Category Archives: Sports Betting

Crowds at the casinos during football games are proving that Gov. Ned Lamont was on target with his sharp focus on the start of the NFL season to usher in the new sports industry in Connecticut.

While the state didnt meet that target, the kick-off of in-person betting last week, just three days before the matchup between the New England Patriots and Tom Bradys Tampa Bay Buccaneers, brought beefy crowds to the states two tribal casinos over the weekend.

Baseball playoffs, including the Red Sox-Yankees wild card game that the Red Sox won Tuesday night, have attracted smaller crowds, but they still represent a bump in attendance at the casinos.

As for state coffers Connecticut wont get a cut of that sports betting revenue at the casinos. Not a dime of it.

Under the new Connecticut gaming law, sports bets placed on tribal reservations, like in-person bets on table games, arent taxed. The state will collect 13.75 percent of revenue for online sports betting once the websites of Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Resort casinos are up and running.

Revenue from the Connecticut Lottery Corps retail and online sports betting sites will not be taxed, because the lottery, as a quasi-public agency, transfers all its revenue to the states general fund after expenses.

Online platforms for sports betting are expected to go live Tuesday, starting with a soft launch available to a limited number of users selected by the fantasy sports companies that have partnered with the tribes and the lottery. The state Department of Consumer Protection announced the soft launch date in a Friday afternoon news release.

Online, non-sports casino games, which are part of the 2021 expansion, will be taxed at a rate of 18 percent of revenue, rising to 20 percent after five years. Those systems and approvals are still in the works with no targeted start date.

Tribal and casino officials wouldnt disclose how much revenue sports betting generated in its first week, or how many bets were placed, but pointed to strong volumes so far.

Performance has been better than expected, with Sunday being especially strong, Jeff Hamilton, president and general manager at Mohegan Sun, said in a written statement.

Mashantucket Pequots tribal chairman Rodney Butler, in an interview, said he was very pleased with the volume of bets placed over the weekend at Foxwoods, which the tribe owns, given it happened during soft launch period before the casino has ramped up its marketing.

While football was a big draw last weekend, that was not the case for baseball games during the week. Even the highly anticipated New York Yankees-Boston Red Sox American League wild card game did not bring crowds to the betting kiosks.

Football is 1, 2 and 3, said Butler, a former defensive back for the University of Connecticut, adding that baseball is slow and steady because theres so many games.

And, in the often-said words of Yankees announcer John Sterling, you cant predict baseball.

At Mohegan Sun, one person was at the two rows of betting kiosks at the moment when the first pitch was thrown at Tuesdays Yankees-Red Sox game, a few feet away from Bow & Arrow Sports Bar. A crowd gathred in the bar, many of them Yankees fans.

An employee helping patrons place bets on the kiosks said people had lined up hours ahead of the Pats-Bucs matchup to bet on the game.

Ahead of the Yankees-Red Sox game, large screens mounted high on the walls and the two dozen or so betting kiosks showed the Bronx Bombers were the slight favorites to win. At game time, a $30 bet on the Red Sox paid $63, including the original wager. Payoffs for Yankees bets were lower.

The Red Sox beat the Yankees 6-2.

The Mashantuckets and Mohegans got an early start on in-person sports betting, taking wagers ahead of the Connecticut Lottery Corp, which is still awaiting approval from DCP to launch its retail sites giving the tribes a slight edge.

Initially, well get some decent volume because theres no other options in the state,Butler said. But once they get their other locations, especially the key ones in Stamford, Bridgeport and Hartford, I think those will do pretty good volumes for the state.

What will set the casinos apart, he said, is the experience factor. Foxwoods plans to open its permanent sportsbook in mid-November.

That will be a sight to see. Its like sensory overload, Butler said. Well drive volume based off that entertainment value were creating.

But ultimately, he expects most gamblers will choose the convenience of making wagers online.

The reality is once you get online with sports betting, and in particular, internet casino, that will be a much more profitable venture, but still will pale in comparison to the numbers that you see that we report to the state on our slot handle, Butler said.

The casinos contribute 25 percent of total slot revenue to the states general fund per tribal contracts with the state. Foxwoods reported slot revenue of $30.8 million in August, the most recent data available, resulting in a $7.7 million payment to the state. Mohegan reported $43.7 million, paying $10.9 million to the state.

The expansion of gaming, which is expected to yield nearly $30 million in revenue to the state after the first year with hopes of that growing to $100 million after several years, comes as both casinos continue to recover from the pandemic, which led to declines in business.

