Louisiana Could Be The Next Us State To Legalise Sports Betting
State senator says he is preparing another legalisation proposal as neighbouring Mississippi reports successful introduction of sports wagering
Louisiana state Sen. Danny Martiny, who has tried and failed in the past to get a sports betting legalisation bill through committee stages in the state legislature, said this week that he is preparing another proposal for his colleagues in the Senate to debate.
Martiny’s hand will have been strengthened by an information hearing of the state Judiciary B Committee this week which heard testimony on the subject.
Among those addressing the committee was Allen Godfrey, the executive director of the Mississippi Gaming Commission, who revealed that overall gambling revenue in his state increased year over year “for the first time in a long time” since sports betting became legal there in September
“There is a lot of enthusiasm and new traffic,” Godfrey said as he jokingly urged members of the committee to delay legalising the vertical in Louisiana so that neighbouring Mississippi could continue to prosper without competition.
Martiny and other members of the committee bemoaned the failure of legalisation bills in the past, with Martiny explaining: “We’re trying to figure out how to get up on our knees, and they’re (Mississippi) sprinting,”
Responding to Godfrey’s teasing, the senator said: “My goal was to compete with you and stop you from taking our people.”
The committee heard that the American Gaming Association estimates Louisiana could take in up to $62 million in tax revenue annually if the state added sports betting to its gambling inventory.
Ronnie Jones, executive director of the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, said: “I have news for everybody. People are betting on sports today (without it being legal in Louisiana).”
“The industry tends to look at sports betting as another amenity to bring more people into the casinos,” he opined.
That was confirmed by Dan Real, regional general manager for Harrah’s Casino in New Orleans as well as one of the company’s casinos in Mississippi.
“I do see our customers over there (in Mississippi),” Real said. “It’s a very important piece for us to add here in Louisiana. It’s something on everybody’s mind in every state.”
So far, nine US states have legalised sports wagering.
Rep. Norby Chabert said that if Louisiana lawmakers do not address the legalisation of sports betting the state would be left behind in a rapidly changing environment.
Legalise Sports Betting, Consultant Tells Indiana Lawmakers
Move quickly to obviate a black market from becoming entrenched, say experts
In Indiana, the Interim Study Committee on Public Policy voted this month to recommend legislation to bring legal sports betting to Indiana, according to an Associated Press new agency report this weekend..
Indiana Gaming Commission Executive Director Sara Tait said sports betting “is something that has been successfully regulated elsewhere for years, so we’re not going to have to reinvent the wheel.”
The commission hired consultants Eilers & Krejcik Gaming to study sports betting, which advised that officials should move quickly to prevent a black market from becoming entrenched.
The report recommends offering mobile online betting and cautions against restricting wagers on college sports or setting taxes too high. The state could see in-person and mobile sports betting in Indiana reach $256 million in five years, which would add about $38 million in annual state tax revenue, the report said.
NCAA To Explore Us Sports Betting Development
Establishes dedicated committee
The US National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) has announced the establishment of a new committee tasked with exploring the expansion of legalised sports wagering in the US.
The Board of Governors Ad Hoc Committee on Sports Wagering will examine the sports wagering landscape and its potential impact on current NCAA rules, educational efforts, player availability reporting, and any associated risks as more states legalise sports wagering.
“The NCAA and its members continue to take a thoughtful approach to the issue of sports wagering,” G.P. Peterson, chair of the NCAA’s Board of Governors and president of Georgia Tech, said following the board’s meeting Oct. 23.
“The core values of protecting student-athlete well-being and the integrity of competition are at the heart of these efforts. We must continue to evolve and adapt our approach as the landscape continues to change and sports wagering expands in the United States.”
Award of Sports Betting And Online Gambling Licenses In Pennsylvania Scheduled For Wednesday
Decisions of Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board will be closely watched
This could be a big week for online gambling and sports betting in Pennsylvania as the state Gaming Control Board meets on October 31st with a list of applicants for licensing on the agenda despite the pricey fees of $10 million for mobile and retail sports betting operators.
The regulations impose a 90 day waiting period between application and launch, but the Board at its discretion may waive that provision, allowing approved companies to get into the nascent market faster.
Among the sports betting applicants are Penn National, Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino & Racetrack, Rivers Casino and Sugarhouse Casino.
On the online gambling front, two applicants are on the PGCB agenda for Wednesday seeking $10 million licenses – Stadium Casino and Presque Isle Downs.
