Industry News of the Day for March 6, 2020

iDEA Growth in the News:

• Legal Sports Report, 3.6.20 – Tribes Oppose Minnesota Sports Betting Despite Changes To Bill (iDEA Growth mentioned)
  • The first Minnesota sports betting committee hearing of the year showed that little has changed in the Land of 10,000 Lakes despite amendments offered by the bill author.

iDEA Growth Member News:

• Sports Handle, 3.5.20 – DraftKings Approved For Online Sports Betting In Colorado; Three Black Hawk Casinos Get Licenses
  • The Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission (LGCC) accelerated its pace on Thursday for the state to hit the ground running for its mandated May 1 launch for sports betting, approving DraftKings Sportsbook and theScore for temporary licenses as Internet Operators, making the pair the first to receive approvals for online operations later this year.
• The Denver Post, 3.5.20 – DraftKings, Ameristar And More Granted Sports Betting Licenses In Colorado
  • Colorado made more headway in preparing for the launch of legal sports betting this spring with the approval of several new licenses Thursday, including for the state’s first digital and retail sportsbooks.

Industry News:

• Sports Handle, 3.5.20 – Status Check On Legal Sports Betting In 7 States Headed Toward 2020 Adjournment
  • This month is the beginning of the end for the possible advancement of legal sports betting in seven states where state legislatures are set to close by the end of the month.

Overall Industry News:

• US Bets, 3.5.20 – Like It Or Not, The IRS Expects All Those Gambling Wins To Be Reported
  • Those new to legalized gambling in 2019 and long accustomed to faithful diligence in filing their tax returns could be in for a rude awakening between now and April 15.

Federal News:

• Law360, 3.5.20 – State AGs Say Wire Act Appeal Threatens Lottery Revenue (subscription paywall)
  • Michigan’s attorney general and 16 states urged the First Circuit on Thursday to affirm a lower court decision vacating the government’s interpretation of the federal Wire Act that they say threatens billions of dollars in revenue from state-run lotteries.
• NJ Online Gambling, 3.5.20 – New Jersey Sides With New Hampshire In Wire Act Legal Battle
  • Just in case the rather decisive U.S. District Court ruling that vacates a curious — and rather easily confused — Department of Justice interpretation of the Federal Wire Act of 1961 isn’t enough, New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal on Wednesday filed an amicus, or “friend of the court” brief, to the First Circuit Court of Appeals that added more reasons to the pile.
• PlayPennsylvania, 3.5.20 – PA Lottery Wants Federal Judge To Reject DOJ Wire Act Reinterpretation
  • Pennsylvania officials are asking a federal judge for some clarity regarding online gambling in an ongoing court case.

Sports League News:

• Legal Sports Report, 3.5.20 – How The NEW CBA Could Affect NFL Betting Revenue For Players, Owners
  • Players are voting today whether to accept a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) for the next decade and NFL betting is in focus.
• Gambling Compliance, 3.6.20 – NFL Players Set To Benefit From In-Stadium Sports Betting (subscription paywall)
  • National Football League (NFL) players will vote next Thursday whether to adopt a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) that would guarantee players up to 48 percent of revenues from potential in-stadium sportsbooks and other gambling revenues, including league sponsorships.

Connecticut:

• Legal Sports Report, 3.5.20 – Governor Wants CT Sports Betting Bill Narrowly Focused, Inclusive
  • Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont made known this week that he supports an inclusive approach to CT sports betting.
• Online Poker Report, 3.5.20 – Connecticut Tribes, Governor Still Miles Apart On Expanded Gambling
  • When a state legislature fails to pass online gambling legislation, it can be for a variety of reasons.

