Industry News of the Day for May 24, 2023

Industry News

  • SBC Americas: Matt King: Fanatics’ Priority Is On Product And UX Following PointsBet Agreement
    • Fanatics Betting and Gaming CEO Matt King has outlined the company’s strategy to integrate PointsBet US’ app into its ecosystem, noting that its primary focus is an efficient integration and engaging user experience.  King spoke to Sports Business Journal last week after the group agreed to acquire PointsBet’s US division for $150m, a deal that sees it gain access to 14 US states as well as Banach tech and a license for a copy of PointsBet’s proprietary platform.
  • Legal Sports Report: Analysis: PredictIt Election Betting Case Gets New Order From Fifth Circuit
    • Election betting exchange PredictIt and a group of co-plaintiffs received some good news late in the afternoon on May 1. The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals panel rejected the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s (CFTC) efforts to advance a new strategy by issuing a new letter to the site and filing a motion suggesting that the case was now moot in light of the new letter.

California

  • PlayUSA: California Governor Signs Bill Reinstating Cardroom Moratorium
    • California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law Monday legislation to reinstate a moratorium on cardroom expansion in the Golden State. As a result of AB 341, no new cardrooms will be allowed in the state for 20 years. But small existing cardrooms can increase table games modestly over time. A cardroom moratorium, in place for 25 years, was allowed to expire at the beginning of this year.

Kentucky

  • Gaming Today: Kentucky Sports Betting Could Launch by Early Fall
    • Last Saturday, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear walked out of the rain into a crowd of sunny faces at West Sixth Brewing in Lexington. It was one of several stops on his three-day reelection campaign kickoff following his primary win last week, and a perfect chance to share his priorities – including sports betting. The Democratic governor has continuously pushed for legislative passage of legal sports betting over the past three years.

Massachusetts

  • iGB North America: MA Regulator “Frustrated” By DraftKings Betting Violations
    • Commissioners from state gambling regulator the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) said they were “frustrated” by DraftKings’ betting violations. DraftKings self-reported itself to the Commission after discovering it offered bets on the tennis UTR pro-series, which is not an approved betting event in the state. The MGC’s Investigations and Enforcement Bureau (IEB) looked into the case.
  • PlayMA: MA Sportsbooks Granted More Time To Add Certain Responsible Gambling Options
    • Sports betting platforms operating in Massachusetts have asked the state to temporarily waive the requirement that they provide messaging to customers regarding self-exclusion and other “play management” options. The operators petitioned the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) to waive the play management requirement while they work to add functionality to their mobile sportsbooks.

New York

  • PlayNY: NY Regulators Back Off Proposal That Unintentionally Prohibited Affiliate Marketing Business
    • In their noble attempts to stem the tide of problematic sports betting advertising and promotions, New York gambling regulators acknowledged they may have gone a bit overzealous. Specifically, it seems, regarding affiliate marketers, such as the parent company of PlayNY. Legal sports betting in NY has risen to unprecedented levels. The addition of online sportsbooks in January 2022 turned the Empire State into the largest US sports betting market.

Quebec

  • PlayCanada: Group Formed To Promote Online Gambling Regulation In Quebec
    • A group of leading online gaming operators recently joined forces to promote regulation and responsible gambling in Quebec. Known collectively as the Québec Online Gaming Coalition, the industry-led organization will work closely with both the Quebec government and local stakeholders. It will develop a new regulatory framework that best serves the province’s online gambling industry.