Author: Casino Connection Staff

Sportsbook company BetMGM has signed mixed martial arts (MMA) journalist Ariel Helwani as a brand ambassador. Helwani, an award-winning media personality, will integrate BetMGM into his promotional content and also be featured in upcoming BetMGM marketing campaigns, social media content and promotions, as well as fan events.

“Sports betting has always been intertwined with the mixed martial arts world and now, with its availability in more states, I’m excited to work hand-in-hand with BetMGM to deliver unique insights into the sports betting world,” said Helwani.

Over the course of his career, Helwani has worked with major sports outlets including ESPN and SB Nation. He currently hosts The MMA Hour for Vox media as well as The Ringer MMA Show podcast, breaking down the latest fights across MMA, boxing and pro wrestling. Helwani has been the recipient of the World MMA Award Journalist of the Year award for 10 consecutive years.

Matt Prevost, BetMGM’s chief revenue officer said, “Ariel has played a prominent role over the years in growing MMA to the masses. His extensive knowledge and signature reporting style makes him a tremendous addition to the BetMGM team.”

Kenny Mayne, former college and NFL quarterback and ESPN anchor, is the newest content contributor and brand ambassador for Caesars Sportsbook.

Mayne played for the UNLV Rebels from 1979 to 1981, then spent several years as a free agent for the Seattle Seahawks. The 62-year-old, former host of ESPN’s “Maybe Event,” said he worked as an usher in 1980 for the Muhammad Ali-Larry Holmes fight at Caesars’ outdoor boxing ring.

“Now I’ve returned to Caesars,” he said in a video. “It’s kind of like one of those stories you read about on the internet where a dog gets lost and he finds his way home, traveling thousands of miles by foot. Who doesn’t love dogs? Who doesn’t love home dogs?”

According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Mayne, who recently ended his 27-year run at ESPN, will write, produce and deliver sports betting content that will be shared on Caesars’ social media. He’ll also make live event and commercial appearances.

“I don’t think anyone could have written a better job description for what I’ll be doing. In fact, I got to help write the job description,” he said. “Our intent is to do some fun things related to Caesars Sportsbook, the history of Caesars and the sports bettors who engage with Caesars.”

Arizona’s sportsbooks began taking wagers just in time for the NFL season opening on September 9. The state easily brushed aside a lawsuit by a tribe claiming that sports betting violates the state constitution.

Two retail sportsbook locations began operating in Phoenix, the FanDuel Sportsbook at the Phoenix Suns Arena and at temporary windows converted from ticket windows and operated by Caesars Entertainment at the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Chase Field. Chase Field becomes the first Major League Baseball stadium to host in-person betting. The Caesars Sportsbook will operate from a more permanent location after the first of the year.

Governor Doug Ducey, FanDuel executives and several retired Suns players attended the opening ceremony at the Phoenix Suns Arena and then retired to the sportsbook lounge to watch the season opener between the Dallas Cowboys and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Not limited to professional sports, bets may also be taken on college games. The first day of wagers saw steady lines and good size crowds, according to FanDuel senior director for retail operations Jeff Lowich.

The commercial sports betting operations were able to beat the tribal operations out of the gate due to a delay in finalizing an addendum to the tribal gaming compacts, according to the Arizona Department of Gaming.

The compacts negotiated between Governor Doug Ducey and the state’s 22 gaming tribes and signed by him in April, allowed for sports gaming to be operated by ten professional sports operators and 10 tribes. It also legalized daily fantasy sports and the addition of some Las Vegas style table games to tribal casinos and deploy more slot machines.

The Daily Fantasy Sports games went live August 28.

Eventually the Department of Gaming did issue licenses for tribes to offer sports betting. There were 16 applicants, the 10 tribes issued licenses are:

The Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribe had tried to stop the roll-out of sports betting in the state with a lawsuit that claimed sports betting was illegal and that the process violated Arizona’s Voter Protection Act by amending the 2002 initiative—Proposition 202— that legalized Indian casinos in the state. They also argued that it was unfair to limit the number of sports betting licenses for tribes to 10.

The Yavapai-Prescott did not sign the compacts back in April. They complained that the compact was offered to them as a “take-it-or-leave it” proposition. The state, including some tribes, counter that the tribe always intended to sue no matter what was offered.

