Delaware Ready For Sports Betting
Top officials say there are no obstacles to offering single game betting following recent US Supreme Court rejection of PASPA
The state of Delaware could be among the front runners in offering sports betting following the US Supreme Court decision earlier this week overturning the 1996 Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act.
Delaware was one of three states granted limited exemption from the federal law, but its demise now allows the state to widen its offering to include single game betting.
Delaware Online reported this week that the state is poised to be among the first to take advantage of the newly liberalised sports betting vertical, quoting officials in the governor’s office and the state Attorney General’s department who said there are no impediments preventing Delaware from offering single game betting, and setting the scene for a roll-out at the three land casinos in the state within weeks.
“We’re starting training next week,” state Finance Secretary Rick Geisenberger told Delaware Online. “Our hope is to get that complete next week and then it’s a question of testing software. But this will be a conversation with the casinos and we’ll start when we’re ready and they’re ready.”
“There are some significant reasons to begin this at the casinos,” Geisenberger said, adding that the limited roll-out will give the state a chance to examine how the bets work and reduce money laundering concerns in a more controlled setting.
Exactly what types of betting will be offered in the first weeks are still be worked out, he said.
“Generally, it is going to be with the spread,” he said. “But ultimately we’re going to look at the mix of products that makes sense.”
Spokesmen for the land casinos confirmed that training of staff is in progress and that it may be necessary to hire additional personnel.
Denis McGlynn, CEO of Dover Downs Hotel & Casino, said: “I think we’re going to beat New Jersey to the punch but they won’t be far behind. Pennsylvania will probably be next and then Maryland.”
Mississippi Moves On Sports Betting
New sports betting regulations published, with a 25-day consultative window
Mississippi is moving fast on the introduction of sports betting regulation following the US Supreme Court decision this week, publishing regulations proposed by the Mississippi Gaming Commission and announcing a 25-day window for public submissions.
The proposals could see the state’s 28 licensed land casino operators offering sports betting as early as July this year, according to local media reports, and include provisions for mobile devices used on casino premises, and wagering deposits to accounts on casino property.
Interestingly, the proposals do not include the “integrity fee” which US sports leagues have been trying to squeeze out of state governments on the newly liberalised sports betting scene.
Mississippi lawmakers ensured the state has a head start on sports betting by passing relevant legislation earlier this year, prior to the US Supreme Court decision, but contingent on its findings (see previous InfoPowa reports).
U.S. Poll Shows Support For Legalised Sports Betting Has Grown
Half of respondents to Fairleigh Dickinson University Poll believe legalised sports betting in the US is the way to go
The latest poll from the New Jersey-based Fairleigh Dickinson University has been released, revealing:
- Half of Americans favour legalising sports betting across the United States, largely because they support the additional tax revenue it could bring for states, and argue that it is taking place anyway;
- Five states already have laws in place facilitating sports betting and 14 others are mulling similar measures;
- By a majority of two to one, respondents were against states sharing sports betting income through the national sports leagues’ proposed “integrity fee”;
- Around a third of respondents were opposed to any expansion of sports betting in the country, fearing problem gambling, sports integrity and organised crime issues;
- 10 percent of respondents were neutral and “did not know“ if they supported the wider liberalisation of sports betting.
The random sample of adults nationwide was conducted from April 25 to May 1 by land line telephone and cellphone and has a margin of sampling error of 3.9 percentage points.
NFL Commissioner Outlines Position On Sports Betting Liberalisation (Update)
Favours a federal approach to standards and regulations
Faced with the fait accompli of the US Supreme Court decision overturning the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, the powerful National Football League which opposed the change has issued a statement on its position going forward.
Commissioner Roger Goodell said Monday that the NFL believes a federally drafted set of standards and regulations should be passed by the US Congress for application across all US states wishing to adopt sports betting, and that this legislation should include four core principles:
- Allow sports leagues to “protect our content and intellectual property from those who attempt to steal or misuse it.”
- Guidelines must provide substantial consumer protections.
- Ensure fans will have access to official, reliable league data.
- Ensure that law enforcement will have the resources, monitoring and enforcement tools necessary “to protect our fans and penalize bad actors here at home and abroad.”
The NFL wish list, in addition to paying little respect to states’ rights, does give an indication of the way the leagues’ strategy is shaping up, particularly in regard to demands already on the table for states to pay “integrity fees” and being required to use the leagues’ data.
Goodell revealed the NFL has been planning for the potential of legalised sports gambling in states other than Nevada for some months.
“(We) are prepared to address these changes in a thoughtful and comprehensive way, including substantial education and compliance trainings for our clubs, players, employees and partners,” he said. “These efforts include supporting common sense legislation that protects our players, coaches and fans and maintains public confidence in our games.”
Observers noted that the NFL statement could suggest that the leagues want federal authority over the standards and regulations because in pursuit of the integrity fee it would be less complicated to deal with Congress than each individual state.
IGT Sole Runner For Rhode Island Sportsbetting?
Despite 18 expressions of interest at pre-bid conference
International Game Technology (IGT) is reportedly the only bidder in contention following a tender process launched by the Rhode Island Lottery for sportsbetting operations.
IGT who already runs Rhode Island Lottery’s electronic systems, competed against a reported eighteen expressions of interest from other potential bidders at a pre-bid conference but was the only firm to formally submit a bid by the deadline, the Rhode Island Lottery said.
Paul Grimaldi, the Public Information Officer at Rhode Island’s Department of Revenue said the Rhode Island Lottery would have welcomed additional bids but wasn’t going to speculate on why there weren’t other formal submissions.
According to Grimaldi, IGT’s bid is currently being reviewed for basic requirements by the Rhode Island Technical Review Committee.
Any sportsbetting would initially be run by state-controlled sports books through two casinos in the state, however, Government officials haven’t ruled out an expansion to online gambling in the long term.
Nektan Partners Metric Gaming
For US sportsbetting
B2B and white label gaming software provider Nektan plc has agreed a partnership with Metric Gaming (Metric) for the supply of its betting content to the US market.
Through their respective U.S. operating subsidiaries, Metric Gaming LLC and Respin LLC (Respin), Metric and Nektan will offer horse racing and sports betting services via Respin’s Rapid Games™ platform.
Gary Shaw, Interim Chief Executive Officer of Nektan said:
“With last week’s Supreme Court decision, the combination of Metric’s leading sports and race products, and Nektan’s Rapid Games Mobile Casino, creates a large opportunity for both companies working in partnership. The sector will look to a combination of sports and casino and having a partner combining both will create additional opportunities for both companies.”