Industry News of the Day for September 20, 2023

By iDEA | September 20, 2023

Industry News

  • Bloomberg Law: OPINION: The U.S. Frowns On Election Gambling, But It’s Good For The Public
    • As a new election season gets underway, voters will once again have an opportunity to choose their political leaders. One thing they won’t be able to do—if Washington gets its way—is to bet on election outcomes. So what, you might ask? Isn’t this all about gambling, and, if so, what public interest is there in allowing people to wager on elections? That certainly seems to be the view of many in Washington, who argue that “allow[ing] legal gambling on elections . . . is a clear threat to our democracy.”

District of Columbia

  • Sports Handle: D.C. Lottery Limits Retail Wagers After Restaurant Bettor Wins Big
    • The Washington D.C. Lottery changed its retail sports wagering rules after one bettor took advantage of poorly priced odds at GambetDC kiosks, The Washington Post reported Tuesday. The lottery, which runs GambetDC with help from third-party provider Intralot, implemented kiosk wagering limits over the summer, citing responsible gambling concerns as the cause. The emergency rules were implemented in late June and will last through at least Oct. 29.

Illinois

  • PlayIllinois: July Revenue Tops $133 Million At Illinois Casinos
    • July was a productive month for casino gambling and tax contributions in Illinois. More than $133.2 million of revenue was generated in July, which led to nearly $30.7 million in tax contributions. Revenue shot up by 9% compared to June, which saw $122.25 million of revenue from casino gaming. Year over year, July revenue was up 8.3%. More than 960,000 customers visited Illinois casinos in July, and those patrons mostly played BlackJack 21 Plus 3 or penny slots.

Kentucky

  • Legal Sports Report: Kentucky Sports Betting Lower Age Limit Creates Question For Sportsbooks
    • As in-person Kentucky sports betting went live last week, it became one of the rare states to allow 18-year-olds to place bets. The 18-and-up age limit stays in line with the Bluegrass State’s horse racing industry, but it is not a cut-and-dry issue for Kentucky sportsbooks. While several operators will opt to allow bettors 18 and older, most are sticking with the more common 21-and-up rule. The regulations might say one thing, but sportsbooks can choose how to deal with the situation, including potential responsible gaming ramifications. Online Kentucky sports betting launches September 28.

Massachusetts

  • Gaming Today: Massachusetts Sportsbooks Square Off With Regulators On Data Privacy
    • Massachusetts sports betting operators are seeking changes to a state data privacy regulation that some operators call “invasive” with no clear timeline for compliance.  Operators are most concerned with a part of the reg that requires them to receive consent — or opt-in — from a consumer any time that individual’s personal data is shared with a third-party vendor not directly involved in running a sportsbook app or facility. Hotels or other vendors that are part of a sportsbook’s customer rewards program appear to fall under that definition of a third-party vendor, operators said.

Michigan

  • PlayMichigan: Michigan Fastest To Surpass $1 Billion In Online Casino Tax Revenue
    • Michigan has become the fastest state to reach $1 billion in online casino tax revenue. The Michigan Gaming Control Board released August’s revenue numbers on Tuesday. With the $40.8 million in tax revenue generated last month, it puts Michigan at $1.02 billion lifetime. The 32 months it took Michigan to hit this mark passes Pennsylvania (36 months) for the fastest to $1 billion in tax revenue.

Mississippi

  • TheLines: Mississippi Senator Discusses Hurdles Of Online Sports Betting
    • Mississippi has had an interesting relationship with online sports betting. The market launched retail sportsbooks at local casinos only in 2018. There are mobile and online apps available on casino grounds, however, legislation for statewide mobile betting has always failed. Recently, Sen. Mike Thompson sat with WLOX to discuss the matter of online sportsbooks in Mississippi. Sen. Thomas is one of 13 legislators who are a part of the Mississippi Legislature’s Mobile-Online Sports Betting Task Force.

North Carolina

  • SBC Americas: North Carolina Sports Betting Law Could Change Under Budget Proposals
    • North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper may have already put pen to paper on the state’s online sports betting law, but a state budget proposal that is being put through the legislature this week could fundamentally change the look of the market.  Set to launch between January and June 2024, North Carolina’s sports betting law in its current guise stipulates a tax rate of 18% of GGR, while online and retail betting can take place at professional sports facilities such as the PNC Arena and the NASCAR tracks in the state.

Pennsylvania

  • PlayPennsylvania: PA Online Casinos Almost Hit $172 Million In August As Slot Revenue Tops $1 Billion
    • After a down July, Pennsylvania’s online casino market rebounded in a big way. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) reported that online casino operators recorded $171.9 million in August revenue. During the process, online casinos surpassed the $1 billion threshold for slot revenue in 2023. It’s the state’s second-largest total of all time, falling short of March 2022’s record of $181.5 million.
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