It’s information overload everywhere, and there’s not time enough to sleep and eat and stay fully apprised of what’s happening on this crazy blue dot of ours (two out of three ain’t bad). Here’s the weekend Sports Handle item, “Get a Grip,” recapping the week’s top U.S. sports betting headlines, highlighting some fresh news, and rounding up key stories.
Top stories around our network this week 5iaj
While it remains to be seen just how successful Fanatics Betting and Gaming will be as the newest big-boy entrant in the sports betting space, there’s no question it wants to be a major challenger to the top dogs. Recent events in New England make that just as clear as the Los Angeles Dodgers’ intent to outspend every other non-government entity in the world (with the possible exception of LIV Golf).
If Fanatics learns anything quickly from that three-way competition, it can put it to use a month from now in was announced this week that the Vermont Department of Liquor and Lottery has awarded contracts to the same three operators — and only those operators — to provide sports betting in that state beginning Jan. 11.
Also this week, Fanatics announced it will soon have its flag planted in partnering with the Carolina Hurricanes to obtain mobile access in the state, the fourth operator to reach such an agreement as the Tar Heel State prepares to launch legal betting sometime between February and June.
One of Fanatics’ current betting states is concerns about a regulatory proposal in the state addressing how sportsbooks can tie non-gambling consumer transactions to betting bonuses. Fanatics and FanDuel both contend the Ohio Casino Control Commission’s proposal is unrealistic in requiring sportsbook operators to before making any offers to them that those who make non-gaming purchases are at least 21 years old.
Meanwhile, in looking to the future of a still more lucrative sector than sports betting, Fanatics has Pennsylvania to be added next. That news was reported by our site, US Bets.
To keep up to date on all news involving the new Fanatics and everyone else in the legalized gambling industry, you’ll want to read the wide-ranging coverage provided by the staffs of both Sports Handle and US Bets, as shown in the stories of the past week linked below. And be sure to check out US Bets’ own weekly Double Down recap in addition to its Gamble On podcast.
So far, so good 5a2u2y
ESPN BET’s first month in line with analysts’ estimates, preliminary data shows
One against many 1l2h4n
Could Hard Rock Bet Florida sur all of New York in monthly handle?
A reward for setting limits? 1b5dc
Has the time come to incentivize gamblers to use responsible gambling tools?
It’s a complicated relationship 4wm6k
Resignation of Entain CEO may reignite calls for BetMGM divorce
When fantasy becomes a nightmare 2r501r
Ex-Jags employee facing up to 30 years in prison for stealing $22M to fund gambling
Company wants to enlist leagues 350x
GambleID says its new product could stop an athlete’s bet — and potential suspension
A no-no by DK in Massachusetts 2xa6e
Massachusetts: DraftKings broke state law in accepting out-of-state credit card funds
Once more, North Carolina inches forward 285b5a
North Carolina Lottery approves set of sports betting rules
State has collegians in its sights for help c1s64
Ohio focusing further on how to address harassment of college athletes
Records, records, we’ve got records 5j4q5c
Illinois sets all-time monthly highs for sports wagering in banner October
New York mobile books rout public, collect $56.9 million for week
Massachusetts posts record $654 million sports wagering handle for November
Colorado the latest to reach $1 billion in operator gross revenue
Maryland posts record $550 million handle as ESPN BET makes strong debut
Kentucky breaks from the gates with $340 million handle in September and October
Indiana sports betting handle hits record $513 million in November
Group sues DraftKings over promo offer v72x
The Public Health Advocacy Institute has bonus offer. Consumers are required to deposit $5,000 and play $25,000 over 90 days to qualify.
The group called DraftKings “deceptive” and wrote that the offer was made to new — and by extension, uneducated — customers who were “unlikely to understand” the nuances of the promotion. The suit was filed in Middlesex County Court in Massachusetts, and DraftKings has plans to fight the case, according to SBC Americas.
— Jill R. Dorson
Minor league ballplayers to be schooled 4x5525
Unlike with the MLB is partnering with EPIC Global Solutions and the Entain Foundation to educate minor league players about how to avoid gambling-related harm.
The partnership, which will get underway in 2024, will feature lived-experience educational sessions with EPIC facilitators like former pro baseball player Ryan Tatusko, who struggled mightily with gambling addiction before entering recovery and getting his life in order.
“Our younger minor league players in particular are coming into the league at a time when mobile sports betting is an increasingly prominent part of the sports ecosystem,” Quest Meeks, Major League Baseball’s vice president of sports betting and compliance, said in a press release. “We want to help those players avoid gambling-related pitfalls that can derail not only their careers, but also their day-to-day lives more generally.”
– Mike Seely
West Flagler has a lot to say 4m6p3o
West Flagler and Associates, the parimutuels that are suing Gov. Ron DeSantis et al over Florida sports betting, this week filed a motion asking to be allowed up to 7,500 words in its rebuttal to DeSantis’ response in the case pending with the state’s Supreme Court.
West Flagler is not asking for any additional time, but it wrote that the Florida Seminole Tribe’s’ amicus brief on behalf of its gambling compact with the state “greatly expands on and includes new arguments” in the case. Reply briefs traditionally have a word limit of 4,000, and WFA is asking for 7,500.
The Florida Supreme Court is currently considering whether to accept the case.
— Jill R. Dorson
Tweet of the week 1q1c69
The Dodgers odds to win the World Series before g Shohei Ohtani ➡️ +700
Now, they're the new favorite at +550 👀 pic.twitter.com/VWQDzM9bxF
— FanDuel Sportsbook (@FDSportsbook) December 9, 2023
More of the most important, interesting stories 3j46l
IT ALL ADS UP: Google Ads to update gambling advertising policy in the U.S. [CDC Gaming Reports]
FANDUEL GETS SOME SCRUTINY: Top U.S. betting firm lobbied against rules to protect young people and problem gamblers [The Guardian]
A WIN VIA A TENNIS MATCH: Sportradar scores global tennis data and streaming deal with ATP [iGaming Business]
ATTORNEY GENERAL’S ON THE CASE: Florida AG investigating CFP over Florida State’s exclusion [ESPN.com]
Florida State Snub: Attorney General Launches Investigation Into CFP 'Injustice' https://t.co/QGazcHH75Q
— Athlon Sports (@AthlonSports) December 12, 2023
SIMPLY MORE BETTING THAN EVER: Simplebet announces 120 percent increase in wagers for 2023 college football season [CDC Gaming Reports]
A GAP IN ILLINOIS BETTING: Wait continues for sportsbook at Danville casino [The News-Gazette]
TENNESSEE SETS A NEW HIGH: Tennessee es $500M handle for first time in November [iGaming Business]
TIME FOR AN AC UPGRADE: Opinion: Atlantic City must improve with New York City casinos coming [WPG]