However, Superior Court Judge James Smith did not issue an injunction to stop the opening. He wrote that Proposition 202 only applied to tribal gaming, not other types: “Plaintiff did not cite language from the proposition indicating that Arizona would never expand gambling to different activities or locations.” The judge added, “What is more, the proposition contemplated gambling expansions.”

The judge also agreed with the state that the tribe waited too long after the April signing of the compacts before challenging the law. He wrote, “The tribe’s delay filing suit rebuts the notion of irreparable harm.”

A spokesman for the governor, C.J. Karamargin, hailed the ruling:

“Today’s ruling is not just a win in court, but a win for Arizona,” he said. “A tremendous amount of work by a diverse group of stakeholders has gone in to implementing HB2772 and the amended tribal-state gaming compacts. This ruling means that work will be allowed to continue.”

It doesn’t mean there won’t eventually be a trial, and that the tribe could still prevail in that trial, only that there won’t be an injunction to stop sports betting in the meantime.

The judge left a possible line of attack for the tribe to take in court: A challenge based on the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution. He wrote, “Tribes using trust land for expanded gambling is a much different argument than H.B. 2772’s treating tribes differently than Sports Franchise Owners.” He added, “And that difference between tribes and sports franchises was the thrust of the Motion. The tribe could not use its Reply to broaden the argument.” Smith concluded, “Those may be legitimate and serious issues to explore in this litigation, but they do not justify the injunction the Tribe requested.”

Three days after sports betting went live in Arizona the tribe filed an amended complaint.

The 20 licenses that have been issued are as follows:

Tribal Licenses Allocated (and their sportsbook operator partners): Fort Mojave Indian Tribe (SuperBook Sports), Navajo Nation, Quechan Tribe (Unibet Arizona), Tonto Apache Tribe (Churchill Downs), Tohono O’odham Nation, Hualapai Tribe (Golden Nugget), Ak-Chin Indian Community, San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe (Digital Gaming), San Carlos Apache Tribe (Wynn), Ft. McDowell Yavapai Nation.

Sports Team/Organization Licenses Allocated: Arizona Cardinals (BetMGM), Arizona Diamondbacks (William Hill), Phoenix Suns (FanDuel), Arizona Coyotes, Phoenix Mercury (Bally’s), TPC Scottsdale (DraftKings), Phoenix Speedway (Penn National), Arizona Rattlers (Rush Street Interactive).

BetMGM, DraftKings and FanDuel have added their support to a ballot measure that would allow mobile sports betting in California. With the latest plan, there could be three competing sports betting measures on the November 2022 ballot.

The nation’s largest betting companies want to qualify the measure for the 2022 ballot, where it would compete with a tribal proposal that would allow sports betting only at tribal casinos and racetracks—but not online or at card clubs. The big-name sportsbooks don’t want to stop sports betting from being legal in tribal casinos, they want to expand on it to allow mobile sportsbooks, which the tribal proposal pointedly does not do.

The tribal measure has already qualified for the 2022 midyear ballot.

Cities’ Proposal

A second group, the California Cities Gaming Authority—a joint powers authority of cities that authorize or regulate card rooms—has filed a request with the state Attorney General’s Office for a measure that would legalize statewide mobile betting. The authority includes Gardena, Inglewood, San Jose and Colma—all of which host card clubs.

Their initiative would tax sports betting at 25 percent and direct the money to the state’s general fund, where it would be spent on helping the homeless, providing affordable housing, and bolstering educational and mental health programs.

The card clubs support the Cities’ measure because it would cut them in on sports betting. So far, club owners have donated $400,000 towards the plan—not surprising, since the tribes deliberately excluded card clubs from sports betting in their initiative.

The Cities’ proposal, said the authority’s general counsel, Jimmy Gutierrez, “opens sports wagering to every entity licensed to conduct gaming in California including Indian tribes and to all professional sports teams seeking to conduct sports wagering directly or via the internet.” In other words, that would include all tribal casinos, the state’s four racetracks, card rooms, venues of professional sports teams and online or mobile sports wagering operators.

Gutierrez has criticized the tribes for trying to squeeze out card clubs: “The tribal gaming initiative gives Indian tribes powers sufficient to drive card rooms out of business by establishing Indian casinos on non-tribal lands in the cities that license card rooms.”

