Category Archives: Sports Betting

The Maryland Lottery and Gaming Commission opened license applications Tuesday for the 17 locations named in Maryland sports betting legislation.

The locations can apply for retail licenses on the MLGCC website.Maryland sports betting legislation allows for more than100 sports betting licenses. In addition to the 17 named entities, there can be 30 additional Class Bretail locations.

Applications for the competitive licenses, including the 60 mobile licenses, will open at a later date.

Legislators named 17 establishments in enacting legislation to receive sports betting licenses earlier this year. Those businesses include casinos, horse racing tracks and off-track betting facilities, as well as bingo halls.

The Sports Wagering Application Review Commission approved all 17 businesses at its very first meeting in August. Now, the MLGCC must issue the licenses.

Future NBA, NHL or MLS franchises that lease a stadium in Maryland can also qualify for an A-1 license.

As the 17 licenses are approved, they can begin to open retail sportsbooks in Maryland.

Online sportsbook operators can partner with the Class A and B licensees to offer retail sportsbooks.The 17 named retail establishments can also apply for online sports betting licenses.

The Baltimore Ravens, which play at M&T Stadium, have announced three separate sports betting partnerships. None of those partnerships BetMGM, DraftKings and Caesars announcements mention a retail sportsbook at the stadium.

The Washington Football Team has a Virginia sports betting license. FanDuel has access to the Old Dominion through the WFT.

There are still up to 23 unnamed retail licenses up for grabs. The MLGCC will open those applications, and online licenses, later.

The SWARC must still establish rules to evaluate applicants before they can award licenses and pass them on to the MLGCC for background investigations before licenses can be issued. Legislation requires the SWARC to give preference to minority- and women-owned businesses.

There are potentially 60 mobile licenses available, by far the most in any US online sports betting jurisdiction.

Maryland voters approved sports betting in November 2020.

Legislators got to work earlier this year to enact those wishes. Gov. Larry Hogan signed the bill in May, with hopes the first sportsbooks would be open sometime during the NFL season, at least by MLBs World Series.

The MLGCC approved a set of regulations in July, which the Maryland Register then published in August, kicking off a 30-day public comment period. That period ends Sept. 27. The MLGCC will hold a public meeting on the regulations Sept. 22.

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First Maryland Sports Betting License Applications Are Now Open - Legal Sports Report

One of the things weve learned over the first six months of The Athletics Sports Betting section is that a good amount of people reading the stories dont know how to bet and may even be a little intimidated by the terminology and out-of-context numbers. Maybe their interest was piqued by a James Holzhauer column, or perhapsit was curiosity sparked by the college playoff prediction model, or possibly something in between. At the same time, an equal amount of readers could probably school us in theory and strategy; its a fun mix and we try to appeal to the wide group of subscribers and their knowledge base.

Whatever the case, we wanted to put together a sports betting contest where both new and old sports bettors and even those in states where its not legal yet could gather inside a virtual sportsbook (hosted by the good people at BetPrep) and place bets with fake money. And generally just have some fun.

The game itself is simple: you have $10,000 each week to place five $2000 bets. You can only bet on the spread or the over/under for NFL games that week. The lines come from BetMGM, and theyll move in the virtual sportsbook as they move in real life. Winners each week get prizes. The overall winner at the end gets a big prize. Its fun, its educational, and were excited to add a little extra value to the experiences of our subscribers those who are either learning about sports betting and want to win free stuff or those who want to use their decades-long honed skills to show off and win free stuff.

The rest is here:

Come play in The Athletic's free sports betting challenge and win cool stuff! - The Athletic

The 2021-22 season for the Phoenix Suns will not only be unique as they attempt to defend their Western Conference crown, but the level of engagement locally will be at an all-time high. When you take into account the population increase in Phoenix, coupled with the shiny new toy of sports betting, plenty of eyes will be focused on how the Suns perform.

Success breeds fans. The last time the Phoenix Suns were in the NBA Finals back in 1993 the local population of the Phoenix was approximately 2,263,000. That number now sits at roughly 5,584,000. No wonder Just Sports cant keep up with Valley gear demands! The fanbase is rabid, absorbing all things Phoenix Suns. Following a trip to the NBA Finals, there will be an increased focus on their performance this season.

If that isnt enough of a reason to get you engaged with the franchise, sports betting became legal statewide on September 9.