Its a dirty little secret in sports betting. Its a very low-margin business. There are states that have lost money in certain months in sports betting and operators have lost money, Butler said.

julia.bergman@hearstmediact.com

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Sports betting off to a good start at casinos, but no state revenue - CT Insider

Gov. Ned Lamont after betting on the Yankees to beat the Blue Jays with Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Chairman Rodney Butler. Credit: Christine Stuart / CTNewsJunkie

The Department of Consumer Protection confirmed Wednesday that the expected Oct. 7 rollout of online gambling and sports betting will be delayed.

A delay in the publication of the memorandums of understanding in the Federal Register with the two tribes that operate the Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun casinos is to blame. The Federal Register published the Mohegan Tribal Nations on Sept. 15 and waited 12 days to publish the Mashantucket Pequots.

We are still working to finalize the details of the statewide online and retail launch of sports betting, and we are working with the licensees to ensure their platforms are certified and in compliance with the regulations prior to launch. As such, no date has been set but we do not anticipate it to be a lengthy delay, Kaitlyn Krasselt, a spokesperson for the Department of Consumer Protection, said.

Sports betting began at Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun last week. DraftKings is operating the sportsbook at Foxwoods and FanDuel is operating the sportsbook at Mohegan Sun.

People can still visit the two casinos to place a bet on their favorite team, but the ability of anyone in Connecticut to place a bet from their phone or their computer will have to wait a little while longer.

The Connecticut Lottery, which teamed up with Rush Street Interactive, to operate its online and sports betting options, will also have to wait to get going.

The Connecticut Lottery is expected to operate online sports betting through Rush Streets SugarHouse brand. It will also offer retail betting at up to 15 retail locations, including several operated by Sportech, like Sports Haven in New Haven and Bobby Vs in Windsor Locks.

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Online Gambling, Sports Betting Delayed - CTNewsJunkie - CT News Junkie

The Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Commission has approved MGM National Harbor, Live! Casino & Hotel and Baltimore's Horseshoe Casino for sports wagering.

The Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Commission has approved MGM National Harbor, Live! Casino & Hotel and Baltimores Horseshoe Casino for sports wagering, saying all three have met the qualification requirements.

It is the second-to-last step for official approval of the casinos, though the final step is all but certain.

Maryland Lottery and Gaming has forwarded the casinos application to the Sports Wagering Application Review Commission, which voted unanimously in August that Maryland Lottery and Gamings qualification standards are sufficient for it to award the licenses.

Our team is diligently implementing the sports wagering law, and were one step closer to the first in-person wagers, which we hope will take place by late fall, said Maryland Lottery and Gaming director John Martin.

The Sports Wagering Application Review Commission meets next on Oct. 14, when it is expected to formally award the sports betting licenses to the three casinos.

All three casinos are prepared for sports betting. Live! Casino, a nearly 14,000-square-foot sports bar designed with sports wagering in mind, opened in April. At MGM National Harbor, the BetMGM Sportsbook & Lounge is set to open. At Horseshoe Casino, work is underway to convert space for a Caesars Sportsbook-branded lounge.

Maryland voters approved a ballot initiative to legalize sports betting in 2020. Maryland lawmakers approved the betting deal in April and Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan signed the legislation into law in May.

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MGM National Harbor cleared for sports betting - WTOP

The odds that Massachusetts lawmakers will legalize sports betting this year are shrinking as state Senate leaders signaled the money-making measure isnt high on the fall priority list.

We have to do redistricting, we have to close out the books and do a (supplemental) budget, we need to do a more permanent Votes act, our temporary (provisions) end in December, Senate President Karen Spilka told State House News Service. Some of it will depend upon bandwidth and how it stands.

The House passed a sports betting bill in July the chambers second time doing so which supporters said could generate up to $70 million in tax revenue annually plus another $80 million every five years for licensing fees.

But a lack of urgency for action on sports betting in the state Senate could mean the measure meets its demise once again.

Lawmakers have tried and failed to pass sports wagering legislation since 2018 when the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the nearly nationwide prohibition as unconstitutional.

A similar sports betting bill died in the Senate last session when Spilka spiked the measure, declaring it was not a legislative priority during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Ashland Democrat signaled sports wagering is again low on her list with lawmakers already preoccupied with spending state governments cache of American Rescue Plan Act funding, closing the books on fiscal year 2021, election reforms, mental and behavioral health parity, and redrawing political district lines.

Thirty states including neighboring Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire and New York have all legalized sports wagering in some form, making supporters eager for legalization as the state bleeds money to wagers placed in border states.

On the day of the Patriots season opener, Gov. Charlie Baker took to Twitter to give his thoughts on legal sports betting.

He wrote, Great to see the @Patriots back! We filed a bill in 2019 and again this year to legalize sports betting in MA its time to act and get this done. MA is losing out to many of our neighbors on this one.