Cause-Funding

According to Politico, the sports betting operators behind the third measure plan to spend $100 million promoting the “California Solutions to Homelessness and Mental Health Support Act,” which would require a provider to partner with a tribe and set aside some revenue for tribes. Campaign manager Dana Williamson has managed the campaigns of former Governor Jerry Brown and served on his cabinet.

If passed, it would be the first initiative of its kind in the U.S. to earmark money to fight homelessness: 85 percent for the homeless and 15 percent for tribes. Williamson said, “Permanent solutions require a permanent funding source. (The act) will raise hundreds of millions of dollars annually to fight homelessness and expand mental health support in California by allowing regulated entities to offer safe, responsible sports betting online.”

The plan would create an open, competitive market for mobile and internet wagering only. It would not cap the number of licenses but would charge a $100 million fee for operators who partner with tribes and $10 million for tribes that go it alone. It would also set a high bar for qualifying non-tribal operators, requiring them to already operate in 10 U.S. jurisdictions or at least 12 U.S. casinos and have five live digital platforms. It would allow bets on professional, college and amateur sports and would not require official league data. It would be taxed at 10 percent.

Proponents say their measure doesn’t conflict with the tribal measure and both could pass, in which case tribal casinos and racetracks would offer retail sportsbooks, while digital betting would be offered statewide.

However, gaming tribes have already spent $12 million on the sports initiative that would give them—and racetracks—a monopoly on sports betting. They’re unlikely to support this new proposal or any compromise.

According to one industry source, the sportsbook operators tried to be a part of the original tribal measure, and see this new proposal is as a way to work with the tribes. To support the measure or not will be a dicey proposition for companies that operate retail sportsbooks but also manage tribal casinos, such as Caesars or MGM.

The Juiciest Prize

With a population of 40 million, California is the juiciest untapped sports betting plum in the nation. BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt commented,

“California is one of the most important sports betting markets in the world, and BetMGM is committed to bringing legal, regulated mobile sports betting to the state.” He added, “As we’ve seen in states where BetMGM currently operates, regulated sports betting brings in tax revenue that supports important causes – in this case finding solutions for homelessness and mental health support.”

The three possible rival sports betting initiatives sets up 2022 as possibly one of the most expensive elections on records. The tribes and card clubs have long battled, with card clubs generally losing ground. But the entry of the sports betting operators complicates things.

One other possible scenario: The legislature could create a compromise measure that would give enough to everybody to get all three to withdraw their measures.

Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker has renewed his call for the Bay State legislature to legalize sports betting. This time he took to Twitter to urge on lawmakers.

His Tweet read: “Great to see the @Patriots back! We filed a bill in 2019 and again this year to legalize sports betting in MA—it’s time to act and get this done. MA is losing out to many of our neighbors on this one.”

The governor claims the state is losing money to neighboring Rhode Island, which has offered sportsbooks for more than a year.

Snoqualmie Casino near Seattle September became the first sportsbook to open in Washington state—on the very first day of the NFL season.

Former Supersonics star Shawn Kemp placed the ceremonial first bet.

The tribal casino is partnered with International Game Technology, which helped the tribe to open the first sportsbook with impressive speed, according to observers who were impressed that the tribe got federal approval the week before, on August 31, along with eight other Washington tribes.

Stanford Le, CEO and President of Snoqualmie Casino stated, “It is only because of the hard work and collaboration between the Washington State Gambling Commission, the Snoqualmie Gaming Commission and our casino team members that we are able to accomplish this milestone in time for the kick-off of the NFL season.

Rebecca George, executive director of the Washington Indian Gaming Association congratulated the Snoqualmie tribe: “Today’s commencement of sports betting at the Snoqualmie tribe’s casino marks an important milestone in the progress that Washington State’s tribes have made in regaining their self-reliance.” She added, “The launch of sports betting is going to provide a real boost for tribal communities that are still working to recover from the tough impacts of COVID shutdowns. And the positive benefits will extend well beyond tribal communities themselves. Tribal gaming revenues not only fund critical services for long-underserved tribal communities, those revenues also bolster the overall economies of communities across Washington State.”

