New Study Indicates That Most Fantasy Sports Players Are Likely To Bet On Sports
Ipsos research found that even fantasy sports players who do not presently bet on sports events are likely to do so
With sports betting now the centre of attention in the United States following the recent Supreme Court strike down of the restrictive PASPA, a new study carried out by Ipsos at the request of the Fantasy Sports Association has concluded that most fantasy sports players are likely to place bets on sports events in the more liberalised environment.
Researchers found that 79 percent of fantasy sports players who are not current sports punters plan to place bets once legalised sports betting reaches their state.
The study also found a significant overlap between fantasy sports participation and sports betting. About 92 percent of current season-long players and 87 percent of daily fantasy players plan to continue those activities with the same frequency – even with the arrival of legal sports betting.
Addressing the FSTA’s Summer Conference in Minneapolis Thursday, president Paul Charchian said: “This research strongly suggests that the value of most fantasy sports companies will rise significantly, even when the companies themselves don’t take legal wagers.”
New Jersey Governor Makes State’s First Legalised Sports Bets
Eight year legal struggle to strike down PASPA was worth it, says Gov. Murphy
Thursday saw the official start of legalised sports betting in New Jersey following the strike down of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act last month by the US Supreme Court, which ended an eight-year legal struggle against the sports leagues by the state.
The historic first bets were made at the Monmouth race track by state governor Phil Murphy, who placed $20 bets on Germany to win the World Cup soccer tournament, and the New Jersey Devils to win hockey’s Stanley Cup next season.
“We knew in our heads we were right and we knew in our hearts we would win,” Murphy said. “We’ve got a lot of good times ahead.”
Governor Murphy was joined onsite by State Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, former State Senator Raymond Lesniak, Dennis Drazin, Chairman and CEO of Darby Development, operator of Monmouth Park, and William Hill US CEO Joe Asher.
Punters were quick to line up at counters in the track’s sports book facility, and a good turnout was reported.
The Monmouth sports betting facilities are powered by the US division of major UK bookmaker William Hill plc. The facilities include a diverse sports betting menu that includes football, basketball, baseball, hockey, soccer, tennis, and more. The complex features a 15-window main sports book, and an integrated sports bar, with over 40 HDTVs showing live sporting events and dynamic betting lines. The sports book is open seven days a week.
Atlantic City’s Tropicana Prepping For Online Sports Betting?
Land casino operator in free-to-play sportsbook site powered by Nashville technology company
Part of the avalanche of US sports betting news reports this week was an interesting story on Atlantic City land casino operator Tropicana’s apparently preparatory moves in anticipation of online sports betting at some future point.
The company has partnered with Nashville technology provider Chalkline Sports, a two-year-old company which specialises in fast, simple gaming technology cantered on sports betting, to put up a free-to-play website branded Tropicana Sports, presumably to begin pulling in potential punters and making its presence in the new market felt.
Chalkline has reportedly worked with major industry companies in the past, including IGT.
Because it is not a real-money enterprise, the site does not restrict its visitors to New Jersey, enabling the company to throw a wider net at this early stage…but access is still subject to a 21 years of age or over restriction.
Contests are already running on the site, withy prizes to be won by picking the winners of the day’s MLB baseball games in the Baseball Daily Pick 5, or from guessing the day’s soccer winners in the World Cup Match Pick’em Game.
American Gaming Association Lists Sports Betting Priorities
Letter to federal lawmakers lays out trade body’s position
Following the overturning of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act last month by the US Supreme Court, the American Gaming Association has laid out its position on sports betting in a letter to federal lawmakers.
The AGA campaigned for legalised sports betting in the latter stages of New Jersey’s protracted litigation for sports betting liberalisation in which it was opposed by the national sports leagues (see previous InfoPowa reports).
