Betstars Enters New Jersey Sports Betting Market
The Stars Group subsidiary offers a full range of bet types, including in-play betting
Thursday evening saw the entry into the New Jersey online sports betting market of a formidable competitor, The Stars Group subsidiary BetStars, which became the eighth online – mobile operator to arrive, offering a full range of bet types, including in-play betting.
“We are excited to introduce BetStars to New Jersey sports fans,” said Matt Primeaux, SVP Strategy & Operations, USA at The Stars Group. “As one of the largest online gaming companies in the world with millions of customers worldwide, we have successfully launched BetStars in regulated markets across Europe and look forward to expanding and enhancing our New Jersey BetStars offering, including through leveraging the Sky Betting & Gaming acquisition following approval from the UK Competition and Markets Authority, to provide a premier product and experience to our customers in this new and developing market.”
BetStars has a licence partnership deal with Resorts Atlantic City (see previous InfoPowa reports) with sisters sites PokerStars NJ and PokerStars Casino also in the state to provide a full range of options for players, who can use a single account across all channels.
Among its attractions, BetStars offers Spin & Bet, a sports betting variation of the highly successful Spin & Go poker variant used by sister company PokerStars.
The Stars Group is clearly mounting a major push into the US sports betting markets, and the industry will be watching its online initiative in Pennsylvania, where it has developed a licensing partnership with land casino operator Mount Airy.
New Jersey’s online-mobile gambling operator list now includes William Hill, Sugarhouse, playMGM, 888, Caesars, DraftKings, FanDuel and BetStars.
In related news from the state of West Virginia, the Greenbrier Resort’s Casino Club launched its FanDuel Group-powered sportsbook Thursday, albeit initially in a somewhat restricted format. The licence is limited to Greenbrier members or guests either staying at the property’s hotel or attending an on-site event.
Greenbrier spokesmen said that the members-only resort will eventually be able to wager via its FanDuel-powered Greenbrier App before the year is through.
Scientific Games Sets Up Sports Betting Team In Gibraltar
Operations team is headed by industry veteran Stuart Weston
US gambling technology and games supplier Scientific Games Corporation said Thursday that it is taking its sports betting portfolio to the next level with the creation of a Sportsbook Operations team in Gibraltar. The new team will support customers directly with a sportsbook operations service to help grow their sportsbook businesses.
The creation of SG Digital’s Sportsbook Operations team builds on the company’s sports betting products with a fast-to-market, full-stack sportsbook portfolio that includes sports betting, portal, mobile betting, and retail services.
SG Digital can now manage an entire sportsbook operation for multiple customers, with less heavy lifting for installations and ongoing sportsbook management, the company claimed in a statement.
Keith O’Loughlin, SVP Sportsbook for SG Digital, said, “Given the massive opportunity in the U.S. and the continued success of existing markets, the addition of Sportsbook Operations is a natural step up for our business. The team will work directly with our partners to operate and run their sportsbooks, ramping up the value of sports betting for everyone involved. It’s a new ball game, and our partners have asked to tap into our knowledge to help with day-to-day sportsbook operations. Now, we’re completely equipped to offer that capability and support customers in growing their business like never before.”
Stuart Weston has been appointed to Vice President, Sportsbook Operations for SG Digital and will lead the Gibraltar team. He has two decades of industry experience, most recently as managing director for Superbet and previously as Sportsbook Product Director at William Hill.
Federal Politicians Making Sports Betting Moves?
Multiple sources confirm that Senators Schumer and Hatch are planning a congressional hearing despite AGA criticism
A tweet from the usually well-informed David Payne Purdum at ESPN Friday raises the possibility of an attempt by federal politicians to get involved in the newly liberalised and booming US sports betting scene, regardless of states’ rights or opposition by the American Gaming Association (see previous InfoPowa reports).
InfoPowa readers will recall that Senators Chuck Schumer and Orrin Hatch, supported by the disgruntled US sports leagues who lost in their opposition to liberalisation, have previously voiced their belief that federal intervention is necessary in a market where individual states are already running strongly with the sports betting ball.
Purdum tweeted Friday:
“Multiple sources now confirming, a House Judiciary subcommittee is expected to hold a hearing on sports betting at 10 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 27. Hearing has not been put on official calendar yet and postponements happen frequently.”
Part of the federal involvement on developing a legal framework reportedly includes controversial “integrity fees” that benefit the leagues and are essentially “a royalty or a percentage of wagers to leagues – paid by sportsbooks and casinos – for bets placed on their games.”
Sportsbetting A New Revenue Source For Washington DC?
City-state councillor wants sports betting legalised in the capital
The promise of a tax revenue bonanza from the recently liberalised US sports betting market has prompted a councillor in the Washington DC city-state to propose that fellow councillors join him in legalising sports betting as increasing numbers of individual US states literally run with the sports betting ball.
Councillor Jack Evans proposed a bill legalising sports betting in the District of Columbia this week, urging fellow councillors to join him in ensuring that safe, regulated and taxable sports betting is made lawful.
“We can be first and get a lot of money or 51st and not get any,” Evans warned. “Today, we take the first steps towards capturing this exciting new stream of revenue, instead of watching District resident dollars fill the coffers of other jurisdictions.
“The District of Columbia will be the leader in a fast-growing industry. The city should take advantage of our ability to act before the Maryland or Virginia legislatures to create a thriving sports betting market, which will attract consumers to the District and generate revenue for District residents.”
Evans’ bill reportedly enjoys the support of others on the council, notable Mayor Muriel Bowser and council chairman Phil Mendelson, who have assisted in drafting the Evans proposal.
A senior member of Mayor Bowser’s staff told local reporters:
“The Mayor supports council member Evans’ efforts to make sports betting a viable revenue source for our growing needs. Sports betting can help us fund critical programmes, create jobs for District residents and allow visitors and commuters to further participate in our economy.”
The Evans bill proposes a 10 percent tax rate based on GGR, along with a $50,000 fee for a five-year licence. Athletes, coaches and referees would be prohibited from placing bets, while a maximum wager limit that has still to be decided would be set.
Regulatory oversight would be the responsibility of DC’s chief financial officer, as is the case with the DC lottery.