Industry News of the Day for March 9, 2020

iDEA Growth Member News:

• DraftKings Nation, 3.6.20 – Gambling And The New NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement (Sportradar, 888)
  • The NFL Players Association presented a proposed collective bargaining agreement to its members to vote on. We break down the extensive gambling discussion in the proposed deal.

Overall Industry News:

• KSNV, 3.8.20 – COVID-19 Is Changing Sports And Sports Betting, Here’s How
  • The sportsbooks are watching CDC reports like they watch lineups and roster changes. Coronavirus is changing sports — the lack of fans in the stands could change the way players play, and the number of points scored.

Federal News:

• Law360, 3.6.20 – NJ Antes Up In 1^st Wire Act Opinion Dispute (subscription paywall)
  • New Jersey’s attorney general has put his chips in at the First Circuit alongside the New Hampshire Lottery Commission and a lottery vendor challenging the U.S Department of Justice’s revised opinion on the Wire Act, saying the new opinion threatens to end New Jersey’s multimillion-dollar online gambling industry.
• Cape May County Herald, 3.6.20 – AG Urges Federal Appeals Court To Protect NJ Online Gaming Industry
  • Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal filed a brief March 6 explaining to a federal court of appeals why federal law permits most forms of online wagering.

Sports League News:

• EGR, 3.6.20 – The Month In US Sports Betting – A Rise In League Data Costs? (subscription paywall)
  • The regulated US sports betting market generated handle of $1.77bn for the month of December, which was down 4% on December’s total of $1.85bn.

Washington:

• Sports Handle, 3.9.20 – Washington Sports Betting Bill Will Go To Governor, Allow In-Person Wagering Only
  • The Washington House of Representatives on Saturday gave concurrence to a measure legalizing sports betting, but with limitations: it’s only for in-person wagering at physical sportsbooks, and only at tribal gaming facilities in the state.
• Legal Sports Report, 3.6.20 – Washington Sports Betting Bill Passes Senate, But Trouble Looms
  • A much-debated Washington sports betting bill that limits sportsbooks to tribal casinos passed the Senate late Thursday night.
• Sports Handle, 3.6.20 – Washington On Cusp Of Legalizing Sports Betting, But Not For Mobile Wagering
  • With one more vote, and the stroke of a pen, Washington State will be the first to legalize sports betting in 2020.
• Gambling Compliance, 3.9.20 – Bill Authorizing Sports Betting In Washington State Sent To Governor (subscription paywall)
  • The Washington state House of Representatives on Sunday concurred with the Senate’s two amendments to a tribal-only sports betting bill and passed it, sending it to the governor for his signature.
• The Spokesman-Review, 3.7.20 – Glen Nenema And Carol Evans: Sports Betting In Washington State Should Be Carefully Limited And Regulated
  • In 2018, a U.S. Supreme Court decision boosted sports betting around the country.
• The Spokesman-Review, 3.8.20 – Editorial: Don’t Give Tribal Casinos A Monopoly On Sports Betting
  • There’s an urgent situation in Washington state that requires emergency legislation, according to the Legislature. Not the coronavirus outbreak, mind you, but this: Allowing sports betting in tribal casinos.

Virginia:

• Associated Press, 3.8.20 – Virginia To Expand Gambling Options, Legalize Casinos
  • Virginia lawmakers have approved a broad expansion of gambling options in a state that’s been largely loath to embracing new betting options in the past.
• Sports Handle, 3.8.20 – Done Deal: Legislature Approves Legal Sports Betting In Overtime Session, Bill Goes On To Governor
  • With two outs, two strikes and in extra innings, the Virginia General Assembly on Sunday morning passed amended sports betting bills in both the House and Senate.
• Legal Sports Report, 3.8.20 – Virginia Sports Betting Almost A Done Deal: Legislature Passes Bill
  • Virginia sports betting could be here this year or next, as the state legislature passed a bill legalizing it in overtime of the state’s session on Sunday.
• Legal Sports Report, 3.7.20 – Bill Sponsor Says Virginia Sports Betting Making ‘A Lot Of Progress’ Before Deadline
  • Virginia sports betting is running out of time with the legislature ending Saturday. But according to Del. Mark Sickles, things look positive.
• Gambling Compliance, 3.9.20 – Virginia Green Lights Casino Expansion, Online Sports Betting (subscription paywall)
  • In the waning hours of the state’s legislative session, both chambers of the Virginia General Assembly passed two bills that will allow up to five casinos to open pending local approval and permit online sports betting to be conducted statewide.
• US Bets, 3.9.20 – Virginia Lawmakers Send Sports Betting Bill To Governor For Signature, Redskins Incentivized To Move
  • The state of Virginia took a major leap forward Sunday with gambling expansion.
• NBC12, 3.8.20 – Lawmakers Approve Casinos And Sports Betting, Prohibit Bets On Virginia College Teams
  • Virginia lawmakers on Sunday gave final approvals to a pair of bills legalizing casinos and sports betting after a last-minute fight over whether the state should allow bets on college games involving Virginia teams.
• Redskins Wire, 3.8.20 – Virginia Close To Legalizing Sports Betting; Could Play Factor In New Redskins’ Stadium
  • There are some new developments that are being made in the search for a new stadium for the Washington Redskins.

