June 2024 – FairOdds Network

June 28, 2024

State of the Union: Big fine in Philly, Caesars NYC plans and more

Welcome to iGB's State of the Union, a look at the biggest North American sports betting stories we've covered over the week and briefs on others we found interesting.

Live! Philadelphia fined $100,000

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board this week issued a $100,00 fine to Live! Philadelphia for taking sports bets over the phone. At the PGCB meeting, it was revealed that more than $287,000 in wagers were taken by phone. Of the bets, three were taken via text message and lost and the bettor never laid down the funds.

Live! Philadelphia representatives told the PGCB that it had terminated the employees who took a total of 15 bets via phone or text message. In addition, all have also been placed on the involuntary exclusion list. Live! Philadelphia also now bans personal phones for sportsbook employees while at work and lowered its surveillance notification threshold to $10,000.

Caesars proposes Times Square makeover

Caesars Entertainment has plans to plant trees, improve..

June 28, 2024

US May round-up: Strong month for NV; CO handle up 16.2%; Icasino shines in CT

Analysing some of the latest US monthly state reports, iGB takes a closer look at how Nevada, Colorado, Connecticut and South Dakota performed during May.

Sports betting revenue for May in Nevada topped $36m, up 19.8% on last year. Online betting (up 23%) accounted for 63.4% of all sports wagering revenue. Overall handle dipped 2.3% on the previous year.

Of this, $17.2m in revenue came from basketball wagering with the NBA Conference semi-finals and finals playing out during the month. A further $11.2m in revenue came from baseball, as the MLB season takes place, and $3.4m from ice hockey. A further $7.8m was generated across other sports.

Nevada saw overall revenue climb 2.3% to $1.32bn (£1.04bn/€1.23bn).

Gaming revenue in Nevada edged ahead of $1.29bn last year, with May halting two consecutive months of year-on-year decline.

With regards to land-based gaming, slots drew the most revenue at $886.1m, up by 1.0% year-on-year. Multi-denomination slots accounted for $599.1m of rev..

June 28, 2024

BetMGM enhances Newcastle United partnership as UK betting push continues

BetMGM has announced an enhancement to its existing partnership with Premier League side Newcastle United, becoming an official betting partner of the club.

Newcastle and BetMGM initially entered into a partnership in September 2023 as the operator sought to boost the marketing push for its UK launch.

In its role as a new official betting partner, BetMGM’s brand will feature on screens across Newcastle’s home ground of St James’ Park. BetMGM will also look to offer activations to fans, such as giveaways and unique experiences.

Sam Behar, UK director of BetMGM, said he believes the partnership with Newcastle aligns with the operator’s own values.

“Our BetMGM partnership with Newcastle United has been a success and we are delighted to continue building on this fruitful collaboration,” Behar said. “I can’t wait to get this season started and see Newcastle United continue on their journey.”

Newcastle’s chief commercial officer Peter Silverstone added: “We have helped BetMGM to drive b..

June 27, 2024

Would a 1988 Congress have included digital betting in IGRA? Without a doubt.

Two weeks ago, the US Supreme Court decided to let be the status quo with regard to Florida sports betting. Since then, many in and around the online gambling world are pointing to a sea change and the expectation that tribes across the US will fast and furiously expand or change their offerings. But the view from inside Indian Country? Not so fast.

The US Supreme Court met on 13 June to decide whether to hear West Flagler Associates v. Haaland. The justices decided to pass, meaning a lower-court decision to allow the 2021 Florida-Seminole tribe compact will stand. That compact allows for what could be considered an expansion of the reach of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA).

It allows for bets to be considered placed where they are received. In simple terms, any bet placed in the state of Florida is considered to be a bet placed on tribal lands if the bet runs through a server on tribal lands.

IGRA changed life for many tribes

IGRA was passed in 1988 and, at its core, gav..

June 26, 2024

MGCB’s try at examining legal vs illegal activity causing consternation

A new six-page, six-question attestation form issued by the Michigan Gaming Control Board in late April has left some licensed igaming and sports betting suppliers in a corner, unsure how to respond to the open-ended inquiry that the board itself has revealed is more about “information gathering” at this point.

The “Illegal Gaming Attestation Internet Game Content Providers” form may be well-intentioned to stamp out support for illegal actors siphoning business and taxable revenue from Michigan’s legal market, but many stakeholders are concerned. Relationships and involvement in areas where the legal versus illegal activity of igaming is not cut and dried is common. Those operating globally are especially alarmed by some unclear questions and undefined terms. They believe unintended consequences may follow from the Michigan regulators’ methods.

“The form does not define every single relevant term, such as what constitutes ‘illegal gambling’,” said gaming lawyer Susan Hensel of Hense..

June 26, 2024

Betr awarded Maryland wagering licence

Microbetting wagering platform Betr was awarded its Maryland licence at a Sports Wagering Application Review Commission (SWARC) meeting on Wednesday (26 June) morning. However the company must still go through a controlled demonstration before launch.

Betr is live in two other states – Ohio and Virginia – after it exited Massachusetts earlier this year. Betr also has a temporary licence in Indiana but has not launched there yet.

Owned by YouTube star and boxer Jake Paul and Joey Levy, Betr is among a handful of smaller betting companies that have been able to find success in crowded markets.

Maryland’s lottery commission in May signed off on Betr’s Maryland wagering licence. But in Maryland, SWARC is the only group that has the authority to issue a licence.

Betr will enter Maryland just as BetFred, which gave up its Maryland wagering licence, is exiting. At the same time, Veterans Services Corporation (VSC) is set to launch. VSC is pointing to a 1 July launch. It is a British-ba..

