A pair of Democratic representatives have introduced a House bill that would ban sportsbooks from offering odds on elections. The goal is to protect the integrity of US elections and avoid the betting scandals seen across pro and college sports.
The Illinois Gaming Board has approved an application from bet365 Sportsbook to launch its online platform in the state, making it the market's tenth platform. The approval continues bet365's impressive growth, as it is now available in 12 markets.
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board reported an all-time high sports betting handle of $935.5 million, crushing the previous record set last November. NFL betting drove the impressive numbers, which led to a revenue jump of almost 500% for operators.
The New York State Gaming Commission has reported a record-high monthly handle of $2.26 billion for November, resulting in $118 million in tax revenue. The state’s 51% tax revenue remains the highest in the county, leading to massive revenue for the Empire State.
The Iowa Gaming and Racing Commission reported the sports betting market saw a record $315.2 million in wagers and $2 million in tax revenue in November. The handle was 6% higher than the month before and 9% higher than November 2023.
FanDuel emailed customers this week to request that they contact their local lawmakers and oppose a bill raising the tax rate on sports betting operators. While the proposed hike is minimal, the operator believes it is meant as a conversation starter for lawmakers.
The Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation has announced it has approved Prime Sports' application to become the state’s ninth online sports betting operator. The sportsbook doesn’t have a firm launch date but hopes to be live ahead of March Madness.
The Missouri Board of State Canvassers has formally certified the results of Amendment 2 from November’s election, paving the way for legal sports betting. With opponents not planning to request another recount, the state hopes to have its new market launched this summer.
The New York Gaming Commission (NYGC) reported a handle of $592.9 million for the week of Thanksgiving, breaking the previous record of $576.1 million set just weeks ago. The week’s handle was up by more than 14% compared to last year.
Underdog Fantasy has expanded its presence to 35 states after changing its controversial pick ’em games in certain markets. The games previously allowed players to bet against the house, causing regulators to view it as a form of sports betting.
The American Gaming Association has updated its “bet responsibly” campaign to tackle the issue of athlete harassment, which continues to rise across the US. The AGA hopes the campaign will help protect athletes as well as avoid heavy-handed regulations.
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) has fined FanDuel $10,000 for accepting $11 in improper wagers involving in-state men’s college basketball teams. It is the latest example of the MGC punishing even the most minor infractions among sports betting operators.
Bovada placed Arizona on its restricted access list after a cease-and-desist letter, making it the seventeenth US market where the operator is banned. The move continues a trend of Bovada pulling out of markets instead of risking legal action.
Discussions have begun about raising the tax rate on sports betting operators in Maryland as the state looks for a solution to its $2.7 billion deficit. Tax revenue from the industry goes towards the state’s education system, which is also driving the deficit.
Arizona will open the application process for two of the state’s available sports betting licenses, with one reserved for a tribe and the other for a pro sports team. The application window will not officially open until July 8.
Sports betting Amendment 2 is currently undergoing a recount after narrowly passing in Missouri earlier this month, but early reports are the proposal is safe. That state will need to launch a sports betting market by December 1, 2025.
The Colorado Department of Revenue reported a massive $601 million handle for the month of October, though overall revenue dropped by over 16% compared to September. The success was primarily driven by the NFL and NBA, which accounted for over half of all wagers.
A report by the New York State Gaming Commission showed that sports betting revenue surpassed $52 million for the fourth straight week as of November 17. The record came despite the handle dipping below $500 million for the first time since early October.
GeoComply has reported that over 42,000 GPS checks came from the state of Georgia on Sunday alone, despite the industry remaining illegal. That number is over 100% higher than last year, with over 7,800 accounts trying to place wagers.
Legendz launched its social sportsbook in 43 states on Monday, returning to the country after being banned for running one of the country’s largest illegal platforms. The new platform's lack of real-money wagers allows it to work outside of US sports betting regulations.
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) held a seven-hour hearing with DraftKings officials over accepting wagers coming from credit card deposits. The operator claims those deposits were made in other states, meaning they did not violate Massachusetts law.
A report from AxiosDC shows that Washington, D.C.’s Attorney General Brian Schwalb has opened an investigation into Intralot, the sportsbook’s operator. The DC Lottery awarded the failed operator sole control of the online sports betting market without a bidding process.
Louisiana Rep. Wilder has requested his recently proposed sports betting bill be deferred two days after its introduction. The bill called for the tax rate on operators to be raised from 15% to 51%, leading to an outcry from the industry.
An Ohio legislator introduced sports betting bill SB190 to the Senate Finance Committee. The bill proposes cutting the operator rax rate back down to 10%. The bill’s goal is to help grow the market, which some believe is being hurt by its 20% rate.
A spokesperson from FanDuel Sportsbook shared that the industry-leading operator has reached a deal with the union over using player likenesses. The new licensing agreement ends a lawsuit filed by the union against FanDuel last month.
North Carolina reported a sports betting handle of $612 million for October, over $60 million more than in September. The numbers show that the market’s ceiling is still unknown, leading to legislatures considering changes to how gambling winnings are taxed.
A new sports betting bill proposed in the Louisiana House of Representatives would increase operators' tax rate to 51% while eliminating promotional betting. The bill is expected to bring fierce opposition from the state’s sportsbooks, threatening to throw the market into chaos.
The New York State Gaming Commission reported a record-high $2.3 billion sports betting handle for October, breaking the $2.1 million record from November 2023. The numbers were boosted by the Yankees' and Mets' deep playoff runs.
The Running Aces Casino has sent a letter to the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association supporting a deal to legalize sports betting in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. The group had opposed previous bills but appear to be ready to make a deal.
Colorado residents voted in favor of Amendment JJ in Tuesday’s election, eliminating a $29 million cap on sports betting tax revenue that the state can keep. The extra funds will be used to support the state’s water projects.
Missouri voters passed Amendment 2 during Tuesday’s election by a margin of 0.2%, legalizing sports betting. All tax revenue generated from the industry will be used to support the state’s education system and problem gambling funds.
Penn has announced that ESPN Bet users can now link their sportsbook accounts with ESPN accounts. This will give users a customized betting experience when using the sportsbook, making tracking games and finding promos for their favorite teams easier.
The Illinois Gaming Board has eliminated several bets from its NFL catalog after a request from the league in hopes of protecting the integrity of the game. An array of bets have been removed, most of which could be influenced by one person.