Eventually nine tribal casinos will offer sports betting: The Cowlitz Tribe’s Ilani Casino Resort, Lummi Nation’s Silver Reef Casino, The Puyallup Tribe of Indians’ Emerald Queen Hotel & Casino, The Suquamish Tribe’s Suquamish Clearwater Casino Resort, The Stillaguamish Tribe’s Angel of the Winds Casino, The Squaxin Island Tribe’s Little Creek Casino and Resort, The Spokane Tribe’s Spokane Tribe Casino in Airway Heights, Chewelah Casino, The Snoqualmie Indian Tribe’s Snoqualmie Casino and the Tulalip Tribes’ Tulalip Resort Casino.

Wagers are allowed on baseball, basketball, boxing, football, golf, MMA, motorsports, soccer, tennis, NCAA baseball, NCAA basketball and NCAA football. Betting on minor leagues or collegiate events involving a Washington college is not allowed.

Connecticut’s two tribal-state gaming compacts became legal on September 15 when they were published in the Federal Register after being approved by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont said in a statement: “This critical step in the process of modernizing our gaming landscape here in Connecticut ensures that our state will have a competitive, nation-leading marketplace for wagering both in-person and online.”

He added, “In working collaboratively with the Mohegan Tribe, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe and the Connecticut Lottery Corporation, Connecticut has crafted nation-leading legislation which will position our state as a leader in this space and will provide an elevated user experience for eligible residents.”

The tribes, including the Mohegans and the Mashantucket Pequots and the state still haven’t announced a firm date—although it will probably be in October‑to begin taking wagers. When they do they will offer sports betting and iGaming.

This requires approval by the state Department of Consumer Protection, which will be issuing supplier and vendor licenses to the Connecticut Lottery Corp., the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe and the Mohegan Tribe . Previously the regulations for sports betting were approved by the Connecticut General Assembly’s Regulation Review Committee.

The Mohegans have partnered with FanDuel and the Pequots with DraftKings. The Connecticut Lottery, which will also offer sports betting has partnered with Rush Street Interactive.

Of the four major professional leagues, only the NHL does not issue injury reports. Some teams don’t even indicate the starting goaltenders until warmups, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

The failure to communicate seems to go against the league’s aspiration to expand its presence in the sports betting marketplace. The league has several partners, including William Hill, MGM Resorts, FanDuel, Bally’s, Betway, PointsBet and DraftKings.

Still, don’t for a change in the lack of disclosure.

“To this point in time, that’s not being contemplated,” deputy commissioner Bill Daly said. “People ask whether our sports betting partners have requested it, have expressed any concerns with regard to our current policies. None of that has been done.”

There’s no pressure to do otherwise, said handicapper Dana Lane. “It may hinder who they bet on, but I don’t think the actual desire to bet the game is hindered in any way by who starts in net.”

But bettors still wager on the NHL and for crafty fans such info is there if they dig. They can read what the beat reporters say, for example.

“(Bettors are) on Twitter and Facebook and looking at all these different sites,” Red Rock Resort sportsbook director Chuck Esposito said. “The betting public is so much more educated now than ever before.”

In other NHL news, the league signed a 10 year-deal for data and streaming with Sportradar, which includes the right to purchase up to 1.8 percent equity in the firm, according to Sportico.

As part of the deal, Sportradar will help the league monitor betting patterns to search for potential suspicious activity.

As for the Sportradar IPO, the company debuted On Nasdaq on September 14. After an opening at $27 per share, share price slipped to $25.05 by market close, valuing the business at $7.4 billion.

Carsten Koerl, who will remain CEO with 81.8 percent of the voting rights, kept 31.8 percent of the stock, a stake worth $2.4 billion, according to Forbes. Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, Washington Capitals owner Ted Leonsis and Los Angeles Dodgers part-owner Todd Boehly all own minority stakes in Sportradar.

The company raised $513 million through the IPO, according to CFO Alex Gersh, and an additional $169 million from a concurrent placement with Eldridge Industries, a holding company owned by Los Angeles Dodgers owner Todd Boehly, according to Sports Handle.

“We see a great opportunity to make some acquisitions,” Gersh told Front Office Sports. He added that Sportradar would focus on AI and other technology companies that can improve the value of what it offers to clients, namely in sports betting and fan experiences.

The firm has over 900 sports betting clients, including DraftKings, FanDuel and Flutter, and 150-plus sports league partners, among them the NBA, MLB and the NHL.