Sports betting has proven to be a slam dunk for the gaming industry and has helped revenues rebound, even as the pandemic rages on across the U.S. It accounts for about 13% of all commercial gaming revenue, with sports wagering revenues up 650% in two years as more states legalize.

The Massachusetts Legislature breaks for the holidays on Thanksgiving, giving lawmakers roughly six weeks to debate and pass a sports betting bill. Spilka said the Senate Ways and Means Committee is looking at it.

Herald wire services contributed to this report.

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Odds shrinking for sports betting legalization this year in Massachusetts - Boston Herald

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) Virginians have wagered more than $1.6 billion on athletic competitions since sports betting was legalized on Jan. 21, 2021.

Some of that money made its way back to bettors when they won their wagers but a lot of it didnt. So where does the cash go?

Its no surprise to anyone who knows how bookmaking works that a good portion of the handle the total of bets placed in a given period goes back to bettors as winnings. The remainder known as the hold goes back to the operator.

But not all of that money can be taxed by the state. Under the regulatory framework enacted on Jan. 21, companies can deduct bonuses, promotions, and some other operating expenses. These deductions, which totaled over half of the hold since January, dont count towards the amount taxed at 15%.

The remainder is the Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR), from which taxes are deducted over $11 million since January.

That left operators with a cool $59 million nothing to sneeze at.

State Senator Jeremy McPike (D-Prince William) was one of the patrons of the bill that legalized sports betting in the commonwealth. He said the legislation recognizes a market thats always existed, We know sports betting existed before this, but its never been legal before.

One of the consequences of legalization has been a new source of funding for the state. A small portion of that revenue is set aside by law for the treatment of problem gambling, $276,850 in total.

That includes a program for Virginians to voluntarily exclude themselves from gambling institutions for 1 year, 5 years, or a lifetime.

The rest of the money has been deposited directly into the general fund, where it will be available during budget negotiations. McPike said hed like to see the money go to school reconstruction a proposal that has precedent with the Virginia Lottery.

But McPike also emphasized the importance of balancing the rate at which sports betting revenues are taxed, to ensure that bettors dont go back to the unregulated market.

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Sports betting tops $1.6 billion in Virginia but where does that money go? - 8News

It's extremely likely sports wagering in California will become legal after the November 8, 2022 general election.

But how and more specifically where that sports betting will be allowed remains a huge question. Polls show considerable support for legalized sports betting in the state.

So as many as three initiatives could be on the November, 2022 ballot that would legalize sports betting. All three of the initiatives would allow sports betting for collegiate and professional sports and other events such as the Olympics.

One of the them, the California Legalize Sports Betting on American Indian Lands Initiative has already qualified for the November, 2022 ballot.

That initiative would would allow sports betting at tribal casinos and at licensed racetracks in the state. The initiative would also legalize roulette and craps games at tribal casinos.

Native American Tribes are obviously in support of this initiative. But Native American Tribes will also be against two other initiatives that would legalize sports betting in all of the state, not just at tribal casinos. Native American Tribes want exclusive control of the sports betting in the state.

The initiative that would legalize sports betting at tribal casinos and racetracks would place a 10 percent tax on sports betting done at those places. Seventy percent of that tax revenue wold go to the state's general fund.

Fifteen percent of that tax revenue would be used by the California Department of Health to implement programs to deal with gambling addiction and mental health and would provide grants to cities and counties to deal with problem gambling and mental health. And 15 percent of the tax revenue would be used for the Bureau of Gambling Control administration when it comes to sports betting.

One possible ballot measure legalizing sports betting that could be placed on the November, 2022 ballot is the California Sports Wagering and Consumer Protection Act. A number of cities in the state are in support of this initiative, including Gardena, San Jose, Inglewood and Colma.

Card rooms, race tracks, Native American tribes and professional sports teams would be able to offer sports betting in person and online under this initiative. So professional sports teams could have sports books at their stadiums and arenas under this initiative.

This initiative would charge a much higher tax, 26 percent, 25 percent and 1 percent to be used toward problem gambling.

The initiative legalizing sports betting just at tribal casinos and race tracks doesn't include online sports betting.

Paul Yoder, who advises Tulare County on State Legislative issues, also updated the Tulare County Board of Supervisors at their meeting on Tuesday on a third sports betting initiative that could go to the November, 2022 ballot: The California Legalize Sports Betting and Revenue for Homeless Prevention Fund Initiative.

Eighty-five percent of tax revenue from that initiative would be provided to cities and counties to deal with mental health homelessness issues. Yoder said it's estimated the initiative could generate $2 billion annually in tax revenue with 85 percent going to cities and counties.