June 26, 2024

Betsson secures betting and igaming licences in Peru

Online gambling operator Betsson today said it has secured a licence to operate the Betsafe and Bettson brands in the newly regulated Peru market.

The licences cover online casino and sports betting for both brands and Betsson expects to also soon obtain approval for its Peru-facing Inkabet business.

Betsson has had a presence in Peru since 2008. In 2019, it expanded its reach in the country by launching its Betsafe brand. Two years later, it also acquired locally-licensed online betting and sports brand Inkabet for $25m.

Regulation of the Peru market earlier this year meant Betsson had to secure full licence approval to continue operating in the country. Law no 31557, which regulates online gaming and sports betting, went into effect on 9 February.

Operators had until 10 March to apply for a licence. Peru’s ministry of foreign trade and tourism received 145 requests for operator licences from both national and international operators.

“We have really looked forward to Peru introd..

June 26, 2024

Coyotes owner to unwind team; SaharaBets likely to exit Arizona

Arizona Coyotes owner Alex Meruelo has given up hanging onto what remains of his NHL team, and will dissolve the team. Muruelo had been planning to build a new Phoenix-area arena and the NHL gave him five years to recreate his team.

But days after a land deal fell through, Meruelo decided to move on, PHNX Sports reported Tuesday (25 June). And with that decision, it seems clear that SaharaBets will also exit Arizona. The digital sports betting platform is tethered to the franchise, as required by Arizona law. It launched in January 2022.

In April Meruelo sold the players and game operations to a Utah-based group. He retains the rights to the name, team IP, records and the AHL (American Hockey League) Roadrunners affiliate franchise. At that time, the NHL classified the Coyotes as an “inactive” team. Meruelo now says he will unwind team operations within 30 days.

More on Meruelo and his NHL ownership demise!
NHL Faces a Reset After Meruelo’s Missteps and Coyotes Collapse ⁦⁦@Arizo..

June 25, 2024

DC Council creates open, competitive wagering marketplace

On Tuesday (25 June) the DC Council gave final approval to its FY2025 budget that includes a provision to open the digital sports betting market. Currently, FanDuel is the sole platform available citywide but, under the new budget, that will change.

The new budget required an emergency act to avoid having to send the budget to congress for approval. The DC Council passed the Budget Support Act via voice vote. The budget is set to go into effect on 15 July.

The new budget will allow for commercial operators to enter the market. BetMGM (Nationals Park) and Caesars Sportsbook (Capital One Arena) should quickly be able to expand their current digital offerings. Through existing partnerships, the operators have brick-and-mortar sportsbooks and offer digital betting within an exclusion zone. Under the new plan, they will be able to offer their platforms across the District.

FanDuel in April launched its platform in partnership with the DC Lottery. The company currently has a monopoly. ..

June 25, 2024

Arizona Coyotes lose chance at new arena site. Does this affect wagering licence?

The Arizona Coyotes – currently an NHL team in name only – announced late on Friday that the state cancelled a land auction on property targeted for a new arena. Without players or a place to play, can the Coyotes keep their event wagering licence?

There does not currently appear to be a clear answer to that question. The Coyotes are among eight professional sports franchises that are licensed to offer legal digital event wagering in Arizona.

Owner Alex Meruelo in April sold the players and game operations to a Utah-based group. He retains the rights to the name, team IP, records and the AHL (American Hockey League) Roadrunners affiliate franchise. At that time, the NHL classified the Coyotes as an “inactive” team.

That designation does not appear to have changed. But the Coyotes’ plans to acquire new land on which to build a new arena have been stymied.

“Today, after a year of planning and meeting every obligation required under Arizona law, the Arizona State Land Department un..

June 24, 2024

Christopher Hebert appointed new Louisiana gaming chief

On Monday (24 June) Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry appointed Christopher Hebert as the state's new gaming chief. Former head regulator Ronnie Johns announced his retirement earlier this year and 30 June will be his last day.

Hebert was a director handling gaming in the attorney-general’s office. In that role, he worked closely with Johns, who retires as one of the most influential figures in Louisiana gaming. Herbert is the first black man to be named chairman of the Louisiana Gaming Control Board (LGCB), according to a press release from Landry’s office.

“Proper regulation of the gaming industry is crucial at a time in which gaming revenue continues to be a substantial part of our state’s economy,” Herbert said via press release. “I am both humbled and honored that Governor Landry has tapped me as the first African-American chairman of the Louisiana Gaming Control board and I vow to continue the hard work of previous chairmen in ensuring that gaming is free from criminal and c..

June 24, 2024

US May round-up: Louisiana revenue grows while handle dips in New Hampshire

Casting an eye over the latest monthly US state results, iGB analyses further sports betting growth in Louisiana and an ongoing spending decline in New Hampshire.

Louisiana saw handle and revenue rise year-on-year during May. New Hampshire, however, reported lower revenue despite an increase in player spending.

Overall spend on sports betting in the state in May hit $256.7m (£203.1m/€240.1m), 31.6% higher than the same month last year. Of this total, $238.3m was bet online, with the other $18.4m wagered at retail sportsbooks.

Former Louisiana State University (LSU) national basketball champion Angel Reese signed to the WNBA team Chicago Sky in May at the start of the league’s four month season – this likely encouraged increased betting activity in the state during the month.

Revenue growth in Louisiana

As for gross gaming revenue from sports betting, this totalled $33.5m. The figure is 18.8% up on the previous year and marginally ahead of $33.0m in April.

Online betting account..

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