SportsHandle and friends deliver another round-up of the week’s big developments in US sports betting.
DraftKings Could Be Next To Go Live For Illinois Sports Betting After Rebranding
In the continuing saga of how traditionally online-only sports betting platforms will find their way into the Illinois market ahead of an 18-month delay, designed to give local operators a leg up, DraftKings announced on Thursday partner Casino Queen will rebrand as “DraftKings at Casino Queen.” This should allow DraftKings to begin offering sports betting as soon as the Casino Queen gets its provisional sports wagering approval from the Illinois Gaming Board.
Full story here.
Senate Panel Time Machine: Legislative Hearing On College Sports Gambling Rife With Outdated Opinions
Lawmakers on Capitol Hill aren’t exactly known for having their finger on the pulse of America’s zeitgeist.
Forget the zeitgeist. When it comes to the basic, everyday experiences of their constituents, members of congress can often seem hopelessly out of touch with issues that millions of Americans understand to be facts of life. Often, the disconnect between lawmakers in Washington, D.C., and the civilians they represent becomes most apparent when tech CEOs are summoned to testify.
Full story here.
Tennessee’s Sept. 1 Sports Betting Launch Date Likely Delayed
It’s been more than a year since Tennessee lawmakers approved sports betting and Gov. Bill Lee let the bill become law without his signature. And the question that keeps popping up is when will the first bet be placed in the Volunteer State?
In honor of Alex Trebek’s new book, “The Answer Is:” not Sept. 1. That date has been bandied about, but an industry expert says the Tennessee Education Lottery won’t be ready. Why? No operators have been approved for sports betting in the state, and according to the TEL, once an operator applies for a license, the board of directors has up to 90 days to approve or deny an application. As of July 22, no operators were listed as approved on the TEL website, and the TEL does not provide a public list of applicants.
Full story here.
Measuring The Impact Of Legal Sports Betting On Its Illegal Cousin
Consumer spending in the U.S. with traditional illegal bookmakers declined 25% last year, according to American Gaming Association research that was released this week. Legal sports betting – including mobile wagering – rose 12%.
Bettors who have made a shift away from “the dark side” most often cited confidence that bets will be paid out (25%), awareness of legal options (20%), a desire to use a regulated book (19%), promotions offered by legal operators (19%), and reading news about legal sports betting in their home state.
Full story here.
Virginia Sports Bettors’ Bill Of Rights Is A Good Start, But Needs Muscle
The U.S. sports betting market has seen a steady stream of firsts since May 2018 when the Supreme Court struck down the federal ban on full-fledged sports wagering outside Nevada. The first wager placed in the First State (Delaware) in June 2018, the first mobile sportsbook to go live outside Nevada (DraftKings in New Jersey), the first state to pass a law permitting mobile sports betting only with no physical sportsbook component (Tennessee).
Full story here.