Im not a gambling expert by any stretch of the imagination. Although Ive placed bets in Las Vegas and Laughlin (and MyBookie) for years now, I dont consider myself a sports betting savant. While always interested in the process, accessibility has been the primary firewall between myself and continual betting. I dont have fond memories of betting that Devin Hester would take the opening kickoff of Super Bowl XLI to the house (odds were +3000).

That firewall is now gone.

I simply login to DraftKings (my preferred app of choice), let my Face ID grant access, and the world of sports betting is at my fingertips. No matter what your platform is, the promos are inviting and the payouts are intoxicating.

The Phoenix Suns have partnered with FanDuel to bring the gaming experience to the Footprint Center. Its 7,400 square-feet of betting bliss. Have nothing to do at halftime? Go hit the over on the second-half scoring total (life is too short to bet the under).

Basketball season is on the horizon, and while it is fun to bet the outcomes of football games, my knowledge of the NBA is much, much deeper. I can give you ten different reasons why the Suns will perform well this season. And now I can bet on it.

Using FanDuels Sportsbook app as a baseline, lets review the different preseason futures. What are the value bets? What doesnt make sense? And where should you put your money?

Lets start with the big one.

Its where we all hope to be at the end of this next season: with the Larry OBrien Trophy calling Phoenix, Arizona home. The Suns, who are coming off of a run in which they were 2 wins away from accomplishing that goal, find themselves tied for the fifth best odds (with the Utah Jazz) in the league per FanDuel.

FanDuel is not taking Phoenix very seriously following last season, and its reflected in their odds. Both the Lakers (+440) and the Warriors (+1200) have better odds from the Western Conference, while the Bucks (+850) and the Nets (+210) are higher in the East. Insulted? Yeah, I am a lil bit too.

In my humble opinion, this is a fantastic value bet. Take $100, tuck it away, and win $1,500 when the Suns bring home their first title. Heck, $10 will win you $150, so why not? The Suns are poised for another deep run in the playoffs. Take advantage of it!

Value: A-

Whats interesting is that Phoenix has the fifth best odds to win the West as well, behind the Lakers (+195), Warriors (+550), Clippers (+550), and Jazz (+650). I know what youre thinking...no Kawhi plus a turned-over roster for the Clips and they still have better odds than the Suns?

Go ahead, doubt us.

This too is a quality value bet. Of the four teams ahead of Phoenix, only the Jazz seem to pose a definite threat. The Lakers are a team without chemistry (and Im pretty sure the injury bug will be wearing purple and gold this season), the Warriors are unproven post-Durant, and the Clippers are suspect for reasons stated above.

Throw a quick $20 bet on this one with a chance to win $170.

Value: A

Plenty has to go right if you want to hit on this one.

Devin Booker enters his seventh NBA season with, for the first time in his career, playoff experience behind him. A gold medal hangs from his neck. The confidence should be there. The question becomes this: do the Suns need Devin Booker to play at an MVP level to be successful? The answer to this question is most likely why Bookers odds are so long.

It certainly doesnt hurt anyone on the Suns if he goes into full on Armani Mode (Espo trademark pending). A more efficient version of Booker will only help the Suns in their journey for their first championship. He averaged 25.6 points last season a full point less than his previous two seasons while attempting a career high 13.7 shots-per-game.. His 48.4/34/86.7 splits were not the best of his career either. There is room for improvement.

Could improvement equate to an MVP award for Booker? Winning cures all. Steve Nash won two MVPs without scoring more than 18.8 points. Stephen Curry won the 2015 MVP while averaging just 23.8 points, primarily because he was the best player on the NBAs best team. It is possible.

Its worth a flyer, but the chances of return are appropriate. Perhaps you should bet Booker to lead the league in points scored (odds of that occurring are +2900) as well. Im saving my money in hopes that I look back at this piece and am wrong.

Value: C+

ESPN may not have much respect for the Phoenix Suns, but the sportsbook does. The team that ended with the second best record in the NBA last season, totalling 51 wins in a 72-game season, will have 10 more games this season to achieve the same win total.

A 51-31 record or better almost feels like stealing. Perhaps that is why the odds are -122 for it to occur (bet $122 to win $100). Ill happily take this bet and enjoy watching every victory along the way.

Value for the Over: A

Value for the Under: C (#dontbetthatguy)

Its happened before. It could happen again.

CP3 ended last season with 8.9 assists, good for fourth most in the Association. Surrounded by young talent that is looking to improve year-over-year, the likelihood that Chris Paul repeats as the assist king a feat hes accomplished 3 times before is high.

