Industry News of the Day for May 26, 2023
Industry News
- Sports Handle: Failing To Report Wagering Violations A No-No, NCAA Says
- The University of Cincinnati this week became the latest college athletic program with a sports betting controversy, as the university announced Wednesday that it had fired a pair of assistant baseball coaches on May 17. The university shared that it began an investigation into “potential NCAA infractions” on May 8, and the two assistants were fired based on initial findings.
Illinois
- PlayIllinois: Bills On College Betting, Responsible Gambling Pass In Illinois Legislature
- In a last-ditch effort, lawmakers in Springfield have passed two bills impacting Illinois online sports betting. One of them will force Illinois sportsbooks to provide bettors with hourly pop-up messages informing how much they’ve wagered. The other extends in-person betting on in-state college teams at retail sportsbooks for another year. A series of online gambling and problem gambling bills have been working through the Illinois Legislature over the past few months.
Massachusetts
- PlayMA: Fanatics Sportsbook Launches Beta Product In Massachusetts
- Fanatics Sportsbook has launched its beta testing product in Massachusetts, a company spokesperson told PlayMA. As of Thursday, existing Fanatics customers eligible to bet on sports will receive an invitation with a code to access the beta version of the Fanatics Sportsbook Massachusetts app. Interested bettors who aren’t existing Fanatics customers can download the app from the Apple Store or Google Play Store and join a waitlist.
North Carolina
- SBC Americas: North Carolina Sports Betting: Bill Tax Rate Raised To 18% But Referred To Senate Finance Committee
- North Carolina sports betting opportunities are coming ever closer, as the Senate Commerce and Insurance Committee favorably referred a bill to the Finance Committee. HB347, which passed through the House by a 64-45 measure at the end of March, included several amendments in the committee but was passed through to the finance committee as sports betting’s chances of legalization in NC reach the final hurdles.
Ohio
- Legal Sports Report: Ohio Sports Betting Investigation Highlights Five Fantasy Sports Apps
- Ohio sports betting regulators revealed this week the names of five fantasy sports websites under investigation for offering illegal gambling. The Ohio Casino Control Commission contacted several websites for offering player vs. house contests resembling unlicensed OH sports betting, per commission spokeswoman Jessica Franks. Those types of contests are prohibited in fantasy sports offerings under Ohio law.
Pennsylvania
- Gambling News: Evolution Inks Deal With Caesars Digital In Pennsylvania
- Evolution and Caesars Digital have inked a new partnership agreement in Pennsylvania. The new deal will introduce Evolution’s innovative online slots and live casino content to players at Tropicana Online Casino and Caesars Sportsbook & Casino in Pennsylvania. The company that has partnered with more state-of-the-art operators than any other provider in the industry will fuel Tropicana and Caesars’ players with its high-quality online slots from NetEnt and Red Tiger.
Texas
- PlayUSA: Texas Lottery Bill Would Give Oversight Of Online Sales To State Regulators
- A bill in Texas aims to do away with the sale of online lottery tickets. Authored by Sen. Bob Hall, Senate Bill 1820 would close an existing loophole allowing the sale of lottery tickets by phone or online. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Texas Lottery altered rules without legislative approval and began selling tickets online and over the phone. The change allowed lottery courier services like Mido Lotto and Jackpocket to sell tickets via a licensed lottery retailer.
Virginia
- PlayVirginia: What’s The Timeline For Legal Online Casinos In Virginia?
- Virginia online sports betting has thrived since it first launched in 2021. With more than a dozen platforms live, it’s a bustling market for online betting. On to retail end of things, Virginia has made a lot of progress in recent years. Five brick-and-mortar casinos were authorized. One has been consistently held up, but four are moving forward, with Caesars Danville set to be the next VA casino to open its doors.