For the second time this year, Washington D.C.’s independent auditor has released a report criticizing the District’s betting program. The July analysis stated Intralot, the private contractor hired to manage the betting system, was not meeting subcontracting requirements with local small businesses. Now in its recently released report, Auditor Kathy Patterson’s department found the District’s sports betting program is performing poorly and urgent changes must be made immediately to boost revenue, which has fallen far behind projections.

The auditors said unfavorable odds for bettors, problems with GambetDC, the District’s mobile betting app and issues with the regulatory structure have caused numerous problems. They wrote, “Overall, the future success of GambetDC will be tied not just to the strength of the District’s recovery from the pandemic but also to the steps the Office of Lottery and Gaming takes to increase sports wagering revenue.”

In response to the audit report, lottery officials said they already started to address some of those issues. For example, they said the District’s new retail program that places GamBet kiosks in bars and restaurants is expected to generate new revenue. Opening sportsbooks at the District’s sporting venues, such as Nationals Park and Audi Field, also should help.

Office of Lottery and Gaming Executive Director Frank Suarez said, “Despite the initial negative impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on professional sporting events and the number of commuters and tourists that visit the District, significant progress has been made since launching sports wagering in the District. We are excited about the future and developing a robust and lucrative sports betting business that supports the economic vitality of the District.”

The auditors found the District took in $30.6 million in wagers between the launch of GamBet on May 28, 2020 and the end of March 2021, and paid out $26.2 million winnings, resulting in $4.27 million in gross revenue for the District. However, it kept only about $444,400 compared to District officials’ original claims the District would earn $17 million in annual revenue.

The reason for the difference is the District gave $3.93 million to Intralot; under its contract with the company, the District is required to give it 42.5 percent of gross revenue plus an additional $1.58 million to offset its operating costs. Those costs include “bonuses and promotions for bettors, streaming fees and marketing activities,” the report noted. Similar operations in Montana and New Hampshire, for example, do not include those kinds of provisions for those states’ contractors.

The report recommended giving wagerers better odds, which it said could result in more payouts to players, but “it may further incentivize bettors to use GamBetDC if they think they can win more money.” The auditors also noted “resolving technical issues experienced by users” betting on GamBet’s mobile app also could help raise revenue.

In response, Suarez wrote that District officials and Intralot “continuously review payouts and will make adjustments as required in order to be competitive in the marketplace and to maximize revenue to the District.” However, he would not commit to other odds adjustments. A lottery spokeswoman said the agency still is considering whether to increase the payout rate.

Suarez added Intralot and the District have made a variety of improvements to GamBet’s experience, including a “revamp” of the user interface and the upcoming addition of betting inducements like teasers and prop bet. He noted restrictions prohibiting bettors from placing wagers in federally controlled areas still frustrate users. The District cannot change those provisions on its own. Suarez stated, “The perception is that the GambetDC platform doesn’t work when it is working exactly as required by District and federal laws by not allowing wagers to take place within significant areas within the District.”

He added the District is reviewing whether it could pay Intralot a larger percentage of gaming revenue instead of a flat fee for operating costs. But Suarez pointed out the District has collected $2.1 million in licensing fees from private operators but reviewing those operators’ applications and other regulatory steps have cost $3.7 million. He noted, “Licensing fees are set by statute. The Office of Lottery and Gaming will continue to monitor costs and, if warranted, will provide recommendations to council for their consideration of any necessary modifications.”

New York lawmakers passed mobile sports betting legislation back in April, but couldn’t get it up and running in time for the start of NFL season on September 9. Until then, fans will have to go to the nearest sportsbook to bet the NFL, or maybe cross into Jersey to place mobile wagers.

Meanwhile, regulators are looking at bids from six potential providers and hope to launch the new industry by Super Bowl Sunday, next February 13.

“I still remain optimistic that if not by the end of the year, by the beginning of next year, that we have our operators and providers and we’re taking our first bets—and certainly by the Super Bowl,” said Senate Racing Committee chairman Joseph Addabbo, D-Queens.

Currently, sports betting in the state is confined to four onsite sportsbooks at casinos in the Catskills, the Finger Lakes area, the Southern Tier and near Albany. All the major operators are vying for licensure in the state, with the winning bids to be announced in early December.