FanDuel has Paul with the 5th best odds to do so.

You know that Paul will get his. What you are betting on here is that the likes of Trae Young and Russell Westbrook wont get theirs. Therein lies the challenge. Given the nature of opposing players offenses and schemes, the likelihood of them out-assisting Paul is great.

Value: C-

I find this league intriguing. And its one I will be betting.

If anyone is feeling extremely confident entering this season, its DA. His play in the postseason caught many off guard, including the competition. He went from 14.4 points on 62.6% shooting and 10.5 rebounds during the regular season to 15.8 points on 65.8% shooting and 11.8 rebounds in the playoffs. When the games mattered most, Ayton was the most consistent player the Suns had.

Ayton will still be hungry this season. That is the advantage of having Chris Paul on your roster. A true leader, he will not allow the fourth-year center to have an inflated ego. He will keep him grounded, keep him hungry, and keep him grinding. And Ayton has displayed the willingness to listen to his mentors rather than allow ego to rule.

The 14-rebound mark is generally the line of demarcation for the rebounding leader in the league. The last rebounding champion who averaged under 14 per-game? Dwight Howard (12.4) in 2013.

Ayton snagged 10.5 rebounds last season (11th in the league) and his career high was the previous year with 11.5. Hell have some work to do to get to the magical 14, but given his hunger to please his point guard, his motor will be present. Couple that with a defense that can force the opposition into missed shots, and the boards will be there. Deandre just needs to grab them.

Value: B+

Take $10 in hopes that it becomes $420. Why not?

Imagine a world in which this bet pays out. Mikal Bridges, who is the fourth and sometimes fifth option on the starting offense for the Suns, enters his fourth year in the NBA with an opportunity to grow offensively.

Weve seen flashes of it. The corner three-pointer has improved. The midrange turn around has as well. Remember his career high 34 point performance against the Pacers last season?

If Bridges can take this next step in his career, adding offense to the defense, hell do more than earn an extension with the Suns. Hell earn the max. Could he be the Phoenix version of Scottie Pippen. He wins the Most Improved Player Award and Ill say, yes.

Still, tis a longshot.

Value: D

These are just some of the bets you can place. The further down the rabbit hole you go, the more youll find. Cam Johnson is +4200 for Sixth Man of the Year. Cam Payne is +12000 for Most Improved. The end goal is to make money, not just make a bet because the value is always there. If you did that, the house will win. Screw the house.

The real fun will come once the season begins and you are not betting futures, but games themselves. The over/unders. The player prop bets. The spreads. Come October 20, its going to get real interesting.

Be prepared to see nightly Tweets from your those you follow explaining their gambling exploits or bad beats. I cant wait for the the Suns won but didnt cover messages of disappointment.

My guess on the over/under number of comments on this article? 13.5.

Best of luck to you!

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Betting the Suns: A look at the preseason odds and best bets - Bright Side of the Sun

DENVER and AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --PointsBet, a premier global online gaming operator, and Austin FC of Major League Soccer (MLS) today announced a new agreement granting PointsBet rights as a proud Founding Partner of Austin FC.

Austin FC is the only major league sports property in Austin. The Club is currently competing in its inaugural MLS season, playing home matches in the newly constructed state-of-the-art Q2 Stadium. The long-term, exclusive sponsorship agreement spans the emerging gaming category, including retail and online sports betting, daily fantasy, and free-to-play games. The relationship adds to PointsBet's impressive list of partners while serving as the company's first partnership with a major league sports property in Texas and first partnership with an MLS club.

"As the city's only major league sports team, Austin FC has excited global soccer fans and is setting a new standard for what it means to deliver for their supporters and their community by putting a laser-focus on experience. That's exactly what we're doing in the sports betting industry, and we simply couldn't be more thrilled to align with the club in its inaugural season as a Founding Partner," saidJohnny Aitken, CEO of PointsBet USA."We look forward to a future when our groundbreaking technology will be in the hands of Austin FC's passionate and tech savvy fanbase."

As a Founding Partner and as the Club's Exclusive and Official Sports Betting Partner, PointsBet will receive prominent brand integration at Austin FC's new Q2 Stadium. Notably, PointsBet has secured entitlement to the "PointsBet Sports Bar," located on the second level of the North Building, and featuring a wide variety of beers, various food options, 18 television monitors, table games, and air conditioning. The "PointsBet Sports Bar" currently operates as a public bar during Q2 Stadium ticketed events and is available to anyone with a match ticket.

