SportsHandle and friends deliver another round-up of the week’s big developments in US sports betting.
Could California Compromise Between Operators, Tribe Still Be Possible?
National Indian Gaming Association Conference Chairman Victor Rocha gently prodded. Representatives from the two biggest sports betting companies in the U.S. deftly deflected. The parrying went on for nearly an hour Monday at the NIGA Mid-Year Conference in Temecula, Calif., and the end result was that, to be cliche, actions do speak louder than words.
DraftKings SVP of Business Development Jeremy Elbaum and FanDuel SVP of Business Development Jonathan Edson chose their words carefully, but the words almost didn’t matter. Conceptually, the idea that the pair were sitting on a dais at the Pechanga Casino Hotel talking about their California mobile sports betting initiative to a room full of tribal leaders said it all.
Full story here.
New Jersey’s October Sports Betting Handle Crushes Previous U.S. Record
The $1.01 billion wagered in New Jersey on sports bets in September sounded like a lot — and it was, setting a U.S. record.
But on Wednesday, the state Division of Gaming Enforcement announced that in October, the state’s handle climbed to yet another monthly record: $1.30 billion. That includes more than $1 billion wagered online, with a mere $124.2 million plunked down at state racetracks and Atlantic City casinos.
Full story here.
FanDuel’s ‘Same Game Parlay’ Trademark Likely To Go By Wayside
When FanDuel Sportsbook debuted its “Same Game Parlay” in November 2019, it probably didn’t realize that it had created a product that would generate sales like hand sanitizer at the dawn of a pandemic.
While the company did have the wits to attempt to box out the competition, its bid to trademark the phrase is likely to get graded the same way as the vast majority of same game parlay tickets: as a loser. It’s not a done deal yet, but a decisive first-mover advantage on the “SGP” — in which bettors string together bets on multiple events/props in the same contest for potentially large payouts — probably will have to suffice.
Full story here.
PA Gaming Industry On Track To Earn $1.3 Billion More Than Any Prior Year
Back in January, Penn Bets assessed Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board revenue data for the month before, combined it with the outlook for gaming expansion in 2021, and became the first (that we know of) to publicly proclaim $4 billion in annual revenue in reach for the state’s commercial gambling industry.
After March cleared $400 million in monthly gaming revenue from retail casinos, iGaming, sports betting, truck stop VGTs, and sports fantasy contests for the first time, we affirmed that the first quarter of 2021 showed the $4 billion projection appeared solid.
Full story here.
Caesars Partners With Knicks, Rangers, And Madison Square Garden
Caesars Sportsbook, one of nine operators that last week was granted access to the soon-to-be-live New York sports betting market, Thursday morning announced a sweeping partnership with the NBA’s Knicks, NHL’s Rangers, Madison Square Garden, and MSG Networks. The partnership will give Caesars the opportunity to directly market to fans in-arena, via social media, and on broadcasts.
The partnership, according to a press release, will include a relaunch of the Four Courses With JB Smoove show, during which the actor-comedian interviewed athletes and celebrities at the dinner table. The 2013 offering will be updated to include Caesars-themed content.
Full story here.
Online Casinos In Michigan Have A Record-Breaking Month, Again
Michigan’s online casinos had a record-breaking month for the third time in a row, with October’s gross receipts coming in at $109.7 million, shattering September’s previous record of $102.4 million, the Michigan Gaming Control Board reported Thursday.
And once again, BetMGM dominated the market, with $41.million in gross receipts, also a new record for the company.
Full story here.
Maryland’s Wagering Commission Finally Approves 5 Casinos, But Go-Live Date Unclear
(Note: Updates a previously posted story with new information.)
The Maryland Sports Wagering Application Review Commission (SWARC) approved five casinos for retail sports betting licenses Thursday morning during a meeting that featured plenty of debate.
The five casinos moving to the next step of the state’s multi-layer approval process, with their sports betting partners, are:
- Hollywood Casino (Penn National Gaming/Barstool Sportsbook)
- Horseshoe Casino (Caesars)
- Live! Casino (FanDuel)
- MGM National Harbor (BetMGM)
- Ocean Downs Casino (TwinSpires)
Full story here.