For the cities-back initiative and the sports betting initiative devoted to mental health issues and homelessness issues to be placed on the ballot, they would need 997,139 valid signatures by April.

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Three sports betting initiatives could be on November, 2022 ballot - Porterville Recorder

Sports betting might have a long and storied history in the United States, but its been categorized as a nefarious and illegal black market for the majority of that time. Over time, though, the public and legal perspectives on sports betting have slowly shifted towards acceptance. As with many other states, Arizona has joined the ranks of states that allow online sports betting.

It wasnt an easy road to legalization, though. After many years of debate and a few legal setbacks, September 2021 marked the first time in Arizona history that residents could legally sign up for AZ sports betting sites. Lets look at how we got here and explore the many ups and downs that happened along the way.

If youve been following online sports betting, youve probably noticed that a lot of states have legalized online sports betting over the past two or three years. While it may seem like a coincidence that these states decided to shift their policies simultaneously, it all started at the federal level.

In 1992, the United States legislature effectively banned online sports betting when they passed the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act. Although the act laid out provisions for online bookies to operate in a few states, the overwhelming majority of the country was barred from allowing sports betting within their territories.

This all changed in 2018 when New Jersey attempted to work around the law, thus throwing it into the public eye. Their challenge rose to the Supreme Court, which ruled that the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act prevented state legislatures from mandating their betting regulations.

After overturning the law, states were given the green light to draft their own legislation, effectively opening the door for Arizona to legalize online sports betting.

Although the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act had been overturned in 2018, it wasnt until 2019 that the Arizona legislature began debating whether to legalize AZ sports betting sites. At first, the proposition to legalize online sports betting in Arizona faced a lot of opposition from tribes throughout the state.

Local tribes feared that legalizing online sports betting would create competition against their own gambling operations. However, this all began to change in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic destroyed local tourist revenues. Because there were not enough travelers coming to Arizona, tribes and the state legislature realized that legalizing AZ sports betting sites could create a new revenue stream and keep their economies afloat.

Even still, the movement towards legalizing online sports betting was a slow and grinding process from one committee to another. Once a bill finally reached the state Senate, it seemed as if Arizona congressmen were prepared to legalize AZ sports betting when things suddenly came to a halt over a minor typo.

Initially, legislators planned to provide every professional sports team in Arizona with either their own mobile betting platform or an online betting license. This also included the PGA Golf Tours Scottsdale venue and the Phoenix Raceway, where NASCAR hosts biannual races. However, the bill originally allowed collector car auctions with 150 or more attendants to also apply for betting licenses.

This would mean that any bar or venue in the state could host a collector car auction and apply for a betting license. This wasnt legislators intention, though, so they quickly adjusted the number, realizing that theyd meant to type 150,000 attendants. Unfortunately, that single typo caused a delay and sent shudders through the local tribal communities who already felt that they would lose customers.

The constant push and pull between tribal leaders and non-tribal senators kept the bill at an impasse for more than a few weeks. One senator proposed expanding the reach of all gambling regulations, which caused many tribal leaders to oppose the legislation. However, tribal senators knew that if they compromised just a little bit, they could also expand their markets.

By the end of the debates, both the Governor and the tribal leaders reached an agreement and were able to draft legislation that suited both of their interests. After months of back-and-forth, Governor Doug Ducey finally signed House Bill 2772 on April 15, 2021, thus legalizing registered AZ sports betting sites.

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AZ Sports Betting Best Arizona sports betting sites 2021

Updated Sept. 9, 2021

Its been three years since the Supreme Court struck down the federal ban on sports betting, allowing states to legalize it if they wish.

So where do we stand now? What states are in business, and how are they doing? What states are imminently coming online? And what states are on the back burner? Weve compiled a comprehensive look at all 50 states (plus Washington D.C.), with projected legalization dates for every state.

Nearly every state has at least considered legal sports betting, but the reality is that full online sports betting will not come to more than a dozen states for a long time due to deep-seated political opposition to gambling or complex tribal relationships.

An interactive map is below, and the text for each state is ordered by the projected year we expect them to come online. Two experts Daniel Wallach, principal at Wallach Legal, the nations first law firm solely devoted to sports betting, and Jake Williams, vice president of legal and regulatory affairs for Sportradar helped with the projections and sub-categories for every state.

Possible states for 2021 and 2022 include states such as Kansas, which has seen some movement but has no real timeline for legalization, and Maine, which had a bill vetoed by the governor, killing sports betting until at least 2021.

[Check out the best online sportsbooks in Arizona, Illinois, Colorado, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Indiana, Michigan, Virginia, Iowa, and West Virginia.]