PointsBet will also receive full usage of Austin FC IP, marks, and logos, in addition to various sponsorship opportunities and brand visibility across multiple linear and digital assets. The two sides will collaborate on giveaways, promotional sweepstakes, and events throughout the term of the partnership. PointsBet and Austin FC will activate together in both English and Spanish, as PointsBet's rare ownership of its technology platform allows the company to be the only sportsbook with deep Spanish language functionality.

"PointsBet has emerged as a leader in what is arguably the most competitive and coveted landscape in sports," commented Andy Loughnane, President of Austin FC. "We are honored that PointsBet has chosen to strategically align with Austin FC and Major League Soccer as they continue to expand their impressive North American footprint."

Though sports betting is not yet available in the state of Texas, those interested in PointsBet can currently participate in the "Lone Star Pick'Em" free-to-play contest courtesy of NBC Sports PointsBet's official sports betting partner which asks users to project outcomes in upcoming professional and college games featuring Texas-based teams. As part of the relationship, NBC Sports provides PointsBet with year-round, multi-platform media and marketing opportunities across its unmatched portfolio of events, including exclusive multiplatform gameday integrations across national and regional linear and digital properties.

Viewed as an industry leader for responsible gaming efforts and awareness, PointsBet and Austin FC will also work together on best-in-class practices to protect the integrity of Austin FC and MLS matches.

About PointsBet

PointsBet is one of the fastest growing online gaming operators in the country and is rapidly expanding its U.S. footprint, currently bringing its best-in-class proprietary technology, modernized and premium brand mentality, expert trading practices, and proven growth marketing strategies to the burgeoning sports betting markets of Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, New Jersey, and West Virginia. Originally founded in Australia, PointsBet is a cutting-edge online gaming operator that prides itself on having the quickest and most user-friendly app (iOS and Android) while also providing the best content and experience for sports bettors. PointsBet is the only U.S. sportsbook to offer PointsBetting a unique and innovative way to bet and has also introduced a slew of well-received, bettor-first initiatives. PointsBet offers the most markets on all major U.S. sports (NFL, NBA, WNBA, MLB, NHL, MLS) and PointsBetting in the world. For more information, visit http://www.PointsBet.com.

About Austin FC

Austin FCjoined Major League Soccer (MLS) as the League's 27th club in January 2019. Austin FC officially began competing in MLS in April 2021. It opened its new, 100% privately financed, $260 million, state-of-the-art Q2 Stadium in Austin in June.

Austin FC operates theAustin FC Academy, the fully funded developmental academy representing the highest level of competition for elite youth soccer players in Central Texas, while serving as the exclusive developmental pathway to MLS for the region's most talented young players.

Contact:

Patrick Eichner, PointsBet, patrick.eichner@pointsbet.com

Ryan Madden, Austin FC, rmadden@austinfc.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pointsbet-joins-austin-fc-as-founding-partner-exclusive-to-sports-betting-category-301378177.html

SOURCE PointsBet

Link:

PointsBet Joins Austin FC as Founding Partner, Exclusive to Sports Betting Category - inForney.com

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. During this NFL season, Florida sports fans may finally get the chance to legally bet on their favorite team. That could mean a big windfall of new revenues for the state, but legal hurdles could stand in the way.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the Super Bowl at home, the Tampa Bay Lightning claimed back-to-back Stanley Cups, and the Tampa Bay Rays earned a trip to the World Series.

Professional sports teams have earned our region the nickname Champa Bay.

People are already sports betting

Sports fans like Rob Coronado have profited by betting on the home teams.

I do it, you know, without it being legal I guess, Coronado told us while watching baseball games on a recent afternoon at Fergs Sports Bar in St. Petersburg.

Hes far from the only one secretly betting on sports.

When we asked Rob Stamey about it, he admitted every one of his friends bet on sports.

Why should people have to go behind the scenes or on all these apps to access that? Stamey asked. So legalizing the betting on sports will make things easier on all us sports fans.

Florida State Senator Jeff Brandes sponsored legislation last year calling for legalized sports betting so the state could finally share in some of the profits.

People are already sports betting. Theyve been sports betting for years in the state of Florida. And again, were just creating a legal pathway for them to do that versus whats going on today, where generally everybody just looks the other way, Brandes said.

But Sen. Brandes law, which would have put sports gambling under control of the Florida Lottery, didnt pass.