“The state legislature established a timeframe for the competitive bidding process of licenses for mobile sports wagering, requiring selection — to the extent practicable—no later than 150 days after receipt of applications,” Gaming Commission spokesman Brad Maione said. “The commission fully anticipates being within the deadline established by law.”

According to MSN, mobile sports betting stalled for years in the state legislature and was opposed for much of that time by ousted Governor Andrew Cuomo, who said it might violated the state constitution.

The Covid-19 pandemic hastened the bill’s passage, with Cuomo’s office estimating it could bring in $500 million a year by the time mobile sports betting is fully operational. Operators would have among the highest taxes in the nation, at about 50 percent, but New York represents the largest untapped mobile sports betting market in the U.S.

In November 2020, Nebraska voters approved an amendment allowing games of chance, including sports wagering and casino gambling at racetracks. Governor Pete Ricketts signed the bill into law in May 2021. But sports betting still isn’t expected to launch before the end of 2021. Tom Sage, executive director of the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission, said, “The people of Nebraska, our voters, some of them are frustrated. I hear that. Bear with us. We’re working on it.”

Sage explained, “There’s an extensive background review for anybody that wants an authorized gaming license in Nebraska, as there is in many other states.” He said wagering will not be allowed on an app or online. “It has to be done within a brick-and-mortar casino or specific location approved by the commission,” he said.

Also, Nebraskans will not be allowed to bet on University of Nebraska Cornhusker home games. “Later in the season, Nebraska is playing in Iowa. We could then wager on the Huskers,” Sage said.

At Lincoln Race Course, plans already are underway for a sportsbook. Lynne McNally, executive vice president of Nebraska Horsemen, said, “As soon as we’re able to be licensed, we can immediately start redoing this building and making it more conducive for sports betting patrons.” The venue will build a restaurant, 196-room hotel and a spa. “All of the entertainment options that you get from sports betting and all of that revenue is going to stay right here in the state,” McNally stated.

Meanwhile, Sage said it’s not likely the racing and gaming commission will vote on the first casino application for several months. “It’s a slow process,” he said. He explained commissioners only recently received a report from Gaming Laboratories International about casino gaming rules and regulations. He said once the proposed rules are written, a public comment period will follow, then a public hearing and the vote, which is not expected to happen before December.

Sage said if the commission approves the rules, both Ricketts and Attorney General Doug Peterson would have to sign off on them, and then they would be sent to the secretary of state’s office for approval. He said that would move the start of the application process to early next year. Then, any applicant would be subject to an intensive vetting process that could take at least 30 days or more.

All six licensed horse racetracks, including tracks in Grand Island, Columbus and Hastings, have announced plans for casinos. In addition, new tracks are proposed for Bellevue, Gering, Kimball, Norfolk, North Platte and York. Also, the Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association is partnering with Ho-Chunk Inc. to build WarHorse casinos in Lincoln, Omaha and South Sioux City.

Fonner Park Chief Executive Officer Chris Kotulak said the industry should have “grave concern” about the possibility of too many casinos. “The best way to dilute and ruin the best potential for revenue is to oversaturate,” he stated.

Sage commented the commission has formed committees to consider the new proposals. He said some could be granted racing licenses before the casino application process is complete. Also, he noted Ricketts has filled only one of the two empty commission seats and has not indicated when he plans to fill the second seat.

Four casinos in Deadwood, South Dakota opened sportsbooks on September 9. The venues are Tin Lizzie, Cadillac Jack’s, Gold Dust and Mustang Sally’s. For now, wagers can be placed with a teller at a window

or at a digital kiosk. In the near future, bets can be placed on a phone app as long as the bettor is on the premises.

The day before the openings, the South Dakota Commission on Gaming issued its final ruling which sporting events gamblers can bet on, including Olympic events and professional and college sports.

Deadwood Gaming Association Executive Director Mike Rodman said, “We’re very pleased that we got to this point. And it’s been a long haul getting there.”

Rodman noted the effort to bring legalized sports gambling to Deadwood started several years ago. In 2019, the Deadwood Gaming Commission urged state lawmakers to legalize it, but the legislation failed by three votes. In 2020, South Dakota voters passed a sports gambling referendum with 58 percent approval. Sports betting finally was officially legalized in 2021.