Ala. | Alaska | Ari. | Ark. | Calif. | Colo. | Conn. | Dela. | Fla. | Ga. | Hawaii | Idaho | Illinois | Ind. | Iowa | Kan. | Kent. | La. | Maine | Mary. | Mass. | Mich. | Minn. | Miss. | Mo. | Mont. | Neb. | Nev. | N.H. | N.J. | N.M. | N.Y. | N.C | N.D. | Ohio | Okla. | Ore. | Penn. | R.I. | S.C. | S.D. | Tenn. | Texas | Utah | Ver. | Virginia | Wash. | Wash. D.C. | W.V. | Wisc. | Wyo.

Full mobile betting with multiple options

Arizona passed a sweeping online sports betting bill in April 2021 that allows statewide mobile wagering as well as some of the nations first in-stadium sportsbooks.

A handful of sportsbooks went live Sept. 9, the first day of the 2021 NFL season, with 10 more to follow in the coming weeks.

In-person sportsbooks only

Legal sports betting started in Arkansas on July 1, 2019, at Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort. An additional sportsbook was added in October 2019 at the Saracen Casino Resort.

There is no online wagering in the state.

Lawmakers have considered statewide mobile legislation but this could still be a difficult sell in one of the nations more politically and culturally conservative states.

A 2018 ballot measure that allowed the two sportsbooks and permitted two new casinos in the state passed, but a 2020 measure that would have allowed even more casinos didnt make that years ballot. It could be a while before Arkansas has full mobile betting.

Full mobile betting with multiple options

Colorado accepted its first online and retail wagers in 2020 and has quickly turned into one of the most robust markets with all the major players involved, including DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM and BetRivers from day one.

In Sept. 2020, Colorado joined Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Indiana among states to record more than $200 million in monthly betting handle. Australian-based PointsBet opened its North American headquarters in Denver, helping what could be a major player in U.S. sports betting.

Colorado has one of the most operator-friendly setups in the country and more than two-dozen digital sportsbooks are expected to be live there in the coming years.

In-person sportsbooks only

Delaware was the first state outside Nevada to accept a legal single-game sports bet, beating New Jersey by a few weeks after the Supreme Court struck down the federal wagering ban in May 2018.

Delawares lottery-run sports betting market still prohibits online betting, leaving only three retail sportsbooks in the state and unimpressive revenue numbers.

Its small size, population and the proliferation of digital sports betting options in its neighboring states will leave Delaware a relative afterthought despite its quick start.

Full mobile betting with multiple options (in-person sign up required)

The state launched betting on March 9, 2020, (just ahead of an NCAA Tournament that didnt wind up happening) and launched online betting in June 2020.

One of the nations most populated (and sports-crazy) states, Illinois is expected to be a major player in the U.S. sports betting sphere. However, market participation has been slow, in part due to limited online skin counts plus stiff taxes and fees.

More importantly, Illinois bettors are required to register at a retail sportsbook before betting with an online option. This requirement had been waived on a month-by-month basis by Gov. J.B. Pritzker during the COVID-19 pandemic, but he unexpectedly failed to renew the order starting in April 2021; assuming he (or the legislature) take no further action, in-person registration will remain until 2022.

This will be a hiccup Illinois potential but the registration mandate sunsets permanently in 2022, and marquee sports venues such as Wrigley Field and the United Center could open sportsbooks in coming years. More online brands will also likely join, which could finally push Illinois near or to the top of the U.S. sports betting handle lists.

Full mobile betting with multiple options

Indiana went live Sept. 1, 2019 and has done well, pulling in more than $200 million a month in handle in the 2020 football season. It took just a few months from legalization to first bet, and Indiana has continued its fast start with a well-rounded market.

The biggest players, including FanDuel and DraftKings, take up most of the market share within the state, but a dozen or so sportsbooks are expected to make noise in the coming years. More operator entrants and a business-friendly environment should help continue Indianas sports betting success.

Full mobile betting with multiple options

Iowa started accepting bets on Aug. 15, 2019 and has methodically grown in the months since. The in-person registration requirement set to sunset in 2021 should help the market even further.

Iowa has some of the cheapest licensing fees in the land $45,000 for the first year to get an initial license and a renewal fee of $10,000 annually. Iowa took in $72 million in bets in September 2020 alone.

Though it has a smaller in population and has no professional sports teams, it could still be among the more lucrative per capita markets in the country.

Full mobile betting with multiple options

Michigan launched in-person wagering at the MGM Grand Detroit on March 11, 2020. Online books such as BetMGM launched in early 2021.

