Parx Soft Launches Retail Sportsbook In Pennsylvania
Mobile and online sportsbook in development
PARX soft launched its new Kambi-powered sportsbook earlier this week in the Pennsylvania market for two days testing overseen by Pennsylvania gambling regulators.
PARX’ retail, online and mobile sports betting offers are expected to hard launch in the next few weeks should the soft launch have gone to plan.
Sportsbetting Bill Filed In Tennessee
For introduction in first legislative session of 2019
Tennessee democrat Rick Staples has filed HB0001 for the new legislative session beginning next week.
The introduction of the draft Bill authorises both online and land-based sports betting only in State jurisdictions that approve the measure through a local referendum.
The bill imposes a 10 percent tax on gaming revenue, of which 40 percent would be distributed to a fund for general appropriations, 30 percent to Tennessee colleges of applied technologies and community colleges for equipment and capital projects, and 30 percent to local governments for education and infrastructure.
A Tennessee Gaming Commission would be established to regulate sports betting which would work hand-in-hand with the Tennessee bureau of investigation for purposes of enforcement.
“Billions of dollars leave the state of Tennessee to our neighbouring states with casino and table gambling,” Staples said. “So, this is a new stream of revenue that the federal government is allowing the states to take advantage of.”
Observers note that Bill Lee, the new State Governor elect, opposes sports betting saying on his last campaign trail that gambling was not consistent with the values of the State of Tennessee.
Washington DC Council Proposes Amendments To Sports Betting Bill (Update)
Doubles Class A and Class B license fees
Amendments have been proposed to the sports betting bill passed by the Washington D.C. council of the district of Columbia last month in which private businesses would be able to apply for licenses to operate sports betting facilities. The D.C. Lottery would oversee a single-operator system of online betting within city limits.
The amendments, titled “Sports Wagering Lottery Clarification Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2019”, were submitted late last week by Council member Kenyan McDuffie for the purpose of clarifying the amount of Class A and Class B licenses.
The four sports venue licenses would double from $250,000 to $500,000 and licensing venues outside of the two-block exclusivity zones of those venues would pay $100,000.
50 percent of taxes collected would fund the Birth-to-Three for All and remainder the Commission on the Arts and Humanities.
The council bill still needs to be signed off by the mayor followed by a 30-day review period by Congress.
Scientific Games To Power Oneida Indian Nation Sports Betting
At three upstate New York Casinos
Scientific Games/SG Digital’s Openbet technology will power the Oneida Indian Nation’s (OIN) Sports Betting service at its Turning Stone Resort Casino, Yellow Brick Road Casino and Point Place Casino, situated in upstate New York, upon launch of a legalised sportsbetting market.
Scientific Games and Oneida will submit the agreement to the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) for review to ensure compliance with applicable laws. It will be among the first NIGC reviews of an Indian tribe’s U.S. sports betting agreement.
“Being among the first Indian nations nationally to operate a sportsbook, and among the first to offer sports betting in New York, represents our commitment to entering this burgeoning market ready for rapid acceleration,” Ray Halbritter, Oneida Indian Nation Representative and Nation Enterprises CEO, commented.
“After rigorous assessment of the supplier market, we determined that partnering with Scientific Games and SG Digital will give our players the best sports betting experience starting on day one.”
“We are already hard at work, planning to capitalize on the opportunity by partnering with the industry’s top technology supplier. Simply put, the combination of our partnership with SG Digital and our previously announced alliance with Caesars Entertainment, positions us to win big in New York.”
Jordan Levin, SG Digital’s Group Chief Executive, added: “As the race to capture market share ensues, we have taken great care in our approach to put our customers and their players at the core of our development and overall experience design. Winning players’ hearts and minds is first and foremost in our thinking. Very often in consumer entertainment experiences, you get one chance to demonstrate your player-centricity, and a focus on getting this right straight out of the gate will decide the winners and losers in every state.
“We’re thrilled to partner with Oneida in affiliation with the Caesars brand to bring sports betting to consumers in New York once authorized.”
Connecticut Enters The US Sports Betting Fray
With submission of bipartisan bill that would allow both online and land-based sports wagering
Connecticut State Senator Cathy Osten, D-Sprague, and other members of southeastern Connecticut’s legislative delegation have submitted a bill that would authorise online and in-casino sports betting at Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan casinos.
In addition the Connecticut Lottery Corp., in agreement with the Indian tribes, would be authorised to offer online Keno.
The bipartisan bill, supported by more than a dozen representatives, includes provisions for location and age verification.
“The Mohegan Tribal Council deeply appreciates the bipartisan and bicameral support,” Mohegans’ chief of staff, Chuck Bunnell said. “The respect for our government-to-government agreements and the need to keep Connecticut competitive is being recognized and we stand by those who stand for Connecticut.”
An existing exclusive sports betting rights agreement between the State and the Tribes means that any measures and the subsequent implementation would need to be negotiated and agreed.
“Connecticut needs to play catch-up with surrounding states if we’re serious about modernizing our existing gaming industry,” Osten said in a press statement.
“Fortunately, we can do that with a relatively simple regulatory fix. The U.S. Supreme Court decision last year paved the way for the expansion of private-sector sports betting, and I think Connecticut is in a good position to take advantage of that. We have the infrastructure with the tribal casinos, we can use the new revenue, and we’ve got bipartisan support. This should be an early session success story.”
Kambi Launch Parx Casino Sportbook (Update)
Follows two-day testing phase
Sportsbook provider Kambi as launched Parx Casino’s on-property sportsbook in Pennsylvania following a two-day testing phase and the the go ahead from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB).
Patrons can place their bets via seven teller windows or at any of the 45 Kambi-powered betting kiosks located within the sportsbook space, throughout the casino floor and in the Parx Poker Room.
Parx has also leveraged Kambi’s Bring Your Own Device technology to launch Betslip Builder – a mobile app which enables players to fill out their bet slip when on the move and create a QR code to be scanned prior to reaching a cashier. Betslip Builder will streamline the bet placement process during busy periods and fast moving games.
With the Parx Casino sportsbook up and running, attention turns to launching additional Kambi-powered sportsbooks at Greenwood Gaming and Entertainment’s South Philadelphia Turf Club and Valley Forge Turf Club, with the former expected to be ready for regulatory testing next week.
In addition, a Parx-branded online sportsbook will be launched as soon as the PGCB gives the go ahead on mobile wagering in the state.
Max Meltzer, Kambi Chief Commercial Officer, said: “We’re very excited to have launched our on-property sportsbook at Parx Casino, a brand which shares our commitment to providing unique and exciting wagering experiences to players.
“Today’s unveiling marks Kambi’s fourth bricks and mortar sportsbook launch in less than three months and cements our position as the leading online and on-property sportsbook supplier in the burgeoning US market.”
Matthew Cullen, Senior VP of Interactive Gaming and Sports at Parx Casino, said: “Parx Casino is thrilled to launch legalised sports betting on property this week, and to do so with such a high-quality product from Kambi is particularly exciting.
“Parx is expanding its portfolio of offerings to give patrons the absolute best of all types of legalised gaming, and sports wagering is just the latest stage in enhancing our customer offering.”