Welcome to iGB’s State of the Union, a look at the biggest North American sports betting stories we’ve covered over the week and briefs on others we found interesting.
Fanatics Sportsbook opens retail space in NJ
On 5 September Fanatics Sportsbook announced that it opened a brick-and-mortar sportsbook at the Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City. The book is in a 100-foot elevated bar/lounge area in The Gallery that seats 60. It has 140 feet of LED TV walls and patrons can wager at teller windows or kiosks throughout the property.
According to a Fanatics Sportsbook release, the sportsbook will “cater to guests looking to enjoy the ultimate VIP sportsbook experience”. The Gallery is a 12,000-sqft gaming and bar venue at the centre of the casino.
Fanatics Sportsbook is available in 22 states and offers online gambling in four. The company is one of two to have a sportsbook inside an NFL stadium – BetMGM has a book at State Farm Stadium in Phoenix. Fanatics’ Commanders Field location in Maryland was the company’s first Fanatics Sportsbook-branded physical location. It opened in January 2023.
Another operator announces Colorado exit
Multiple media outlets reported on 2 September that BetSafe is shutting down its Colorado wagering platform. The company is the second in a week to announce a Colorado exit. Last week, BlueBet said it is shutting down US operations to focus on its “core” Australian business. That platform is licensed in Colorado, Iowa and Louisiana.
BetSafe will cease operations on 30 September and the last day to place bets will be 16 September. The company will stop taking deposits and new accounts on 6 September. Players will then have until 27 September to withdraw funds.
Owned by Betsson, BetSafe is also live in Ontario. Betsson owns 20+ gaming brands worldwide.
New advocacy group for social sweepstakes forms
A group of industry stakeholders on Thursday (5 September) announced the creation of the Social and Promotional Gaming Association (SPGA). The group seeks to advocate and educate for the responsible use of social sweepstakes. It aims to develop “player safeguards” and a regulatory structure.
Mass meeting we’ve all been waiting for
During an agenda-setting meeting on Wednesday (4 September), the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) targeted 11 September for a meeting with operators about bet limits. The last time the MGC tried such a meeting, all live operators boycotted the meeting, citing privacy concerns. Bally’s attended the meeting but was not yet live with Bally Bet.
Since then, the regulator and operators have been parrying. Interim chair Jordan Maynard and other commissioners previously said they didn’t want to have another meeting at which they got stood up. It appears, then, that at least some operators have agreed to attend. The issue is highly charged and the MGC would be the first operator to tackle this issue in the US.
Check out BetMGM’s new ad series
On 3 September BetMGM announced the release of a series of television advertisements featuring Academy Award and GRAMMY winner Jamie Foxx. As a whole, the ads leverage that BetMGM was “born in Las Vegas” and highlight its hospitality, entertainment and customer service history. The ads will air in television’s prime time and on other video platforms throughout the season. Take a look at what BetMGM calls the ‘Anthem’ ad below. Or look here for the ‘Second Chance‘ and ‘Feel Welcome‘ spots.
Billions in bets
The American Gaming Association (AGA) shared on 4 September that it projects bettors will wager at least $35bn (£26.7bn/€31.6bn) during the 2024-25 NFL season. This is the first time that the AGA has made projections for the season. According to a release from the AGA, 67% of US adults live in a live, legal betting state.
Previously, the AGA has only made projections around the Super Bowl. In February, the trade association projected that $23.1bn in bets would be made on Super Bowl LVIII.
FanDuel launches RG series featuring Randy Livingston
On 3 September FanDuel announced a partnership with former NBA player and basketball coach Randy Livingston and his wife, sports agent Anita Smith for Responsible Gaming Education Month. The company will launch ‘Trusted Voices: Conversations About Betting’, a video series that looks at Livingston’s NBA rise while he struggled with gambling addiction.
Along with the series, FanDuel will also have a ‘resource hub’. Those struggling with addiction can get support and others can learn the signs of an emerging problem, risks and get guidance. Resources will be available at ConversationsAboutBetting.com.
Chiefs superfan sentenced
Xavier Babudar, a Kansas City Chiefs superfan known as ‘ChiefsAholic’, was sentenced to 17 years in prison after being found guilty of bank robbery and money laundering. Babudar allegedly laundered money in casinos across the US and was a heavy sports bettor.
DraftKings fined for faulty online slot
Connecticut regulators fined DraftKings $19,000 and mandated it to return $23,909 to players after it discovered an online casino slot game had odds set to zero. Game developer White Hat was fined $3,500. According to CT Insider, 20,000 spins on the new game ‘Deal or No Deal Banker’s Bonanza’ resulted in no wins.
DraftKings identified a problem within 48 hours of launching the game. Neither DraftKings nor White Hat notified the Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) until 31 August, after the issue had been resolved. And even then, the operator was responding to a DCP inquiry.
DraftKings is partnered with the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation to offer sports betting and online casino in Connecticut.
CFL’s Lemon won’t be back this year
Montreal Alouettes defensive lineman Shawn Lemon won’t be back this season after an independent panel upheld a CFL ban for violating league gambling rules. Lemon is a three-time Grey Cup winner. He was suspended in April, two weeks after he unexpectedly announced his retirement. The CFL said at the time that it had uncovered “clear and irrefutable evidence” that Lemon bet on his team, but it also said there was no evidence of match fixing.
In other news…
In one of his first high-profile acts, new Louisiana Gaming Control Board chair Chris Hebert reportedly sent a cease-and-desist letter to offshore operator Bovada in August. Legal Sports Report wrote that the agency won’t have additional comment until Bovada responds. It did not report what the deadline for a response is.
Maine Gambling Control Unit chief Milton Champion is under fire again. All nine state casino inspectors signed a “vote of no confidence” letter, New Center Maine reported on Tuesday (4 September). The inspectors cite a “toxic work environment”.
Indiana Gaming Commission executive director Greg Small is stepping down later this month per the Indiana Capital Chronicle. Governor Eric Holcomb’s office released the news, saying it is not unusual for this to happen during a change of administration. Holcomb cannot run for reelection.
Earlier this year, 26 Iowa athletes filed a federal lawsuit against state agencies saying searches in a 2023 sports betting investigation were warrantless. The state’s department of public safety has asked for the suit to be dismissed, but the athletes now want time to amend it. According to The Gazette, the athletes want to narrow the lawsuit and drop some defendants.
The Colorado department of revenue said that 288 people signed up for the state’s new self-exclusion list as the programme approaches its one-year anniversary this month. Division of gaming director Chris Schroder said via a press release on 4 September that this “demonstrates the importance of offering resources for those who seek to manage their gaming habits”.
On 3 September Caesars Sportsbook announced a partnership with the Detroit Lions. Under the agreement, Caesars will be the official sports betting and igaming partner of the team and it has plans to launch live-dealer blackjack with custom Lions tables in Michigan. Caesars brands will be visible at Ford Field during games.
Statehouse News reported on 3 September that a University of Massachusetts School of Public Health and Health Sciences study revealed that legal betting didn’t make much of a dent in the state’s illegal market in 2022 and 2023. It did show that there were an increased number of bettors on the legal market.
ICYMI on iGB
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NJ dealers’ union fuming over latest smoking court decision
Judge promises quick decision on fate of Missouri wagering initiative
Ohio lawmaker files legal igaming bill
Ohio regulator debuts a new programme to help athletes deal with harassment