Michigan is becoming one of the biggest sports betting and online gaming markets in the country, and its legislation allows for a competitive market with multiple operators.

In-person sportsbooks only

Mississippi was one of the earlier states to launch, opening up for business on Aug. 1, 2018.

The state technically has mobile wagering, but you can only place bets while inside a casino. This has hurt its market share, despite being one of the few legal Southern betting states.

The initial retail sports betting legislation was passed as a corollary to a fantasy sports bill at a time when the federal ban appeared it would not be lifted.

Passing a statewide online betting bill in conservative Mississippi will be a far more difficult task.

In-person sportsbooks only

Montana officially started taking bets in March 2020 with a sports betting app run by the company that runs the state lottery. This government-run monopoly keeps out other top sportsbooks and can jeopardize competitive prices. It also only works in licensed gaming properties.

Not surprisingly, Montanas limited betting options and sparse population make it a small part of the overall U.S. market.

Full mobile betting with multiple options (in-person sign up required)

Nevada, the gold standard for in-person betting, still hasnt quite mastered online wagering. The state requires bettors to come into a casino to register in person before placing via the Internet.

Thats really hurt the state during COVID-19, when casino traffic plummeted. Nevada will always hold a special spot for American gaming, but it is already just the second-most lucrative sports betting state and it could continue to fall down the ranks as more and more populated states (with statewide mobile wagering) launch in the coming years.

One mobile betting option

Online wagering began on Dec. 30, 2019. DraftKings is the sole mobile operator in the state, though there are a handful of retail betting locations that have opened or intend to do so.

New Hampshire has done decently well despite its limited market, but this could end when (or if) Massachusetts launches mobile wagering.

Full mobile betting with multiple options

New Jersey, the state to bring the sports gambling case to the Supreme Court, is now enjoying the fruits of its labor. The Gold Standard for legal sports betting was the third state to take a legal bet and has continued to set state records thank to a competitive, operator-friendly system.

Although there are physical books in Atlantic City and at the Meadowlands, more than 80% of bets taken are on online, a number thats risen during COVID-19 and should continue going forward.

New Jersey brought in $4.5 billion in sports bets in 2019 and is on track to bring in $5 billion in 2020, beating out Nevada in handle every month that year. A New York mobile launch could cut into these massive numbers, but New Jersey will still continue as a marquee market for years to come.

In-person sportsbooks only

No bills have been passed, but Native American tribes have interpreted that sportsbooks are legal at tribal casinos under existing state-tribal gaming compacts. There are only a handful of retail sportsbooks spread across the state and it appears the first state to take a bet without an act of the legislature or voters will continue to do so.

Only physical sportsbooks; online launch pending in 2022

New York has retail sports betting at a handful of upstate commercial and tribal casinos, but these have generated little revenue despite the states massive population and gaming interest. Thats because theres no online betting.

However, Gov. Andrew Cuomo for the first time on Jan. 6 fully embraced online sports betting as a new revenue source, but the plan he signed into law in April 2021 runs sports betting through the state; The limited-operator model could prevent books such as DraftKings, FanDuel, and many more from entering. It would ultimately harm the consumer experience, as well.

State officials are expected to announce the winning bids in December.

In the meantime, New Jersey has essentially turned into Vegas East (with the help of New Yorkers coming across the border). This comes even as a study released in February 2020 estimated that New York is losing $200+ million in revenue by not legalizing online sports betting.

In-person sportsbooks only

North Carolina legalized in-person sports betting in July 2019 for two tribal casinos in the western portion of the state, taking its first bet in March 2021.

While that bill did not permit any mobile wagering, the state is expected to consider statewide mobile wagering in 2021.

In-person sportsbooks only

Theres been no political movement to legalize sports gambling in North Dakota, but state tribes have already opened retail sportsbooks under authority granted to them by the federal government, a similar legal path for the sports betting launch in New Mexico. This too means retail only, but North Dakota is among a rare group of states that can take bets without an act of the legislature.

Notably, a 2021 online bill fell just a few votes short. Lawmakers could try again in 2022, especially if tribal books launch in 2021.

One mobile betting option

Thanks to a limited exemption in the federal sports betting ban that allowed it to offer parlay cards, Oregon officials determined the state lottery could begin taking bets without a separate act of the legislature. The state lottery app took its first bet in 2019, but with only one legal mobile wagering option, it has not been able to match competitive markets.

Notably, in-state college betting is prohibited via the lottery app. A handful of Native American casinos have opened retail sportsbooks, which permit college betting as well, but these too are small revenue generators.

Full mobile betting with multiple options

Pennsylvania was among a handful of states to accept a legal retail sports bet in 2018 and, beginning with its 2019 digital launch, has been among the biggest markets in the country.