The applicants have already been the subject of intense scrutiny and vetting, and it is anticipated that the Board will grant sports betting licensing as it did at its last meeting, when Hollywood Casino and Racetrack, Parx Casino and South Philadelphia Turf Club received approval.
At the same meeting the board granted online gambling licensing approval to Valley Forge and Sands Bethlehem (see previous InfoPowa reports).
New York Jets The First NFL Team To Partner With Online Sports Betting Provider?
Official announcement expected Thursday
The New York Post has reported that a partnership agreement between online gambling operator 888.com and the New York Jets, due for official announcement this Thursday, will be the first of its kind involving an NFL franchise.
The newspaper reported that “the fruits of the deal” were on full display outside the MetLife Stadium when the Jets played the Chicago Bears on Sunday in the form of “several three-story-high, bright-orange banners emblazoned with ‘888.com.’”
The MetLife Stadium is located across the Hudson in East Rutherford, North Jersey, where online gaming is legally regulated.
The NFL announced it would relax its longstanding ban on casino advertising ahead of the start of the 2018-19 season, following pressure from team owners. The Dallas Cowboys and the Baltimore Ravens have seized the new opportunity, partnering with WinStar World and Caesars Entertainment.
Whilst the 888 banners do not specifically identify the sports betting arm of 888.com, they direct punters to the online company’s website, where there are football graphics and links to 888sports.
Nevada Sports Betting Up
Sportsbooks took in a record $571 million in Dspetember, with football fans contributing $389 million
Figures released Tuesday by the Nevada Gaming Control Board show that sports betting reached record levels in September, with state sportsbooks taking in $571 million, $389 million from football fans.
Nevada casinos won $56.3 million from the total wagered in sports, setting the highest sports pool win ever. Of that, $44.3 million came from bets on football.
Overall, casinos across the state raked in $991.2 million last month – up 1.3 percent over September 2017.
Michael Lawton, senior research analyst for the board, told local reporters: “If we would have held a little better in baccarat, we would have hit a $1 billion. So, it was a good month. Without baccarat, the state would have actually increased 4.3 percent.”
YTD numbers show that Nevada overall casino revenue is up 2 percent in 2018.
In September, Las Vegas Strip casinos saw revenues decline 3.7 percent to about $546 million as visitation numbers dropped. Lake Tahoe’s south shore in Stateline posted the sharpest revenue decrease – down 15.8 percent at $17.7 million.
The state harvested $54.5 million in gambling fees and taxes – up 7.6 percent y-o-y..
Pennsylvania Awards Three More Sportsbetting Licenses
And another two interactive gaming concessions
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) has awarded a further three sportsbetting licenses to Sugar House Casino, Harrahs Casino and Racetrack and Rivers Casino.
Both Rivers Casino and SugarHouse are owned by Rush Street Gaming LLC and plan to take their first bets on December 1, 2018 at temporary sportsbook venues in the respective casinos. Internet gaming operations are expected to launch in 2019.
InfoPowa readers will recall the award of the first two sports betting licenses to Parx Casino and Hollywood Casino earlier this month.
The PGCB also awarded interactive gaming licenses to Presque Isle Downs & Casino and Stadium Casino LLC, enabling these operators to launch online slot and casino table games.
These latest bring to nine internet gaming license awards, the others held by Parx, Harrah’s, Mount Airy Casino Resort, SugarHouse, Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course, Sands Bethlehem and Valley Forge Casino Resort, all of which have yet to launch an online offer in the State.
Landmark Deal Between MGM And NHL
Multi-year, strategic sportsbetting partnership
In what has been described as a groundbreaking deal in the US, MGM Resorts International has become the National Hockey League’s (NHL) first official sports betting partner.
As the NHL’s official sports betting partner, MGM Resorts will be able to market a multitude of its products and services to NHL fans through the League’s various media platforms and events.
MGM Resorts will be authorised to use official NHL branding to amplify the relationship across a range of the company’s land-based and digital sports betting offerings within the United States.
“As a leading global gaming operator and entertainment company, MGM Resorts is the perfect partner for us to begin our transformative entry into this space,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, said. “Fan engagement, technological advancement and innovation are paramount to our progressive approach and will be at the forefront of everything we do.”
“Combining MGM Resorts’ world-class sports betting operations and technology with the NHL’s top-level competition, iconic brands and cutting-edge data will further transform the rapidly growing sports betting marketplace and solidify our position at the forefront of the industry,” added MGM Resorts Chairman and CEO, Jim Murren.