The letter lists five AGA priorities:
- Empower State Regulation: Individual US states have proved that they are fully capable of regulating gambling without the interference of the federal government;
- Consumers First: Strong consumer protections and conveniences such as properly regulated intrastate mobile wagering are supported by the AGA in order to eliminate illegal bookmaking activity;
- Game Integrity: The AGA believes that rigorous sports betting regulation strengthens game integrity, and supports a national data repository to share suspicious betting information;
- Responsible Gaming: Individual states should implement programs to assist problem gamblers;
- Contracts Over Statutes: Sports betting can benefit both sports leagues and gambling companies, and the AGA supports the two reaching contracts to resolve their differences. The AGA opposes federal or state legislation that seeks to interfere with that process.
The AGA’s support for states’ rights in determining their own gambling laws should be noted by the National Football League and US Senator Orrin Hatch, both of whom issued statements following the strike down of PASPA.
The NFL put out a statement calling for overarching Congressional regulation of the sports betting industry, whilst Hatch (one of the authors of PASPA) declared that he intends to introduce legislation in the near future to “help protect honesty and principle in the athletic arena” in the wake of PASPA’s eradication.
U.S. Congress Reacts To Strike Down Of Federal Sports Betting Law
Veteran Senator plans new federal legislation, and a House Judiciary Committee hearing to be held soon
The publication ESPN reports that the US Congress is beginning to react to last month’s strike down of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act by the US Supreme Court, and is planning a House Judiciary Committee hearing for June 26 to which the National Football League – main opponent of liberalised sports betting in the United States – has been invited.
And in related news, veteran federal Senator Orrin Hatch is reportedly about to fulfil his pledge to introduce a federal sports betting regulatory bill to replace PASPA, which he co-authored (see previous InfoPowa reports).
Hatch is reportedly drafting legislation based on the Sports Bribery Act, collaborating with the NFL on the project.
Insiders say that the NFL will use the collaboration to ensure Hatch inserts the contentious “integrity fee” it has been trying to press individual states to include in sports betting legislative drafts.
Rhode Island Lawmakers Vote For Sports Betting
Intrastate sports betting bill now awaits state governor’s signature
Rhode Island is about to join the roster of US states that have passed sports betting legislation in the wake of the recent US Supreme Court decision overthrowing the federal Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act.
The state House passed the necessary legislation under an appropriations bill with a 66-7 vote Tuesday, and the proposal unanimously moved out of the Senate Finance Committee on the same day before reaching the full Senate floor and passing Wednesday.
The legislation now awaits Governor Gina Raymondo’s signature into state law. The governor’s 2019 budget includes a line item of $23.5 million in sports betting wagering for the state.
The new bill would allow for sports betting at the state’s two tribal-owned casinos, Twin Rivers and Tiverton.
It does not include the ‘integrity fee’ that the professional sports leagues have been demanding.
The legislation includes a breakdown of where revenue from in-person, on-site sports betting will go – 51 percent to the state, 32 percent to the state’s gaming vendor, IGT, and 17 percent to the casinos themselves. There is provision for a $100,000 annual payment to the towns of Lincoln and Tiverton, for “hosting” sports betting facilities.
U.S. Congress Undecided On Sports Betting Hearing (Update)
Proposed hearing scheduled for July 26 postponed
Industry observers were left scratching their heads at the antics of federal legislators this week; a July 26 scheduled hearing on the recent liberalisation of sports betting by the federal House Judiciary Committee was posted (see previous InfoPowa report) but then almost immediately postponed without explanation.
Titled “Post-PASPA: An Examination of Sports Betting in America,” the hearing was reportedly to be addressed by the National Football League, which has fiercely but ultimately unsuccessfully opposed the striking down of PASPA by the US Supreme Court.
Reporting on the postponement, the publication ESPN was unable to furnish either an alternative date or an explanation.
Draftkings Selects Kambi Sportsbook
For entry into New Jersey market
Kambi Group plc has clinched a multi-year sportsbook technology and services deal with Draftkings for the New Jersey market.
The deal includes terms for the partnership to expand when commercially agreeable regulatory frameworks are implemented in the U.S., a press statement reads.
Kristian Nylén, Kambi Chief Executive Officer, said:
“I am delighted Kambi has been selected to partner DraftKings as it enters the sports betting market.
“The Kambi technology is unique in that it empowers operators to innovate and create differentiated sports betting experiences, providing the flexibility which will be crucial in the developing U.S. market.”