Despite high fees for operators to get into the game, Pennsylvania consistently sees the third-largest sports betting monthly handles, behind New Jersey and Nevada, despite a larger population, pulling in close to $500 million in bets during the meat of the football season.

The fees, and a limit of only 14 total operator licenses, will continue to hinder Pennsylvanias potential, but its large population and high-profile sports teams will help it maintain some of the nations highest-grossing handle totals.

One mobile betting option

Rhode Island has been offering legal sports betting since 2018 when retail sportsbooks opened at its two commercial casinos. William Hill (now owned by Caesars) is the only legal retail and online sportsbook in the state.

Lawmakers repealed an in-person mobile registration requirement, but the small population and lone legal option keep revenues small, despite Rhode Islands proximity to Connecticut and Massachusetts.

In-person sportsbooks only

The first retail sportsbooks opened in September 2021.

South Dakota legalized sports betting in November 2020 as part of a ballot initiative and lawmakers passed retail-only authorization for Deadwood casinos and certain tribal gaming facilities.

The state constitution only permits wagering within Deadwood and tribal lands, but some policymakers believe statewide mobile wagering can be approved as long as the servers are placed in Deadwood. Legislation to do so gained little traction in 2021, but could open an interesting new digital market in the years to come.

Full mobile betting with multiple options

Since it has no casinos, Tennessee is the only state that has online-only sports betting. The conservative states unlikely launch of an uncapped, digital sports betting market excited industry stakeholders, but other restrictions could hurt its potential.

Tennessee is also the only state that makes the operators return a 10% hold. Since the typical hold, which is the percentage of the total bets taken in that the books hold on to, is around 5-7% in most states, making sure that 10% is held could mean that bettors within the state will get worse odds.

Also, Tennessee took roughly 18 months to launch its first online sportsbooks after its legislature technically legalized betting. All major operators could enter the market in coming years, but Tennessees self-imposed restrictions could hurt its potential.

Full mobile betting with multiple options

Virginia took its first online sports bet in January 2021 and as many as a dozen options could be available by the end of the year. Though there is a cap on the number of skins, most top brands should be able to enter the market, and FanDuel, DraftKings, William Hill, BetRivers and BetMGM have already gone live.

In-person sportsbooks only

Washington legalized sports betting on March 25, 2020 and took its first bet Sept. 9, 2021. Only certain tribal casinos can take bets.

Mobile sports betting, like Mississippi, will only be allowed if it is placed within a casino facility, a huge deterrent to the states revenue potential. Statewide mobile betting doesnt seem like a reality anytime soon.

Limited mobile betting options

D.C. is technically a sole-source operator jurisdiction. The lone legal District-wide mobile app, GamBet, is run by the lottery and, partially because it has no legal competition, has offered lines worse than market averages. Also the app is geofenced out of any federal properties, a major problem in the nations capital.

That has allowed the citys first retail sportsbooks, a temporary operating booth in Capital One Arena. William Hill allows mobile wagering only within the stadium.

William Hills retail book opened July 31, 2020 in a makeshift sportsbook in the box office of the Capital One Arena before its moves into a permanent home in the building in 2021.

Another entrant, Handle 19, is readying to enter the marketplace with a retail location. Overall, D.C. hasnt generated much from sports betting because of unfair pricing.

Full mobile betting with multiple options

Mobile betting had some initial hiccups in West Virginia, but its been fully live since August 2019.

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Cordish Gaming Group President Rob Norton views Maryland sports betting as a regional market.

Norton believes Live! Casino & Hotel Marylands relatively central location in the state primes it to be a top retail sportsbook location for MD sports betting. But Norton also believes the casino can be a top location in the Mid-Atlantic, as it already draws visitors from surrounding markets like Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania and Virginia.

We are generally excited about Maryland as a sports betting market, Norton said. Theres nothing like we have in DC or the surrounding markets.

Live! Casino & Hotel is one of 17 entities named in Maryland sports betting legislation to receive a license. As such, the retail sportsbook will likely open well ahead of the up to 90 competitive bid licenses available in the state.

The 17 retail sportsbooks could open this fall, while regulators determine how to award the other licenses, including up to 60 for mobile.

Norton is not too bullish on sports betting as a direct profit driver. Instead, hes excited about its ability to draw more customers to the Maryland location of Sports & Social, the companys national sports entertainment venue concept.

Weve said throughout the process, theres not a whole lot of money to be made in sports betting, Norton said. The benefit we get is it will bring a lot of people and interest into the facility, maybe to watch a game, partake in the food and beverage and maybe play a table game or two.

