Industry News of the Day for March 28, 2024

Industry News

  • TheLines: Sportsbooks Join Forces For New Responsible Online Gaming Association
    • Seven of the largest online sports betting operators in the U.S. have joined forces to form the Responsible Online Gaming Association (ROGA). ROGA consists of BetMGM, bet365, DraftKings, Fanatics Betting and Gaming, FanDuel, Hard Rock Digital and PENN Entertainment. ROGA is an independent trade association that demonstrates the commitment of sports betting operators to promoting responsible gaming.
  • SportsHandle: Nationwide Sports Betting State Taxes Surpass $5 Billion
    • The all-time state tax revenue from sports betting recently surpassed $5 billion, reaching the benchmark in less than six years since the first wagers were placed beyond Nevada’s borders in June 2018. More than 40% of that total — $2.15 billion — came in 2023, which was a banner year for sportsbook operators. The known hold on gross sports betting revenue was 9.1%, well above the 7% industry standard and more than one full percentage point higher compared to 2022. Last year’s tax receipts were $643.4 million higher than 2022.

Delaware

  • SBC Americas: Evolution Expands US Reach As It Launches In Delaware With Rush Street Interactive
    • Evolution has agreed a deal with Rush Street Interactive (RSI) to launch its online slots in Delaware. RSI, which has an exclusive deal with the Delaware Lottery to provide sports betting and iGaming in the state, will distribute Evolution’s content through its three online casinos – Delaware Park Casino & Raceway, Bally’s Dover Casino Resort and Harrington Raceway & Casino. Online casino players in Delaware will have access on the BetRivers powered platforms to online slots from Evolution Group’s NetEnt, Red Tiger and Big Time gaming brands.

Georgia

  • PlayUSA: Georgia House Democrats Ask For Needs-Based Education Funding To Pass Sports Betting
    • Entering the final day of the legislative session, the fate of Georgia sports betting legislation turned into a battle over needs-based education funding. In the House Higher Education Committee on Wednesday, Rep. Sam Park proposed an amendment to earmark 70% of Georgia sports betting revenue to needs-based scholarships. Early Thursday morning, the committee did not include Park’s amendment before advancing SB386 and constitutional amendment SR579 on to the House Rules Committee. Park told PlayUSA that he would try to negotiate a Rules substitute that includes part of his proposal.

Maryland

  • PlayMaryland: Maryland Senate Bill On Problem Gambling Gains Momentum
    • A bill on problem gambling is gaining momentum in the Maryland Senate. Members of the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee gave Senate Bill 878 a favorable report, with amendments, from its Feb. 28 hearing. The bill calls for “the Department of Health to conduct certain prevalence studies concerning problem and pathological mobile gambling, with an initial study to be completed by July 1, 2029; and altering the distribution of certain state lottery, fantasy competition and sports wagering proceeds.” The legislation comes as the Senate considers a House bill to legalize Maryland online casinos. If the bill passes in its current form, it will take effect July 1.

New York

  • PlayNY: Frustration Continues To Mount As New York Sets Late 2025 Timeline For Downstate Casino Licensing
    • When lawmakers approved the 2022 budget bill to expedite downstate licensing, which could open the door for NY online casino licensing if lawmakers legalize the industry, they by no means expected 2027 as the year those casinos finally opened. Sen. Joseph Addabbo told Politico that “the word frustrating just doesn’t capture my emotions.” Asm. Gary Pretlow added his disappointment with the delay “because not only are we missing the licensing revenue, but we’re missing income tax revenue from the people that would be working there.”

North Carolina

  • Legal Sports Report: How Online NC Sports Betting Launch Will Affect Neighboring States
    • North Carolina has offered legal sports betting at several of its casinos for since 2019, though the remote locations have been in-person only for almost the entire time. Much of the surrounding region is still far from legalizing sports betting, however, and the impact NC sports betting should have on its four border states will likely reflect those varying regulatory dynamics. Georgia has been a tough nut to crack for proponents of legalized sports betting. Perhaps a successful North Carolina launch could help future legislative pushes. South Carolina‘s sports betting hopes portend even less of a chance than Georgia’s.

Washington, D.C.

  • iGaming Business: Unwinding The Sports Betting Disaster In DC And What Comes Next
    • There is proof across the country that competitive markets not only serve consumers better than single-source markets, but that revenue to the state or, in this case city, is higher. There are four legal online betting states that use the single-operator model: Delaware, New Hampshire, Oregon and Rhode Island. GambetDC consistently performs so poorly that in February it was not the top performer in the District. Even though it is the only online sportsbook available throughout the city, Caesars topped the rankings. It also compares unfavourably to the four other single-operator markets in the US.