Industry News of the Day for March 8, 2019

By iDEA | March 8, 2019

iDEA Growth in the News:

Industry News:

  • Online Gambling, 3.6.19 – Sports Betting Expansion Gains Momentum as Lawmakers in Several States Consider Legalization
    • The push to legalize sports betting across the United States shows no signs of slowing down, with lawmakers in several states pushing to pass bills before the end of 2019. While most of the bills currently bouncing around state legislatures are far from passing into law just yet, many enjoy significant support, suggesting that there could be a lot more places in the USA where gamblers can legally place their bets this time next year.

Michigan:

  • Online Poker Report, 3.7.19 – Michigan Online Gambling Bills Back On File Following Former Governor’s Veto
    • Proponents of legalized online gambling are bellying back up to the table in Michigan. A pair of bills reappeared on the record on Thursday, one in each chamber of the state legislature. The matching proposals would expressly authorize online poker and casino gambling, and both contain a one-line provision for online sports betting, too.
  • Betting US, 3.8.19 – Online gambling and sports betting bills resurface in Michigan
    • Two near-identical bills that would legalize sports betting in Michigan resurfaced on Thursday. SB 186 was introduced by the Senate while HB 4311 was introduced by the House. Both bills appear to mirror the bills that sought to expand Michigan’s gambling industry in 2018 and if successful would create the 2019 Lawful Internet Gaming Act.
  • Gambling News, 3.8.19 – Michigan Poised to Expand into Online Poker Once Again
    • Michigan has been actively seeking to expand its casino & poker industries online since at least 2016. Numerous efforts have been made, but none have come to fruition.
  • iGaming Business, 3.8.19 – Michigan lawmakers resume iGaming push
    • Lawmakers in the Michigan Senate and House of Representatives have launched new bids to legalize online gaming in the state, following the eleventh-hour veto of legislation by former Governor Rick Snyder in late 2018.

Pennsylvania:

Minnesota:

  • Sports Handle, 3.7.19 – Minnesota Sports Betting Bill Out of Senate Tax Committee
    • And so it went Thursday morning as the committee voted, 5-2 (with one pass and two absent) to move forward SB 1894, a bill that would legalize sports betting on tribal lands as well as two horse racing tracks in the state. The bill will now go to the Senate’s State Government Committee as it begins its march to the Senate floor.
  • Fox 9, 3.7.19 – Legalized sports betting advances at Capitol as tribes object
    • A bill allowing Minnesotans to legally bet on sporting events passed a Senate committee Thursday despite objections from Native American tribes that say it will eventually doom their casinos.
  • AP, 3.7.19 – Bill To Legalize Sports Betting In Minnesota Clears 1st Hurdle
    • A bill to legalize sports betting in Minnesota cleared its first test at the Legislature on Thursday but faces an uncertain future amid tribal opposition.
  • MPR News, 3.7.19 – Sports betting bill clears first committee, but odds still against it
    • The Senate tax committee voted 5-2 Thursday to send a bill that would legalize sports betting to the state government committee — but the bill still faces long odds to becoming law. It would allow sports betting at Minnesota’s tribal casinos and at the state’s two horse-racing tracks. It would also allow betting through mobile devices, which would be linked to accounts with the authorized sites.

West Virginia:

  • Legal Sports Report, 3.7.19 – Wheeling Island And Mardi Gras Casinos Abruptly Suspend Sports Betting Operations
    • Two West Virginia casinos have suspended retail and online sports betting operations with no additional explanation. Wheeling Island and Mardi Gras casinos, both operated by Delaware North, have ceased activity at both their physical sportsbooks and their shared online home at BetLucky.com.
  • Wheeling News-Register, 3.8.19 – Wheeling Island, Mardi Gras Casinos Suspend Sports Betting
    • An unknown issue with the sports book at Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack and Mardi Gras Casino & Resort has led to the temporary suspension of all sports betting activity at the two tracks, including all bets placed through the BetLucky app.

Kentucky:

New Jersey:

Rhode Island:

South Dakota:

Federal News:

Sports League News:

  • Sports Handle, 3.7.19 – MLB’s New Gambling-Minded Lineup, Umpire Policy Raise Questions
    • Major League Baseball on Wednesday announced a new policy regarding the way it will collect and share information about team lineups and umpire assignments. The goal, MLB says, is enhancing integrity, however the net effect of the changes, the actual intent and how it might impact sports bettors, sportsbooks and fantasy players alike, is as yet not completely clear (to this author, at least).

Overall Industry News:

  • The Lines, 3.7.19 – ESPN Announces The Daily Wager, Adds To Growing List Of Sports Betting Content
    • On Monday, ESPN announced yet another entrant into the sports betting content pool: The Daily Wager. The one-hour program will start airing Monday, March 11, on ESPNEWS at 6 pm EST (It will also be available via live stream on the ESPN app.). The show aims to educate mainstream sports fans about sports betting and provide a deeper dive of analysis for hardcore fans.

 

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