Industry News of the Day for May 14, 2020

Industry News:

• Legal Sports Report, 5.14.20 – What Have We Learned From Two Years Of Legal US Sports Betting After PASPA?
  • Thursday marks two years since the repeal of PASPA and the official start of the regulated US sports betting market.
• Gambling Compliance, 5.14.20 – Two Years After Supreme Court Ruling, Optimism Abounds For US Sports Betting (subscription paywall)
  • Almost lost in the global obsession with the coronavirus pandemic is the second anniversary on Thursday of the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark decision allowing states to legalize and regulate sports betting.
• The Action Network, 5.14.20 – Where The Sports Betting World Stands 2 Years After Overturn Of PASPA
  • Today marks the two-year anniversary of the Supreme Court overturning PASPA, a law that made sports betting illegal from a federal level.
• Sports Handle, 5.13.20 – Virtual Sports Have Filled A Gap, But Will Interest Stay Strong?
  • With major professional sports mostly on hold due to the COVID-19 crisis, virtual sports have helped to fill the void, according to industry representatives speaking at the virtual ICE North America on Tuesday.
• PlayUSA, 5.13.20 – PlayUSA Rewind: US Horse Betting Supplementing Low Sports Betting
  • Major sports are reportedly close to returning. As such, legalized sports betting across the country could pick back up.

Overall Industry News:

• Online Poker Report, 5.13.20 – Betting On Coronavirus Precautions, US Casinos Reopen In Growing Numbers
  • Land-based casinos around the country have been shuttered since mid-March due to the coronavirus outbreak, but public pressure is driving businesses of all sorts toward their reopening.

Sports League News:

• ESPN, 5.13.20 – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Says State Open To Pro Sports Teams
  • Florida’s Ron DeSantis became the second governor to announce that his state is open to professional sports teams that want to resume activity amid the coronavirus pandemic.

New Jersey:

• Legal Sports Report, 5.14.20 – Paltry April NJ Sports Betting Handle Somehow Still Feels Like A Win During Shutdown
  • Everyone was prepared to see New Jersey sports betting handle drop significantly in April compared to last year. Now, we know how much.
• Gambling Compliance, 5.14.20 – New Jersey Online Casino Revenues Reach Almost $80m In April (subscription paywall)
  • With Atlantic City casinos shuttered under a stay-at-home order for the entire month of April, New Jersey online gaming revenues spiked to a record high of almost $80m.
• PlayNJ, 5.13.20 – New Jersey Online Casinos Reach $80 Million Without The Help Of Closed AC Casinos
  • It is fair to say New Jersey online casino revenue far exceeded expectations.
• NJ.Com, 5.14.20 – Atlantic City Casinos Crash To Worst Month Ever During Coronavirus Shutdown. No Reopening Planned Yet.
  • April was the cruelest month — ever — for Atlantic City casinos, as state earnings figures released Wednesday shattered a record in revenue declines that had been set just a month ago.

Pennsylvania:

• Penn Bets, 5.13.20 – Governor Nixes Idea Of Horse Racing Resuming Promptly In PA
  • The Pennsylvania horse industry’s hope for live racing to return to the state anytime soon — without spectators — has become a long shot few gamblers would want to risk a dollar on.

Massachusetts:

• Action Network, 5.13.20 – Will Massachusetts Legalize Sports Betting In 2020?
  • Given the huge market of Boston and its current affiliation with sports betting — DraftKings, one of the biggest platforms in the U.S. was founded and still has its headquarters there — Massachusetts is a state industry enthusiasts are definitely keeping their eye on.

West Virginia:

• PlayWV, 5.13.20 – WV Casinos Still Waiting To Reopen, Coronavirus Safety Measures To Come
  • The reopening of West Virginia casinos and retail sportsbooks are currently still on hold. That is despite the fact that the Mountain State has started to reopen businesses, it appears residents must wait a bit longer to enter casinos.

Tennessee:

• TN Bets, 5.13.20 – Tennessee Lottery Answering Dozens Of Sports Betting Questions From Operators
  • Slowly but surely, the Tennessee Education Lottery Corporation is working behind the scenes to implement the 2019 Sports Gaming Act that called for regulated sportsbooks to hit Tennessee cyberspace.

Louisiana:

• Legal Sports Report, 5.13.20 – Louisiana Sports Betting Referendum Bill Clears First Major Hurdle
  • A bill, which put the question of legalizing Louisiana sports betting in front of state parishes, passed in the Senate on Wednesday.
• Associated Press, 5.13.20 – Louisiana Senate Backs Proposal To Legalize Sports Betting
  • Louisiana voters could determine on a parish-by-parish basis whether to legalize sports betting, under a bill that won easy passage Wednesday in the state Senate.

Colorado:

• PlayColorado, 5.13.20 – Johnny Nolon’s Casino, Carousel Group Form Sports Betting Partnership In Colorado
  • The Carousel Group and Johnny Nolon’s Casino is the latest sports betting partnership to form in Colorado.

Nevada:

• Sports Handle, 5.13.20 – Curbside Mobile Signups Provide Respite For Sports Bettors Thirsting For Action
  • Nestled in the heart of the entertainment capital of the world, Las Vegas sportsbooks have compiled a long history of designing creative promotions in attempts to acquire and retain customers.
• PlayNevada, 5.13.20 – New Research Sheds Light On Gamblers Returning To Casinos
  • New research shows that when customers return to casinos the majority of guests will look to gaming machines like video poker, slots, video game gambling machines, and electronic table games.

Montana:

• SBC Americas, 5.14.20 – Intralot Welcomes Launch Of Sports Bet Montana
  • Having worked towards the launch of sports betting since May 2019, gaming solutions supplier and operator INTRALOT has congratulated the Montana Lottery following its successful Sports Bet Montana launch.

Oklahoma:

• KFOR, 5.13.20 – Two Tribes Respond To Attorney General’s Opinion On Gaming Compacts
  • Two Native American tribes are speaking out, emphasizing the legality of their individual gaming compacts with the state.

California:

• Gambling Compliance, 5.14.20 – Southern California Tribal Casinos To Reopen, Other Tribes Keep Resorts Closed (subscription paywall)
  • Eight southern California tribes have informed Governor Gavin Newsome they plan to reopen their casinos on Monday, even as most tribes continue to keep their doors closed, noting the health risks of operating during the coronavirus pandemic.