Industry News of the Day for May 19, 2021
iDEA Growth in the News:
- DCist, 5.18.21: Sports Betting Becomes Legal in Maryland, Echoes Lessons Learned From Marijuana [Jeff Ifrah quoted]
- With legal sports betting going into effect June 1, state officials aren’t only focused on how much money the new industry will bring in — but also who gets to make money from it. And in that, they say they’ve learned lessons from another revenue source: marijuana.
iDEA Growth Member News:
- SBC, 5.19.21: Socure To Provide DraftKings With Additional Compliance Tools [DraftKings mentioned]
- Michael Goonan, Senior Account Executive at Socure, spoke with SBC Americas to discuss their recent agreement with DraftKings, touching upon ways in which Socure will help streamline the operator’s onboarding processes.
- Play Illinois, 5.18.21: DraftKings Serves Up No-Brainer Promos For The NBA Playoffs
- The NBA Playoffs are here, and DraftKings is dishing out some enticing offers as the action gets underway.
- Play VA, 5.18.21: As NBA Playoffs Arrive, It’s Time To ‘Hammer The Over’ And Cash In At DraftKings
- What better way to welcome the arrival of the NBA Playoffs than another as-good-as-free-cash “Hammer the Over” promotion?
- The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 5.18.21: FanDuel to open tech hub in Atlanta that promises 900 jobs
- The sports gambling giant FanDuel said Tuesday that it will bring more than 900 jobs to metro Atlanta over the next five years to run a new hub that will focus on the company’s product development and IT operations.
Overall Industry News:
- IGB, 5.18.21: NCPG Launches Support Campaign For Military Members
- The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) has launched its Operation Responsible Gambling campaign, which aims to support members of the military community who are affected by gambling-related harm.
Florida:
- IGB, 5.19.21: Florida Gaming Compact Approved By Senate
- A compact that would allow Florida’s Seminole Tribe to offer sports betting in the US state has been approved by the state’s Senate
- Legal Sports Report, 5.18.21: Florida Sports Betting Approved By Senate In Seminole Compact
- Florida sports betting received Senate approval Tuesday as part of the larger gaming compact with the Seminole Indians.
- Legal Sports Report, 5.19.21: LSR Q&A: Rep. Chip LaMarca On FL Sports Betting Alternative Paths Forward [DraftKings mentioned]
- Florida’s special legislative session draws to a close on Wednesday, with one crucial vote remaining on FL sports betting. Ahead of that crucial final session, LSR caught up with state Rep. Chip LaMarca, R-Broward County, for a quick-fire briefing.
- Florida Phoenix, 5.18.21: Legislature Poised To Allow Fantasy Sports Betting In Principle, But Not In Fact — At Least, Not This Year
- There won’t be legal online fantasy sports betting in Florida anytime soon — at least, it looks unlikely this year.
- South Florida Sun Sentinel, 5.18.21: Gov. DeSantis’ Gambling Deal With Legal Sports Betting Gets Senate Approval
- Gov. Ron DeSantis’ gambling deal with the Seminole Tribe of Florida is sailing through the Florida Legislature.
District of Columbia:
- IGB, 5.19.21: DC Sports Betting Revenue Rises In April Despite 29.6% Handle Drop
- Sports betting revenue in Washington DC climbed 10.5% month-on-month to $2.1m in April despite a 29.6% decline in stakes.
Pennsylvania:
- IGB, 5.18.21: Pennsylvania Sets Revenue Record As Casinos Re-open In April
- The state of Pennsylvania generated gaming revenue figures of $404.1m (£284.9m/€331.0m) for April, a massive 776.2% increase on the same month last year when casinos were closed due to coronavirus restrictions and slightly ahead of the record set in March.
- SBC, 5.19.21: Scant sporting calendar slows Pennsylvania’s April sportsbook revenues
- The current downturn in US sports betting activity has been felt by sportsbooks in Pennsylvania during April, slowing to its lowest level since September 2020.
- Penn Bets, 5.18.21: PA Saw Record Gaming Month In April Despite Drop In Online Casino Play And Sports Betting
- Sports betting and iCasino gambling both saw a decline in volume in Pennsylvania in April from the month before, but the state saw another record month for gaming revenue overall of $404.1 million.
- Play PA, 5.18.21: Minor Slump For PA Sportsbooks in April; FanDuel And DraftKings Hold On To Market Share Dominance
- Pennsylvania sportsbooks experienced an expected spring slump in April. A lull after March Madness resulted in a handle of $479 million and $36 million in revenue for Pennsylvania sportsbook operators.
- Legal Sports Report, 5.18.21: Pennsylvania Sportsbooks Fare Better Than Neighbors In Slow April
- Pennsylvania sports betting handle fell 14% month-on-month in April to $479 million, but the figures still represented a relative win for the state.
- Sports Handle, 5.18.21: Controversial Fantasy Sports Bill Tabled In Florida Amid Strong Industry Pushback [DraftKings, FanDuel mentioned]
- With the future of mobile sports betting in Florida still in flux, the legislature tabled several bills on fantasy sports during Tuesday’s special session providing a temporary victory to industry heavyweights such as DraftKings and FanDuel.
- Sports Handle, 5.18.21: Florida Senate Approves Tribal-State Compact, Taking One More Step Toward Seminole Monopoly [DraftKings and FanDuel mentioned]
- Despite intense debate that included phrases like “it’s about the money,” “this is a little bit of a food fight,” and “it’s a lot of work for staff,” the Florida Senate approved the compact that will give the Seminole Indian Tribe a virtual monopoly on gaming and sports betting, 38-1, Tuesday morning.
Maryland:
- IGB, 5.18.21: Maryland Governor Hogan To Sign Sports Betting Bill Into Law
- Maryland Governor Larry Hogan is set to sign a bill authorizing sports betting and fantasy sports into law today (18 May).
- US Bets, 5.19.21: Maryland Lottery Director Stepping Down Just Before Sports Betting Arrives
- While Gordon Medenica has been a popular choice to be a panelist at various gaming conferences over the years, the soon-to-be-retiring Maryland Lottery and Gaming director hardly has been a “lifer” in the industry.
- Legal Sports Report, 5.18.21: Maryland Sports Betting Official After Governor Hogan’s Signature
- Following a last-minute addition to his bill signing schedule, Gov. Larry Hogan signed a Maryland sports betting bill into law Tuesday.
- Action Network, 5.18.21: Maryland Sports Betting Bill Signed Into Law: Here’s What Comes Next [DraftKings, FanDuel mentioned]
- Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan signed his state’s online and retail sports betting law Tuesday, the final formality ahead of an anticipated launch by fall 2021.
- Baltimore Sun, 5.18.21: Maryland Moves Closer To Legalized Sports Gambling As Bill Signed Into Law
- Maryland is one step closer to having legal sports gambling as Gov. Larry Hogan signed into law Tuesday a bill that establishes a framework for the new industry.
- CBS Baltimore, 5.19.21: Sports Betting Will Be Legal In Maryland On June 1
- Following a historic General Assembly session due to COVID-19, Governor Larry Hogan signed more than 200 bills into law on Tuesday.
Washington:
- IGB, 5.18.21: Eleven More Tribes Agree to Washington Sports Wagering Compacts
- The Washington State Gambling Commission has reached a Class III sports wagering compact agreement with 11 more tribes across Washington, which will allow the tribes to offer sports betting at their casinos.
- The Washington State Gambling Commission has reached a Class III sports wagering compact agreement with 11 more tribes across Washington, which will allow the tribes to offer sports betting at their casinos.