia Sports Betting Push This Year
  • The immediate future of sports betting in Georgia has fallen victim to partisanship within the state House over issues that have nothing to do with gambling.

Florida:

• WTVY, 2.28.21 – Florida Representatives File Legislation To Legalize Domestic Sports Wagering
  • Florida representative Chip LaMarca (R-Lighthouse Point), along with Rep. Anika Omphroy (D-Lauderdale Lakes), have filed legislation to legalize sports wagering in an effort to address the budget shortfall in the state.
• CBS 12, 3.1.21 – Legalizing Sports Wagering May Be Smart Bet For Florida Post-Pandemic
  • We will feel the effects of the pandemic on our economy for years.

Michigan:

• PlayMichigan, 2.26.21 – MLB Spring Training Games Are Off The Board At Michigan Sportsbooks… For Now
  • For Michigan sports fans anxious to explore daily baseball odds in the state’s new sports betting landscape, wagers will have to wait until Opening Day.

Indiana:

• PlayIndiana, 2.26.21 – BetMGM Celebrates One-Year Anniversary As A Top Indiana Online Sportsbook
  • It’s been one year since BetMGM and PointsBet made their Indiana debuts.

Nebraska:

• Omaha World-Herald, 3.1.21 – Sports Betting Surges At Iowa Casinos. Will It Come To Nebraska Next?
  • Less than three years ago, Nebraskans who wanted to bet on sports legally had no choice but to book a flight to Vegas.

Colorado:

• The Denver Post, 2.26.21 – Colorado Sports Gambling Hits Record-Setting $326.9 Million Wagered In January
  • The growth of sports betting in Colorado continues to skyrocket with a monthly record of $326.9 million wagered in January, according to a report from the state’s department of revenue.

Nevada:

• Sierra Nevada Ally, 3.1.21 – Online Sports Betting Helps Buoy Nevada’s Gaming Tax Revenue During The Pandemic
  • COVID-19 has been a boon for online sports betting in Nevada and across the United States.
• The Center Square, 2.26.21 – Nevada Sports Betting Revenue Grew 10% In January
  • Sports betting in Nevada continued its month-over-month growth as $646.7 million was wagered in January.

South Dakota:

• PlayIA, 2.26.21 – Deadwood Sports Betting Lives: No Mobile Wagering For The Rest Of South Dakota
  • If you were hoping to legally wager on sporting events anywhere in South Dakota this year, your hope should keep springing eternal.