Compact could pay state $6 billion by 2030

Instead, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced in April he had reached a tentative 30-year compact with the Seminole Indian tribe, which operates Hard Rock Casinos.

That deal included offering in-person and online sports betting.

RELATED: Gov. DeSantis signs new gaming compact with Seminole Tribe

Under the agreement, the Seminole Tribe will pay the state of Florida up to $6 billion by 2030 from the proceeds of sports betting. Thats the equivalent of $277 per Florida resident.

The agreement was approved by the state legislature and went unopposed by the U.S. Department of Interior, which regulates Indian gaming.

But not everyone supported that deal, including Sen. Brandes.

Essentially we have a monopoly for the Seminole Tribe to provide sports gambling for the state of Florida. I voted against that monopoly. I dont think its the right way to do it. I think we should open it and allow the market to decide where people want to place their bets and not have to go through one channel, which is the tribe of Florida, Brandes said.

Lawsuit filed, referendum sought

The compact is now being challenged in federal court by two commercial gaming operations in South Florida, who say the compact will harm their businesses and violates the law.

The lawsuit says mobile sports betting shouldnt have been allowed under the agreement.

Contrary to the legal fiction created by the 2021 Compact and Implementing Law, a bet is placed both where the bettor and the casino are each located, the complaint says.

It could be interpreted that you can only place sports bets on tribal property, Brandes said.

RELATED: Florida could become the most populous state to offer mobile sports betting if lawmakers approve new rules

The state has filed a motion to dismiss, but a judge has not yet ruled on it.

Other companies, including DraftKings and FanDuel, are trying to get in on the Florida sports betting action by sponsoring a ballot initiative that would open up sports betting to other companies.

If it gets on the ballot next year, any expansion would have to be approved by a 60 percent vote.

ABC Action News scheduled an interview with Hard Rock CEO Jim Allen who helped write the Seminole Compact, but his spokesperson later canceled, saying he was too busy to talk.

The Seminole Tribe has recently been running ads on Florida television stations, including ABC Action News, touting the benefits of the agreement.

People are already gambling. Why not make some money off of it? said Mark Ferguson, owner of Fergs Sports Bar.

Ferguson says he doesnt care whos behind it, he thinks legal sports betting will be good for Florida and good for his business.

People want to watch six or seven games at once and when you have 90 TVs, were the perfect spot for it, he said.

If the lawsuit is dismissed, sports betting could be allowed as early as next month.

If it ends up in court, the issue might not be resolved until next year.

If you have a story youd like the I-Team to investigate, email us at adam@abcactionnews.com

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Florida sports betting clears hurdles, faces others - ABC Action News

Giant letters, reading the word "blockchain" are displayed at the blockchain centre, which aims at ... [+] boosting start-ups, on February 7, 2018 in Lithuania's capital Vilnius. Britain's divorce with the European Union is paying off for Lithuania as it strives to become a northern European hub for financial technology, or "fintech" firms, and blockchain-based start-ups. European Parliament member and entrepreneur Antanas Guoga launched the blockchain centre in Vilnius to boost start-ups and establish connections with Asia and Australia. / AFP PHOTO / Petras Malukas (Photo credit should read PETRAS MALUKAS/AFP via Getty Images)

Following a successful September launch, Wyoming became one of the latest states to offer a regulated sports betting market to those within state lines. Yet, while Wyoming is the least populous state in the country, it is catching the attention of sportsbook operators, largely thanks to its decision to allow the use of blockchain technology for sports betting transactions.

The federal ban on sports betting was repealed on May 14, 2018, when the United Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA). Three years later, some form of sports betting is now regulated in now legalized in 26 states and Washington, D.C.

While most states where sports betting is legal allow for a similar framework, this rapid expansion has seen each jurisdiction attempt to find the perfect formula needed to offer consumers a competitive marketplace while capitalizing off of the taxable revenue.

Interestingly enough it took more than three years for a state to draft legislation that would permit the use of cryptocurrencies.

Wyoming sports betting law allows players to deposit funds into their accounts with a variety of crypto and digital currencies, with Bitcoin remaining the most popular option. Per House bill 133, Wyoming sports betting shops may accept digital, crypto and virtual currencies as long as they can be converted into a cash-based currency.

State legislators have decided to embrace the advancement of blockchain technology, and a number of crypto-friendly bills have been approved in hopes of attracting crypto businesses to the state. So common are the crypto conversations in Wyomings Senate chambers that Senator Jeff Wasserburger claims there was very little discussion when it came to the inclusion of crypto-friendly language in the states sports betting bill.

