Industry News of the Day for March 25, 2020

iDEA Growth in the News:

• Gambling Compliance, 3.25.20 – US Regulators Focusing On Coronavirus Closures, Rather Than Online Gaming (J. Ifrah mentioned as iDEA Growth founder)
  • With every commercial and tribal casino in the U.S. now closed, will this force more states to look to legalize online gambling to make up for a sharp decline in gaming tax revenue?
• Gaming Intelligence, 3.25.20 – US Gaming Industry Launches Nationwide iGaming Plan (subscription paywall)
  • US online gaming industry group iDEA (iDevelopment and Economic Association) has launched a three-prong strategy that would allow any land-based US operator to launch online gaming in states without iGaming legislation.

Industry News:

• ESPN, 3.24.20 – 100% Of US Casinos To Be Closed Wednesday
  • In a matter of weeks, the commercial casino industry in the United States has grinded to a halt due to the coronavirus pandemic, and the American sportsbooks still offering online betting are turning to obscure sports in hopes of mitigating a significant loss in revenue with no definitive end in sight.
• Sports Handle, 3.24.20 – Retail Casinos, Sportsbooks Shuttered, But Mobile Offers Options
  • As of Wednesday afternoon, every commercial casino in the United States will be closed in the face of COVID-19, but only after some begging and pleading happened in South Dakota.
• PlayUSA, 3.24.20 – 5 Pieces Of Good Gambling News To Read Right Now
  • Among the backdrop of a global pandemic and the uncertainty currently plaguing the casino industry, there are a few bright spots to be had.
• iGB North America, 3.25.20 – GAN Reiterates 2020 Forecast Despite COVID-19
  • Gambling software supplier GAN has reiterated its confidence in its 2020 forecast, which projected revenue of $37m-$39m, even as the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) affects its sports betting vertical.
• Market Watch, 3.24.20 – With Most Sports On Hiatus, Will Betting On eSports Become Popular?
  • The Coronavirus pandemic forced the suspension of the NBA, MLB, NHL, and professional soccer seasons, as well as the outright cancellation of the NCAA March Madness tournament. The Tokyo Olympics have been postponed until at least 2021.

Federal News:

• Gambling Compliance, 3.25.20 – US Courts Fill Vacuum Left By Congress On Sports Betting, Wire Act
  • The laissez-faire attitude of Congress toward sports betting stands in stark contrast to its warp-speed approval of federal regulation 22 years ago when the U.S. Supreme Court lifted restrictions on Indian gaming.

Vermont:

• Sports Handle, 3.25.20 – Sports Betting Study Bill Gets Approval In Vermont
  • With much of the rest of the world working from home or not at all, Vermont lawmakers moved a sports betting bill forward on Tuesday.

New York:

• Legal Sports Report, 3.25.20 – Governor Cuomo Ends Hopes Of Mobile NY Sports Betting In Budget
  • Mobile NY sports betting will not make the state budget as legislators and Governor Andrew Cuomo remain on opposite sides.

New Jersey:

• PlayNJ, 3.24.20 – Atlantic City Casinos Support Employees, Community As COVID-19 Spreads
  • Atlantic City casinos are stepping up to support their employees and a community reeling from the impact of the coronavirus health crisis.

Pennsylvania:

• PlayPennsylvania, 3.24.20 – Online Poker In Pennsylvania Poised For March Revenue Boost
  • The saying typically goes “March comes in like a lion, goes out like a lamb.” But for online poker in Pennsylvania, the traffic is roaring as the month comes to a close.
• PlayPennsylvania, 3.24.20 – PA Gaming Review: Online Casino And Poker On The Rise As New Slot Titles Added
  • Online betting remains a bright spot everywhere that it is available. Virtually every physical casino throughout the US is shuttered due to coronavirus precautions.
• TribLive, 3.24.20 – Online Sports Bettors Turn To Pingpong As Leagues Postpone Season
  • At a time when bettors would typically be placing wagers on March Madness brackets and NHL playoff favorites, Pennsylvania sports enthusiasts are instead putting their money on Russian pingpong.

West Virginia:

• PlayWV, 3.24.20 – West Virginia Online Sports Betting: What’s Left To Bet On?
  • With the entire country on lockdown due to concerns over the spreading of COVID-19, US sports are no longer in commission. That means a very difficult time for West Virginia sportsbooks, as well as those all over the US.

Tennessee:

• Daily Memphian, 3.24.20 – Nelson: Sports Betting Is (Finally, Probably) Coming To Tennessee. Let’s Hope Sports Do, Too
  • When it comes to sports betting in Tennessee, there are two schools of thought.

Colorado:

• Westworld, 3.25.20 – There Won’t Be Much To Bet On When Sports Betting Becomes Legal
  • On May 1, sports betting will become legal in Colorado. The state will be ready…but all bets are off when it comes to what Coloradans will be able to bet on, and where.

South Dakota:

• PlayIA, 3.24.20 – South Dakota Casinos Finally Follow Suit And Close Doors
  • All 465 of the country’s commercial casinos will be closed by Wednesday at noon. Deadwood, South Dakota’s Mayor David Ruth Jr. called on operators to close due to the coronavirus pandemic, per a press release from the American Gaming Association (AGA).

California:

• Gambling.Com, 3.24.20 – California Sports Betting Appears On Hold Until 2022
  • The shutdown of public interaction in California due to coronavirus could upend a bid by the state’s tribal casino-owners to launch an initiative that would land them the right to offer sports betting in the nation’s most-populous state.