Michigan:

• Legal Sports Report, 3.6.20 – Michigan Sports Betting Starts Wednesday At Detroit Casinos
  • Michigan sports betting will officially begin Wednesday at 1 p.m. at two of Detroit’s commercial casinos, pending the final regulatory approval.
• PlayIndiana, 3.6.20 – Michigan Could Start Taking Bets Next Week, But Only At Casinos
  • Michigan is ready to join the sports betting party. On-site betting could begin at the state’s casinos as early as next week.
• PlayUSA, 3.6.20 – Michigan Sports Betting Set To Launch In Time For March Madness
  • The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) recently announced that on Tuesday it expects to give final approval for sports betting at the three commercial casinos in downtown Detroit.
• WXYZ, 3.9.20 – Here’s What Legal Sports Betting At Detroit Casinos Will Look Like On Wednesday
  • Come Wednesday at 1 p.m., sports betting will be officially legal inside three Detroit casinos.

Illinois:

• Legal Sports Report, 3.6.20 – Illinois Sports Betting Joins March Madness With Retail Launch
  • Rivers Casino in Des Plaines will be the first to take an Illinois sports bet Monday morning as the state becomes the 15th with legal sports betting.
• Sports Handle, 3.6.20 – Rivers Casino In Des Plaines Will Be First To Take Sports Bets In Illinois
  • Sports betting in Illinois will officially launch Monday following Friday’s announcement by Rivers Casino in Des Plaines that it will begin accepting wagers at noon CT.
• Chicago Tribune, 3.9.20 – Rivers Casino Gets Approval To Open First Illinois Sports Book Today, Just In Time For March Madness
  • Legal sports betting is set to begin in Illinois this week, with Rivers Casino in Des Plaines planning to open its BetRivers Sportsbook just in time for March Madness.
• Chicago Sun-Times, 3.8.20 – Sports Betting 101: What To Know Now That Illinois’ First Legal Sportsbook Is Going Live
  • With Illinois’ first legal sportsbook opening Monday and just days to go before others start sprouting up across Illinois, it’s time for casual fans interested in indulging in the newly legal industry to hit the books.

New Jersey:

• Online Poker Report, 3.6.20 – Freehold Raceway Ready To Make A Run At Sports Betting In New Jersey
  • Freehold Raceway, owned by Pennwood Racing, has petitioned the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) for a license to offer sports betting.
• PlayNJ, 3.6.20 – Esports Betting In NJ Is Back, But This Time It’s Here To Stay
  • Sports betting is such a success in the state of New Jersey that lawmakers are seeking to expand the offering. A new bill tabbed A 637 is looking to welcome esports betting in NJ, which is wagering on electronic video game tournaments.
• NJBIZ, 3.6.20 – Video Game Tournaments – The ‘Next Big Thing’ For NJ Sports Betting
  • In the midst of a sports wagering boom – with nearly $4.6 billion in sports bets last year alone – lawmakers and gaming regulators want to open that market to online competitive video gaming, commonly referred to as eports.

Connecticut:

• CT Mirror, 3.6.20 – Slots On Your Smartphone? Lamont Says, ‘No.’
  • One of the questions now before Connecticut lawmakers: Are they ready to permit the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribal nations, owners of Foxwoods Resort Casino and Mohegan Sun, to offer their casino games online?

New York:

• iGB North America, 3.9.20 – NY Sports Betting Market Hits New Low In February
  • New York’s four commercial casinos have reported losses of $179,593 from sports betting in February, with del Lago the only venue to actually generate revenue during the month.

Maryland:

• The Baltimore Sun, 3.6.20 – Do The Baltimore Ravens Want A Piece Of Sports Betting? It’s Hard To Say
  • As Maryland lawmakers consider whether to legalize betting on sports, it’s not clear whether the Baltimore Ravens are interested in offering it at their stadium.

South Dakota:

• PlayIA, 3.6.20 – South Dakotans May Not Have To Travel To Iowa To Place Legal Wagers For Much Longer
  • The days of Iowa’s legal sportsbooks pulling customers from across part of its western border may be numbered. A South Dakota sports betting referendum could legalize the activity in the Mount Rushmore State.

Tennessee:

• TN Bets, 3.9.20 – Tennessee To Hold Hearing On Sports Gaming Act Legislation
  • Tennessee state representatives have scheduled a hearing for Tuesday, March 10, over potentially amending various provisions of the Sports Gaming Act.

Louisiana:

• Gambling Compliance, 3.9.20 – After Last Year’s Collapse, Louisiana Ready For Another Swing At Sports Betting (subscription paywall)
  • It was close but no cigar for sports-betting advocates last year in Louisiana but the issue is at the top of the legislative agenda again in 2020 as lawmakers prepare to convene on Monday for a new session in the state capital of Baton Rouge.

Georgia:

• Jackson Progress-Argus, 3.7.20 – Georgia State Senator Burt Jones: It’s Time To Legalize Sports Betting In Georgia
  • SB 403, in its totality, would legalize sports betting in Georgia, so as to open up a new economic venture for the state, and outline the terms of its operation.

Colorado:

• The Daily Sentinel, 3.6.20 – A Reliable Forecast When It Comes To Sports Betting: Revenue Will Grow Over Time
  • Thanks to Colorado voters’ passage of Proposition DD in November, water and sports betting in the state are now inextricably linked.
• Gambling.Com, 3.6.20 – Colorado Sports Betting Licenses Granted Ahead Of May Launch
  • Regulators in Colorado granted eight more legal sports betting licenses on Thursday as the state heads toward its planned May 1 launch date.