A players ability to deposit with crypto might not seem groundbreaking, but Wyoming has essentially given the operators the green light to begin experimenting with the technology. What starts with improved funding and withdrawal methods could quickly lead to an entirely new experience for bettors all together.

Sports betting is a multi-billion dollar industry, and estimates from Forbes project that the United States could generate annual revenue in excess of $20 billion alone if all 50 states pass legislation.

GammaStack CEO Mr. Gaurav Soni has always rooted for crypto and blockchain based sports betting software solutions and online casino software solutions.

"There is already a massive demand in crypto and blockchain based betting and gambling software solutions around the globe. 35% of the queries we receive revolve around the same."

Blockchain technology has revolutionized financial transactions, and many suspect that sports betting software would greatly benefit from its adaptation into the industry. Players are always looking for faster and safer ways to transfer money, and sportsbooks could greatly reduce operational costs if they were able to sidestep traditional credit card processing fees.

Lower operational costs either allow the book to operate with better margins, leading to more taxable revenue. These savings could also be extended to the consumer in the form of more competitive wagering lines.

In essence, sportsbooks serve as betting exchanges where the odds move one way or another in reaction to the amount of interest or money coming in on a particular outcome. Most American operators have already partnered with a number of companies to support everything from data acquisition, wagering software, geo-fencing, and casino software solutions. It isnt far-fetched to anticipate a time where sportsbooks would partner with crypto exchanges to develop platforms allowing them to serve as digital wallets, allowing players to exchange digital currencies and even wager against other players with their holdings.

Hypothetically, a customer could hold a number of coins in his sportsbook wallet and still play the crypto markets, all while having the ability to quickly place a wager with their coin of choice without ever having to leave the platform.

DraftKings recently made the news with their decision to open up an NFT exchange in a partnership with Autograph. The blockchain exchange allows players to participate in specialized drops, buy and sell sports-themed NFTs, and participate in free-to-play competitions in exchange for digital property.

In doing so, DraftKings has turned to blockchain technology to create a unique and exclusive environment for subscribers, and one that gives their marketing team direct access to potential bettors.

Legislation is sure to change as sportsbooks further invest in the exploration of blockchain technology and its potential uses in the sports betting industry. While cryptos involvement in the industry is limited to player deposits in the countrys smallest state, Wyomings legal framework has opened the door for the entire market.

It had to start somewhere.Why not Wyoming?

Link:

The Next Frontier For US Sports Betting Is Crypto And Blockchain Technology - Forbes

Gov. Ned Lamont is ready for CT sports betting to get started, but he might have jumped the gun a bit in recent comments.

Lamont said sports betting could begin any day now at the two tribal casinos, Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun.

My instinct is the tribes, hopefully, will do something collaboratively at the same time on site, and were just waiting for the final approval so we can get everything going online as well, Lamont added.

While some local media took Lamonts comments to mean CT sports betting could launch this week, that likely is not the case.

The federal Department of Interiorgave its blessing on updated gaming agreements between the state and its two tribal partners last week.

Those agreements must appear in the Federal Register to take effect, though. Lamonts office assumed that would happen the same day the approvals arrived, a spokesperson said.

It will take about a week to square away all the licensing issues before those retail bets can happen after publishing, the spokesperson added.

The states three online sportsbooks should still launch simultaneously in October:

There is another group of bettors eagerly waiting for the launch of sports betting in Connecticut: Massachusetts residents.

The Massachusetts Senate is again holding up the discussion on legalizing sportsbooks in the Bay State. Its proposed bill was not updated following a stakeholder meeting in June. The House, meanwhile, amended its bill and passed it by a 156-3 margin.

Gov. Charlie Baker is growing impatient as well. He tweetedSunday its time to get Massachusetts sportsbooks legalized, adding the state is losing out to many neighbors. So far, Massachusetts has three neighboring states that accept legal sports bets, with CT poised to become the fourth shortly.

Mohegan Digital CEO Rich Roberts told LSR he expects to see a good amount of out-of-state marketing. That could include New York as well since online NY sportsbooks might not launch until around the Super Bowl.

Continue reading here:

Lamont Says CT Sports Betting Starting Soon, But There's A Catch - Legal Sports Report

The repeal in 2018 of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA) has opened up the possibility of legal sports betting across the US, creating a potential gold rush as the betting industry along with sports leagues and clubs and other players in the market look to take advantage of the potentially significant income streams on offer. At the same time, an increase in gambling, even though legal, raises the possibility of harm both to consumers and the integrity of the sports being wagered on.

