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. 3p1812
Top stories around our network this week 5iaj
Each new year brings with it the hopes (pipe dreams?) for healthier habits, slimmer waistlines, increased time spent reading instead of watching — and likely for anyone reading this, interest in seeing more legalized gambling opportunities.
We already know for sure that issued announcements Friday that they’ve lined up the necessary partnerships with North Carolina sports organizations or venues in order to be ready.
That reference above to pipe dreams might be apt for anything happening soon to bring casino industry family eager for gambling expansion.
On a smaller scale, while Mississippi was among the first states to legalize retail sportsbooks, it has been sured in tax benefit to the state by its many peers that have since embraced mobile sports betting. It is a rather out-of-date and costly quirk that Mississippi allows adults to bet on a game at its casinos but denies them the chance to do so by phone or computer.
It’s possible that inconsistency will be remedied this year, as a state task force recently released a report making a strong case for the benefits of adding digital betting in Mississippi. It will likely receive at least some level of discussion in the new legislative session, where if any action is taken to expand sports betting, it will occur before the session ends May 5.
As to whether any state without any kind of legal sports betting currently Missouri, and Minnesota are among the most viable candidates.
No one will be tracking all of these developments throughout 2024 better than the staff of Sports Handle, and that’s only part of our broad coverage of the sports betting industry, as shown by the recently published stories linked below. And be sure to check out US Bets’ own weekly Double Down column recapping the week of broad gambling industry news, in addition to its Gamble On podcast.
We’ll miss you, 2023, sort of 5m5c32
Sports betting in 2023: Hello to ESPN BET, Fanatics, and Taylor Swift
Launch of ESPN BET, Fanatics tops list of 2023 sports betting business stories
The worst sports betting bad beats of 2023
As sports betting debuts go, Ohio’s first year was a news-making doozy
Ask a bookmaker: Looking back at 2023 and toward 2024
Hit the lights, for it’s the 2023 sports betting industry oopsie awards
The more money, the merrier 3k2v5c
Will the sports wagering money train slow down anytime soon? Don’t count on it
All those backup QBs rewarded someone 5a3h6b
The under is a near lock for DraftKings’ creative prop on NFL 2023 total points
Delaware enters the modern betting era 31565b
Mobile sports betting goes live in Delaware via BetRivers
Maine thinking about something more 1x5b4l
Maine tribes now angling for legal iCasino, historical horse racing
Revenue records were meant to be broken q474b
New York mobile sportsbooks post record $188 million in December revenue
Ohio’s November numbers show ESPN BET arriving with a bang
Nevada sports wagering handle virtually flat at $921 million in November
Colorado latest to top $600 million in monthly sports wagering handle
Virginia posts record $639 million sports wagering handle for November
Betway no longer entering Massachusetts dwt
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission revealed Thursday that $1 million for a temporary license last year, has decided not to launch its sports betting in the state, while Bally’s will renew its temporary license with plans to launch later this year.
According to comments from commission staff, Bally’s will focus on its Rhode Island business early in the year before turning its attention to launching Massachusetts. Both Bally’s and Betway currently hold untethered mobile licenses, of which up to seven are available in the state. Once Betway’s temporary license expires, three untethered licenses will still be available.
The MGC also had a comprehensive discussion about whether to allow responsible gambling hotline is available. Responsible gambling has been a key tenet for the commission, and it will continue to gather information before deciding if it will agree to allow WynnBet to stop offering 24-hour service on the line.
— Jill R. Dorson
Simplebet lists most popular microbets 6o104e
With 2023 in the rearview mirror, the microbetting platform provider Simplebet this week released a list of last year’s most popular wagers and teams at the sportsbooks it services.
The exact result of a given MLB teams, the Arizona Diamondbacks and Philadelphia Phillies.
Unsurprisingly, Illinois, although Ohio had the most bets taken.
— Mike Seely
Tweet of the week 1q1c69
When I first started attending NCLGS in (I think) 2015, there were about 4 reporters in the building: Me, a freelancer, and Tony Batt and another person from @GamblingComp.
There was maybe a total of 100 people there (and I'm being generous). It was small enough that you could… https://t.co/z7NxUTKJ8Z
— Steve Ruddock (@SteveRuddock) January 4, 2024
More of the most important, interesting stories 3j46l
NOT EVERYTHING WAS BAD IN ’23: DraftKings’ 2023 surge paces sports stocks to rebound year [Sportico]
GAMBLING ON A NEW CONCEPT: How Turning Stone is trying to revolutionize sports betting experience [Spectrum News]
IN FLORIDA, IT’S ALWAYS COMPLICATED: Fantasy sports dispute surfaces as Florida deals with online expansion [News Service of Florida]
CFP BETS KEPT COMING IN, BUT …: Surge of betting for CFP semifinals, short of setting records [Associated Press]
Las Vegas sportsbooks are hot for the College Football Playoffs with the national championship game set for Mondayhttps://t.co/vkPQpjA4bx
— Las Vegas Sun (@LasVegasSun) January 5, 2024
HE’S PARLAYING WITH PURDUM: ESPN signs writer Doug Greenburg to multi-year contract [ESPN]
SMALL STATE WITH WRONG TREND: Rhode Island: Handle and revenue down in November [iGaming Business]
A SINFUL TYPE OF MARKETING? Ontario bishops call for ban on gambling ads [Anglican Journal]
CHALLENGING THE GAMBLING GOLD RUSH: Gambling boom detrimental to New Jersey economy, report says [The Guardian]
