Industry News of the Day for May 29, 2020

iDEA Growth in the News:

• US Bets, 5.28.20 – Can iGaming Grow And Where Does It Go From Here? (iDEA Growth mentioned)
  • Only three states offer legal iGaming that covers slots, table games, and poker. The iDevelopment and Economic Association noted these neighboring states generated a combined $213 million in revenue and $84 million in taxes among them in the months of March and April.

Sports League News:

• ESPN, 5.28.20 – Texas To Let Fans Attend Pro Sports Events At 25% Capacity
  • Texas will soon allow outdoor pro sports events to have spectators, but the numbers will be strictly limited, under a new order Thursday from Republican

Connecticut:

• Hartford Courant, 5.28.20 – Chairman Shrugs Off Liquor Permit Threat As Tribe, Lamont Remain In Standoff Over June 1 Foxwoods Reopening
  • With reopening only days away, Gov. Ned Lamont and the two tribes stuck strongly to their positions Thursday about resuming operations at two large casinos in southeastern Connecticut amid the coronovirus pandemic.

Washington, D.C.:

• The Washington Post, 5.28.20 – Sports Betting Officially Launches In D.C., In A Season Of Almost No Sports
  • C. residents can now legally bet on sports on a city-sponsored website — which began operating Thursday despite the fact that there are almost no sports to bet on at the moment.
• The Action Network, 5.28.20 – Unfair Odds Highlight Major Issues With Newly-Launched Washington D.C. Sports Betting
  • If you live in Washington D.C., it is now (finally) legal to bet on sports online. The District launched its GambetDC platform Thursday, which is powered by the D.C. lottery.
• DCist, 5.28.20 – C.’s Sports Betting App (Sort Of) Goes Live
  • After a delayed launch, D.C.’s first sports betting app went live today—sort of.

Ohio:

• Sports Handle, 5.29.20 – Ohio General Assembly Approves Sports Betting, But Battle Looms In Senate
  • On Thursday, the Ohio House passed an amended version of HB 194, a legal sports wagering bill that would allow for statewide mobile and retail wagering, 83-10.
• Gambling Compliance, 5.29.20 – Ohio Sports-Betting Bill Clears House As State Legislative Efforts Heat Up Again (subscription paywall)
  • The Ohio House of Representatives on Thursday voted to send legislation that would legalize sports betting to the Senate, but the proposed regulatory structure is not exactly being met with open arms by Senate leadership.
• Cincinnati Enquirer, 5.28.20 – Ohio House Passes Bill To Legalize Sports Betting But Key Hurdle Remains
  • Ohio took a key step toward legalizing sports betting Thursday, but it’s far from a done deal.
• PlayIndiana, 5.28.20 – Ohio Sports Betting Bill Steams To Life And Moves Through House
  • Ohio’s House of Representatives approved a sports betting bill, which is now headed to Ohio’s Senate. The hope is to land it on Gov. Mike DeWine’s desk by this fall.
• US Bets, 5.28.20 – Ohio Passes Lottery-Run Sports Wagering Proposal, But Legalization Still Unclear
  • Will Ohioans be able to wager on sports in the not-too-distant future?

Tennessee:

• TN Bets, 5.28.20 – Bill To Reverse Tennessee Sports Betting Regulations Duties Withdrawn From Consideration
  • On Thursday, a bill in Tennessee that would have significantly altered the 2019 Sports Gaming Act was “taken off notice” from the House Departments & Agencies Subcommittee calendar.

Louisiana:

• Sports Handle, 5.28.20 – Latest LA Sports Betting Bill On Hold; Referendum Headed To Governor
  • Louisiana lawmakers opted to put a second sports wagering bill on hold Thursday morning, a day after sending Gov. John Bel Edwards a referendum bill to sign. SB 378 was read and “returned to the calendar.” The House could take it up later in this session.
• Daily Advertiser, 5.28.20 – Louisiana Legislature Approves Major Gambling Expansion
  • Louisiana’s Legislature has approved a major gambling expansion that will allow voters in each parish to decide whether they want to legalize sports betting.

California:

• Associated Press, 5.29.20 – Legal Sports Betting Pitched As California Budget Salve
  • Two California lawmakers on Thursday pitched legalized sports betting as a way to help prop up a state budget devastated by the economic shutdown designed to slow the spread of the coronavirus, though their revised proposal immediately reignited a turf battle between powerful gambling interests.
• Legal Sports Report, 5.28.20 – New California Sports Betting Bill Tries To Bridge Gaps For Tribes, Cardrooms
  • A new California sports betting bill offers a compromise to bring retail and mobile sports betting to the Golden State.
• iGB North America, 5.29.20 – California Bill Proposes Exclusive Betting Rights For Tribes And Tracks
  • A constitutional amendment that would allow sports betting in California has been referred to the committee on governmental organisation, after details were added to the bill outlining how sports betting in the state would function, including allowing online betting.
• SBC Americas, 5.29.20 – Latest California Sports Betting Bill Keeps Card Rooms Out In The Cold
  • California, widely regarded as potentially the biggest market for sports betting, has moved a significant step closer to welcoming the regulations that will open up legal sports wagering.
• KQED, 5.28.20 – Should California Legalize and Tax Sports Betting? Voters Could Decide
  • California legislators are unveiling details of a proposal to legalize sports betting through an initiative they plan to place on the November ballot.
  • Greg Abbott.

New Jersey:

• PlsyNJ, 5.28.20 – New Jersey Gaming News: An AC Casino Reopening Plan; Sports Teams Can Practice
  • Memorial Day has come and gone and Atlantic City casinos remain closed. Will AC casinos be open for the July 4 weekend?

Pennsylvania:

• PlayPennsylvania, 5.28.20 – PA Horse Racing Could Reopen Within Three Weeks After New Guidelines From Gov. Wolf
  • Late Wednesday, Gov. Tom Wolf released revised reopening guidance for sports, which could accelerate the return of horse racing without spectators and with safety protocols.
• Penn Bets, 5.28.20 – PA’s Rules For Reopening Casinos Are Flexible, But Not When It Comes To Masks
  • As multi-state casino operators reopen properties that have been shut down since mid-March by COVID-19 concerns, they’re finding different guidelines in each state to reshape their operations.

Nevada:

• PlayNevada, 5.28.20 – UFC And Boxing Back In Nevada And On The Board At NV Sportsbooks Where They Belong
  • Live MMA and Boxing events return to Las Vegas for the first time since Nevada casinos were ordered closed in March to help slow the spread of coronavirus.