How to manage the risks and opportunities of sports betting in the US market was the subject of debate at a round table discussion held on Wednesday afternoon as part of SIGA Week 2021, organised by the Sport Integrity Global Alliance (SIGA) the worlds largest coalition in the field of sports governance and integrity, which seeks to bring about meaningful reforms and enhance the integrity of all sports, according to the organisation, of which this newspaper is a media partner. The subject of sport betting in the US was particularly relevant given that SIGA America launched its high-level Advisory Board today.

The round table on US sports betting was chaired by SIGA Global CEO Emanuel Medeiros, who was joined by Matt Zarb-Cousin, co-founder and director of external affairs for Gamban, an online gambling blocker; Marc Riccio, CEO of USA Lacrosse; Oliver Jaberg, Deputy Chief Legal & Compliance Officer / Director of Integrity & Anti-Doping at FIFA; and Marquest Meeks, Senior Counsel, Sports Betting and Compliance Director, State Government Relations at MLB.

In what was a wide-ranging discussion, several key issues were raised, one of which was the approach to be taken by leagues and clubs to the new legal situation.

Marquest Meeks from the MLB stressed that the original approach of the MLB, prior to the repeal of PASPA was that, any time you put gambling and money around something there is always the increased risk for corruption and so the initial stance of baseball was no sports betting, it shouldnt be legalised.

However in the face of the Supreme Court decision the league decided it was better not to put our heads in the sand and has instead sought to become involved in how laws are drafted and regulations are put in place to help protect the integrity of our game.

Meeks said one of their approaches is to go state to state advocating for what the MLB calls its integrity toolkit, which are the measures they believe should be in laws and regulations to help protect the integrity of their sport.

Mark Riccio, CEO of USA Lacrosse was clear that the opening up of sports betting offered both opportunity, in terms of the possible revenues, but also the potential of reputational risk. For the marketers, revenue generators and fan engagement professionals its a tremendous opportunity because it drives fan engagement and revenues. For Chief Operating Officers its a mixed bag as a great opportunity but also representing reputational risk. For commissioners, CEOs and owners its also a conflicting story.

Riccio also stressed the fact that gambling regulation is now being done state by state across the US can be an issue, with the need to ensure the regulation promotes integrity in each state. In particular enforcement is done at a state by state level, meaning there can be differences in the approach across the country.

Meeks chimed in to say that from the perspective of a major league such as MLB, the most challenging aspect is the state by state nature of it all. He explained that often its possible to get the toolkit and safeguards implemented in one state, only to have to start from scratch in the next.

According to FIFAs Oliver Jaberg, the experience of football's world governing body is that legalising and regulating betting is the way forward, because illegal betting, which is closely linked to match fixing and manipulation creates higher potential risk of undermining the integrity of sport.

Even with legal gambling however, the fight against match manipulation is vital Jaberg explained, with FIFA taking a three pillar approach:

1. Educating and raising awareness with players and officials

2. Engaging in cooperation with different stakeholders: betting companies, law enforcement and international organisations and private organisations such as SIGA

3. Going after wrongdoers, not just from within the remit of FIFA, but also with prosecution by law judicial systems in order to establish a deterrent effect.

In terms of the approach at MLB, Meeks explained they have a zero tolerance approach with nobody who works in the sport allowed to bet on bat and ball games, not softball, not Olympic baseball, nothing.

Matt Zarb-Cousin, of Gamban, stressed the dangers of gambling addiction, in particular towards young men, and said the consumer perspective was extremely important as sports betting expands in the US.

According to the executive, betting companies may seek to use sports betting as a bridge to initially attract gamblers and then push them into higher frequency gambling behaviour, on such products as slots, which make up half of all online gambling profit. Zarb-Cousin argued that it is important that such cross-selling of gambling products be regulated to avoid the industry pushing people into what can be more dangerous areas.

Another area of risk identified by the co-founder of Gamban, whose internet blocking products are used by 90,000 people mostly in the UK, with some in the US, is the quantity of bets offered. An example he gave is that of the time of the first throw-in which is far easier to fix than the outcome of a match. Zarb-Cousins recommendation is that there are licensing agreements for bookmakers from the regulators restricting which bets can be offered.