Maryland:

• The Washington Post, 3.5.20 – Redskins Betting License Added To Bill Advancing Through Maryland Legislature
  • Maryland state senators have granted Redskins owner Daniel Snyder’s request to be included in the state’s prospective sports betting industry.
• Legal Sports Report, 3.5.20 – Maryland Sports Betting Bill Nears Senate Passage After Key Changes
  • A more inclusive bill to legalize sports betting in Maryland is on the verge of passing in the Senate.
• Sports Handle, 3.5.20 – Maryland Committee Sends Sports Betting Referendum Bill To Senate Floor
  • Maryland lawmakers on Tuesday inched closer to sending a decision on legal sports wagering to the voters when the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee sent an updated version of SB 4 to the Senate floor.
• WTOP, 3.6.20 – Legalizing Sports Betting Could Keep Redskins In Maryland
  • Lawmakers in Annapolis, Maryland, are moving toward making it possible to bet on sports legally in the state, which might also help keep the Redskins in Maryland.

Virginia:

• Sports Handle, 3.5.20 – Virginia Lawmakers Come To Agreement On Sports Betting Bill
  • Sports Handle has learned that Virginia lawmakers have come to an agreement on what sports betting will look like in the state with plans to get a revamped bill onto the House and Senate floors within the next few days.

New Jersey:

• The Press of Atlantic City, 3.6.20 – Esports Betting Bill Advances In Trenton
  • The success of legalized sports betting has opened the possibility for gaming operators to offer wagers on other competitive events, and state lawmakers are now seeking to expand wagering on additional events such as electronic video game tournaments.
• PlayNJ, 3.5.20 – NJ Gaming News: Gearing Up For The Mania That Is March Madness Betting
  • This week’s gaming news focuses on the New Jersey gambling market’s theoretical competitions.

Massachusetts:

• MassLive, 3.6.20 – As Sports Betting Moves Forward, Bar Owners In Western Massachusetts Say They’re Being Left Out
  • The Joint committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies released a bill that would allow adults age 21 or older to place bets at Masschusetts’ casinos, slot parlors or live horse tracks.

New York:

• Elite Sports NY, 3.5.20 – New York Sports Betting Gets Push From TV Ad Campaign
  • Mobile sports betting is getting a huge push right now. Although it’s not legal in the Empire State yet, a television ad campaign from Bet On NY is launching a series of advertisements to promote New York sports betting.

Michigan:

• Legal Sports Report, 3.5.20 – FanDuel Secures Michigan Sports Betting Access Through MotorCity Casino
  • FanDuel has secured market access for Michigan sports betting via a deal with MotorCity Casino in Detroit, sources tell LSR.

Indiana:

• iGB North America, 3.6.20 – PointsBet Launches Mobile Sports Betting In Indiana
  • PointsBet has launched mobile sports betting in the state of Indiana after it secured approval from the state’s Gaming Commission.

Florida:

• The Center Square, 3.5.20 – Extended Florida Session Could Yield Surprise Jackpot – A Seminole Gaming Compact
  • If Florida’s legislative session is extended beyond its scheduled March 13 adjournment, House Speaker Jose Oliva said those extra days could produce a bonus: a renewed gaming compact with the Seminole Tribe.

Montana:

• PlayUSA, 3.5.20 – Will Montana Sports Betting Be Ready For March Madness?
  • The terminals are packed up. They’re powered up, in essence. Within days, drivers will begin delivering them to more than 150 locations throughout the state.

Nevada:

• Gambling Compliance, 3.6.20 – Activist Investors Create Nevada Licensing Challenge (subscription paywall)
  • Carl Icahn buying into Caesars Entertainment, and Corvex Management and Starboard Fund purchasing shares of MGM Resorts International are examples of deals by activist investors that are becoming increasingly common in the gaming industry, Nevada’s top gaming regulator has said.
• Las Vegas Review-Journal, 3.6.20 – MGM Launching BetMGM, Adding More Gaming Kiosks
  • MGM Resorts International is rolling out its new sports betting brand, BetMGM, in Nevada.

Washington:

• The Seattle Times, 3.6.20 – Senate Passes Sports Gambling Bill For Washington State Tribal Casinos
  • In a vote to expand gambling in this state beyond anything seen in decades, the Washington Senate late Thursday night approved an emergency bill authorizing sports gaming in Native American tribal casinos.