A multi-year partnership between PointsBet and NBC Sports last year and its selection by the NFL to become one of seven approved sportsbooks has expanded data for bettors into programming content, according to TV Technology.

“Our NBC Sports NFL broadcast odds integrations represent a historic and groundbreaking moment for sports betting and PointsBet,” said Johnny Aitken, PointsBet USA CEO. “As we enter the second year of partnership with NBCUniversal, we are taking a major step to innovate and integrate our service within their platforms.”

Viewers can watch a weekly odds segment featuring expert analysis from PointsBet global ambassador, Drew Brees who also appears in ad spots for the company’s new brand campaign, “Live Your Bet Life.”

The content will examine NFL betting markets of the day and what to look for in Sunday Night Football. The postgame show will take a look at future betting markets, with PointsBet oddsmaker Jay Croucher and senior editor Teddy Greenstein.

“We look forward to continuing to work with our partners at PointsBet to further engage viewers of our live NFL game and studio content,” said Nicolina O’Rorke, senior vice president of NBC Sports Next and GM, Sports Betting & Gaming.

The NFL’s Baltimore Ravens and Caesars Entertainment, Inc. announced a multi-faceted partnership with Caesars Sportsbook, becoming a premier sports betting partner of the team, while expanding upon Horseshoe Baltimore’s status as the NFL team’s only official casino partner. The five-year agreement provides the newly launched, best-in-class sportsbook offering naming rights throughout the club level of M&T Bank Stadium, additional exposure via signature animated displays across all of the stadium’s LED boards, and much more.

Pending regulatory approval, Caesars Sportsbook will provide Ravens fans and other sports enthusiasts a premium sports betting experience with its mobile app and at its eventual retail sportsbook, which is currently under development at Horseshoe Casino Baltimore. Caesars Sportsbook’s easy-to-navigate app integrates mobile sports betting with the company’s industry-leading loyalty program, Caesars Rewards, under which every bet, win or lose, rewards the bettor with Tier Credits and Reward Credits that can be redeemed at Caesars casino properties.

“We’re excited to grow our strategic partnership with the Baltimore Ravens by serving as the two-time Super Bowl champions’ official sports betting partner and expanding our role as the team’s only casino partner,” said Chris Holdren, co-president of Caesars Digital.

“This new agreement clearly establishes Caesars Sportsbook and Horseshoe Baltimore as the team’s most prominent sports betting partner and provides our customers with extraordinary access to Ravens games, signature events at M&T Bank Stadium, Ravens training camp—even the team’s away game trips and the Super Bowl.”

The deal expands upon Horseshoe Baltimore’s longstanding relationship with the team and comes as the Ravens and Horseshoe Baltimore develop a new entertainment district along the Warner Street corridor linking M&T Bank Stadium to the casino.

“This agreement represents a bold expansion of the winning relationship we already share with Caesars and Horseshoe Baltimore,” said Baltimore Ravens Chief Sales Officer Kevin Rochlitz. “We are constantly exploring ways to create additional opportunities to engage with our fans and introduce our team to new audiences, while supporting the city we call home.”

“By growing our longstanding partnership with the Baltimore Ravens, we are able to provide our guests with even more of the legendary experiences the Horseshoe brand is known for,” said Horseshoe Baltimore Senior Vice President and General Manager Randy Conroy. “Our customers bleed Ravens purple, so we’re excited to be able to offer them greater access to the team than ever before.”

Through this agreement, Horseshoe Baltimore will host an annual signature event on the M&T Bank Stadium club level, as well as additional pre-game club level events with two Ravens alumni players for up to 100 guests. In addition, Horseshoe Baltimore will serve as title sponsor of Ravenstown Saturday Night, which includes a reception held on the club level of M&T Bank Stadium on an evening prior to a Ravens’ Sunday home game.

A bill has been introduced in the Pennsylvania state Senate that would authorize self-service sports betting kiosks in bars and taverns.

Senate Bill 843, sponsored by Senator Wayne Fontana of Pittsburgh, would authorize current slot licensees to purchase certificates to place terminals in a tavern.

“Slot machine licensees will be required to purchase a tavern sports wagering certificate to conduct sports wagering in a tavern, said Fontana in a May memo to colleagues, according to the PennBets news site. “The tavern will receive 25 percent of the gross terminal revenue from each kiosk located on the premises, with the casino receiving the other 75 percent. I believe this proposal will help bolster both state revenue and the incomes of these small businesses struggling as a result of the Covid-19 crisis.”