Sports & Social is already open and has sports betting windows ready to go once cleared.

Cordish partnered with FanDuel for the retail sportsbook at the Maryland casino. FanDuel is also the sportsbook at Cordishs Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia.

With Live! And FanDuel, youre really taking two giants in their spaces and putting them together, Norton said. We see it as one plus one equals three.

Cordish also partnered with DraftKings for Sports & Social lounges near stadiums across the US.

Live! Casino & Hotel could have a first-mover advantage, along with up to 16 other retail sportsbooks. The license application process opened for the 17 named entities Sept. 14.

Eventually, Norton believes the Maryland sports betting market will be up to 90% mobile as it is in newer legal markets. He also believes there is an opportunity for the retail sportsbook.

We believe there is an ability to cross digital and bricks-and-mortar and create an entertainment experience, Norton said. As they play online, they can build rewards points and build affinity for the brand for special events, parties and Super Bowl trips, suites at Ravens and (Washington Football Team) games.

We want to attack the sports betting market differently, leveraging online with the brand, not as an afterthought.

The 17 named entities are likely to receive their licenses and open retail sportsbooks by late fall, according to Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency Director John Martin.

Last week, Sports Wagering Application Review Commission Chair Thomas Brandt said creative thinking is needed before awarding the other 90 potential licenses. That comment followed advice from Cezar Froelichof Taft Stettinius & Hollisterto potentially tie mobile licenses to Class B licenses. There are up to 60 mobile licenses in the state.

We have to take a look at the interplay between the mobile and Class B licenses, Froelich said. If you just go out and issue the Class B by themselves without taking into account that it has to be beneficial for a mobile sports operator, you could find yourself in a circumstance Class B dont get picked up.

The day after the SWARC meeting, a public MLGCA meeting about the MD sports betting regulations left more uncertainty as to when mobile might launch. PointsBet SVP Paul Hannon asked for a uniform mobile launch.

Along with FanDuel and PointsBet, many major sportsbook operators already have a connection to the state.

Sportsbook operators with ties to MD casinos:

The Baltimore Ravenspartnered withBetMGM, Caesars and DraftKings, but there is no indication of an in-stadium sportsbook yet. The Washington Football Team and Baltimore Orioles have not announced MD sports betting partners yet.

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Peek Into Pending Maryland Sports Betting Launch With Casino Executive - Legal Sports Report

A former director at MGM Resorts, a former CEO at William Hill US and former chair of IMEGA, a legendary Las Vegas bookmaker and a director at DraftKings are the luminaries who make up the Sports Betting Hall of Fame Class of 2021, SBC announced.

The magnificent five is comprised of former director of Race & Sports Administration for MGM Resorts International Yolanda Acua, former William Hill US CEO Joe Asher, DraftKings director of Race & Sportsbook Operations Johnny Avello, former chair of IMEGA Joe Brennan Jr and popular Las Vegas bookmaker and director of Sports Marketing at South Point Hotel & Casino Jimmy Vaccaro.

A special ceremony held at the Coaches Club at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, during the SBC Summit North America conference and trade show on December 1, 2021, will see these five new members inducted into the Sports Betting Hall of Fame for the outstanding industry contribution they have made during their careers.

Each of these inductees [has] made an amazing contribution to the industry so were pleased to induct them into the Hall of Fame to recognize their efforts.

The 2021 SBC Summit North America, which will begin November 30, 2021, at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus, New Jersey, will see the Sports Betting Hall of Fame ceremony take place on its second evening. The sports betting and iGaming event is scheduled to run until December 2.

The Sports Betting Hall of Fame was started by SBC in 2016 to honor, preserve and perpetuate the names and accomplishments of the personalities who have brought outstanding success to the industry. US industry representation began with the Class of 2019, which saw retired VP of Race & Sportsbook Operations of Station Casinos Art Manteris, Monmouth Park CEO Dennis Drazin and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie inducted.

A year later, the US trio was joined by former New Jersey Senator Raymond Lesniak, Las Vegas oddsmaker Roxy Roxborough, former SVP of the American Gaming Association Sara Slane, president, USBookmaking & US Fantasy Sports Victor Salerno and SVP, Risk & Trading at Ballys Interactive Jay Rood.

The leading conference and trade show for the sports betting and online gaming industry in North America, a successor of the Betting on Sports America show, will feature a conference with up to 200 industry executives and specialists speaking on the future of the industry at this years event.

Besides the program of networking events that will include the Sports Betting Hall of Fame ceremony, there will be an exhibition that will allow suppliers to showcase their latest innovations.

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SBC Adds Magnificent Five to Sports Betting Hall of Fame - GamblingNews.com