In summing up, Zarb-Cousins final word was that he hoped US Sports Betting would learn from the mistakes made in the UK market, a sentiment that was echoed by the whole panel.

Riccio added that the educational aspect was highly important, while FIFAs Jaberg noted that without integrity, sport is dead. Marquest Meek concluded that education and collaboration are the two things we need in the fight for sport integrity in the face of the liberalisation of US Sports Betting.

Link:

Opportunity and risk as sports betting takes off in the USA - AS English

In late spring, lawmakers in Massachusetts and Ohio punted on sports betting. Its now just after kickoff in the first quarter of the NFL season, and its looking a lot like legislatures in both states still have not come up with the perfect trick play to move the ball forward. Not even for a first down.

In Ohio, the legislature returned to formal session this week with redistricting as the priority. Senate President Matt Huffman offered up a non-convincing comment about gambling expansion We of course need to resolve the sports gambling issue, one way or another to the Springfield News-Sun. At about the same time, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, author of one of more than 20 wagering bills, opined on Twitter that its time to act and get this done.

The sports betting bills in both states are sitting in committee and its looking more and more likely that another calendar year will pass without legal wagering approved by either legislature. For Massachusetts, that means watching yet another neighboring state (Connecticut) go live. Ohioans, meanwhile, are still faced with a trip to neighboring Michigan, Pennsylvania, or West Virginia to place a legal sports bet. Clear across Lake Erie, as well, Canadians are now able to wager.

While very little would seem to prevent legalizing in either state as their neighbors have, politics are at play. With redistricting a priority in Ohio like many other states, it may be a longshot that much of anything else will get done before the end of the year.

According to the Springfield News-Sun, there was a deadline for redistricting decisions Wednesday, and if the General Assembly cant get three-fifths approval in both chambers plus at least half of each party caucus by Sept. 30, then a redistricting committee will be set. The committee would have until the end of October to redraw the districts for legislators to approve by Nov. 30.

Should lawmakers find time for anything not related to redistricting or COVID-19, they would still have work to do settling their sports betting differences. The Senate passed SB 176, which was the culmination of months of stakeholder meetings and compromises, but the House has its own version of a bill after rejecting the latest Senate attempt to attach the issue to a veterans ID card bill.

In Massachusetts, home to DraftKings, things are equally as political. The House, which has attempted to attach sports betting to the budget multiple times, in July passed its latest attempt, 156-3, only to have it languish in the Senate all summer. There are currently 23 bills on Beacon Hill that deal with either wagering or gaming.

Several sources have told Sports Handle that the holdup now is political capital. There is talk of trading sports betting votes for legislation related to transgender drivers licenses. Whether or not that comes to pass, its just another window into how any issue can become a political football (see Georgias sports betting bill and votes withheld over voting rights).

More:

Massachusetts, Ohio Still At Crossroads When It Comes To Sports Betting - Sports Handle

Facebook is dipping its toe into fantasy sports with the launch of Facebook Fantasy Games.

The free, simple prediction games will be rolled out in the core Facebook app in the US and Canada over the coming months.

Facebook said the games brought the social fun of traditional fantasy sports to simpler formats.

The new offerings include:

The games were built in partnership with Whistle Sports. There will be public leaderboards and private leagues for players to compete and trash-talk each other.

A Facebook spokesperson told LSR the company does not have any current plans to offer betting.However, these predictor games are a very popular way to acquire real-money gaming customers.

In fact, several large US media properties have a predictor game that acquires customers for a sportsbook:

Foxs Super 6 alone has seen nearly 100 million entries since launch in September 2019, with a user base of nearly 5 million.

That database could be worth up to $1 billion based on valuations for other sources of customers. For comparison, The Action Network and its 1 million customer base sold for $240 million.

Facebook could easily build up a similar database in the next couple of years. The platform has around 200 million users in the US.

It is pretty big that Facebook is now in the sports gaming space, said Daniel Kustelski, CEO of free-to play games firm Chalkline Sports.

Everyone wants to build a database of sports fans that lean towards a bet. The first-party data captured during game play is a key value-driver for media companies like FB that want to partner with operators.

Of course, Facebook is known for perfecting its products before even thinking about monetization. So dont necessarily expect any new operator deals in the short term.

But it is worth noting the social media giant has links with multiple sportsbooks through traditional digital advertising deals.

Those firms could be in play for a valuable database down the road.

See the article here:

Why It Matters That Facebook Is Dabbling Near Sports Betting - Legal Sports Report