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
Does Fanatics Sportsbook sprawled on beds covered in cash, celebrating like the nouveau riche in some Hollywood flick? Um, probably not.
The total number of people living in Vermont, after all, is fewer than the number who attended football games in the fall at the University of Michigan or six other NCAA schools. And among those hundreds of thousands of maple syrup lovers, there are many thousands with no interest in sports betting, or who are too young to indulge if they have the urge.
But Vermont sports betting does represent the last domino to fall in the Northeast, bringing the nation’s total to nearly 40 states where a legal wager on everything from the Super Bowl to Saturday’s Mainz vs. Wolfsburg soccer match can be placed.
And Vermont won’t be the newest mobile betting location in the U.S. this year once North Carolina betting apps available once regulators give the green light.
It remains to be seen if still more states will in sports betting legalization in 2024, but the stories linked below show how Sports Handle will be busy throughout the year reporting on developments in Georgia and elsewhere. Those interested in such news will find no better source for reporting on the sports betting industry. And for broader gambling coverage, be sure to check out our d site, US Bets, and its own weekly Double Down column recapping the week, in addition to its Gamble On podcast.
Georgia, always on his mind 3h2h3m
Georgia legislator reintroduces sports betting bill
Big stuff in Florida, but minimal details 2c3q5n
Florida gaming commissioner: Sports bettors show fervor in first month
California tribes not about to change 3y2y53
Rocha: California initiative will further ‘damage the brand’ of mobile sports betting
The American dream is filled with long odds 6q643n
Is America lousy with bad sports bettors?
RG advocates make their move 2m551q
Federal legislation seeks to fund efforts to combat gambling addiction
Industry insiders make responsible gambling predictions for 2024
Primed for a different strategy 55l1u
The sharps’ action is providing what Prime Sports sought in Ohio
Some Kambi turnover g193p
Kambi CEO Kristian Nylen steps down ahead of A.I. trading platform rollout
These guys sure can pick ’em 2y5w6h
Four finalists tie, split record $9.27 million Circa Survivor pot
SuperContest Gold winner pockets $460,000
Some new potential in New York 1k3d6v
Sen. Addabbo files 2024 bill to legalize iCasino in New York
Industry trade group releases ad calling for legal online casino in New York
If you think there’s a lot of sportsbook ads 6g5l22
Media notebook: Where would the TV networks be without sportsbook ad spend?
You can’t argue with numbers 1z4973
No sophomore slump for New York mobile sports betting in 2023
Maryland closes out 2023 with record $559.9 million handle
Indiana posts back-to-back $500 million handles for first time
Virginia college betting change proposed 1t5b3i
Virginia Sen. Schuyler VanValkerburg recently introduced SB 124, a bill that would allow Virginians to wager on in-state college teams. Currently, wagers within the state on teams like Virginia and Virginia Tech are not permitted.
This topic has come up before in the Virginia General Assembly, with a 2022 effort to legalize bets on in-state colleges coming up short. Legislators ing the change often cite the potential increase in tax revenue for the state, given the betting interest in prominent in-state programs.
Pushback on the effort typically comes from legislators worried about possible increases in athlete harassment or match fixing. Those legislators believe it’s in the state’s best interest to keep some separation between wagering and in-state universities.
— Bennett Conlin
More bettors bet, but bet less, during playoffs 3c4k1q
With the playoffs set to get underway, Optimove has released its 2023-2024 report on NFL wagering. The iGaming firm found that the average daily wagering amount per bettor is 26% less during the playoffs than it is during the regular season — but that the number of bettors increases by 119% in the postseason.
The reason for this variance is that extremely casual or new bettors are more likely to wager on the NFL once the playoffs roll around. These novice bettors are less keen on complicated bets like Super Bowl, where the average bet amount is 50% less than during the regular season but the volume of bettors soars by 228%.
“For sportsbooks, most of these ‘new’ players are one and done, but for sportsbook operators who plan accordingly, these new players can be retained, becoming recurring, profitable customers,” the report stated.
— Mike Seely
Tweet of the week 1q1c69
Sports Betting Landscape, January 11, 2024
Vermont ed the party today. You can now bet sports on your phone virtually anywhere in the Northeast.
North Carolina should go fully mobile by the end of March. pic.twitter.com/kprxeDJ10Z
— PowerTripBets (@PowerTripBets) January 11, 2024
More of the most important, interesting stories 3j46l
A WARNING AT THE OUTSET: NCAA president uses inaugural address to highlight threats on social media linked to sports betting [CDC Gaming Reports]
A CHANGE FOR THE BETTER AND BETTORS: ESPN BET app takes in more money since dropping Barstool brand [Bloomberg]
AND WHEN WE GET BEHIND CLOSED DOORS … Alabama House Republicans discuss gambling bill in closed meeting [AL.com]
THERE’S STRENGTH IN NUMBERS: I was a statistics professor. I used sports betting to retire at 43 [Newsweek]
"I was a statistics professor. I used sports betting to retire at 43" https://t.co/RcHHfeyVKu pic.twitter.com/0vvKumx0Cz
— Newsweek (@Newsweek) January 10, 2024
THE PUSH IS ON FOR MORE IN MAINE: Tribal leaders urge age of gambling bills, new state office [Portland Press Herald]
A PRAIRIE BAND SPORTSBOOK COMPANION: Kansas: Sportsbook grand opening set at Prairie Band Casino & Resort [KSNT]
PARTNERS IN A CAUSE: Circa Sports to use ProhiBet’s monitoring and notification platform [CDC Gaming Reports]
SPEAKING FROM EXPERIENCE … Opinion: If Marylanders get an online casino option, they must understand the dangers [The Baltimore Sun]