Casinos that conduct sports wagering would be required to pay a $10,000 fee for the certificate to place the kiosks in taverns. They would enter into a “terminal placement agreement” with any participating tavern, and the tavern would receive a $100 monthly siting fee from the casino. The bill states no cap on the number of kiosks.

The bill was referred to the Senate Community, Economic and Recreational Development Committee, of which Fontana is a member. It is unlikely the bill will see movement during the current legislative session.

The Wall Street Journal reported that ESPN is dickering with licensing its brand to sports betting operators for at least $3 billion over several years.

ESPN has talked with operators, including Caesars and DraftKings, which have existing contracts with the broadcast firm, according to Sports Handle. Part of the plan could be to rename one of the sportsbooks as such as ESPN Sportsbook by DraftKings or ESPN’s Caesars Sportsbook.

Any deal may include an exclusive marketing agreement requiring an ad commitment. In the end, of course, the operators could just say no.

It is perfectly reasonable that Disney-owned ESPN would look into monetizing online sports betting while reducing operational and regulatory costs, said Lloyd Danzig, founder and managing partner of Sharp Alpha Advisors.

Another stipulation could require the sportsbook to commit a fixed amount in advertising on ESPN’s platforms.

But sportsbooks may not be motivated to take the deal, said Chris Krafcik, an analyst with Eilers & Krejcik Gaming. Krafcik said it’s unlikely the sportsbook can turn a profit. At a 7 percent hold, the sportsbook must handle more than $42 billion to break even.

An entry by ESPN parent, Disney, into the sports betting marketplace also carries problem gaming concerns. A sports betting kiosk next to Space Mountain may tempt a 50-something father of four during a family vacation to Orlando.

In related news, Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana has signed a deal with ESPN 1000 as a naming rights sponsor for the Chicago White Sox Radio Network. The deal runs from this September to the end of the 2023 season. Hard Rock will be included in every White Sox game from spring training through post-season, according to Barrett Sports Media.

“Partnering with the Chicago White Sox late last year was monumental for ESPN Chicago! To partner with Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana to present the naming rights of the White Sox Network to White Sox fans is remarkable,” ESPN 1000 Market Manager Mike Thomas said in a press release.

To get its share of the online sports betting market, Wynn Resorts has launched a $100 million marketing campaign, according to The Street. On August 30, Wynn debuted a new TV ad directed by and starring actor Ben Affleck and basketball Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal, a brand ambassador for the company’s app, WynnBet.

The commercial spots show Affleck and actor Melvin Gregg’s journey to the sportsbook at Wynn Las Vegas, where they interact with Shaq and other sports betting enthusiasts on the casino floor. An extended cut version runs 2:20. The commercial will air along with elements integrated throughout the WynnBet app.

Affleck picked Gregg, his co-star in the sports drama, “The Way Back.” The actor will also serve as a strategic consultant for Wynn.

“Our new campaign brings the WynnBet experience to life—the marquee talent, the connection to Wynn Las Vegas and the excitement of betting with WynnBet,” Wynn Interactive CEO Craig Billings said. “Every detail of this shoot was carefully considered, and Ben did a great job hand-picking the cast and crew as well as developing the characters to capture the fun involved with winning together.”

The WynnBet app lets players interact with friends and other players. Wynn may purchase a spot during the Super Bowl.

WynnBet expects to become a new partner with the NFL, along with BetMGM, PointsBet and FOX Bet, according to Bloomberg.

Wynn is not alone in its expensive pursuit of new customers with a big splash.

• Caesars Entertainment will pay more than a $1 billion over the next 2 1/2 years to advertise for new online customers.
• MGM extended its campaign with Jamie Foxx. “We operate in a very crowed, competitive landscape,” said Matt Prevost, chief revenue officer for BetMGM. “Some consumers will gravitate toward a big headline number.”
• FanDuel and DraftKings spent $311 million on television ads in 2020, some three times more than in 2019. “NFL is basically like our holiday season,” DraftKings CEO Jason Robins told analysts earlier this month. “It’s when we acquire the most new players and reactivate large portions of the player base.”