Welcome iGB’s State of the Union. Here you can find the most important sports betting news in North America that we have covered this week, as well as briefs about other stories we thought were interesting.
Missouri gambling initiative nears ballot
The supporters of the Missouri gambling initiative have announced that they’ve collected 300.000 signatures and hope to collect 325,000 before 5 May. For the group “Winning for Missouri Education” to be able to place the initiative on the ballot in November, they need 180,000 signatures that have been verified. This initiative allows for mobile sports betting statewide.
The Missouri betting initiative, backed by professional sports teams in the state, would bypass the Missouri general assembly which, for years, has not been able to decide how to legalise internet wagering.
It looked as if Missouri was going to be the first in their region by 2020. Its general assembly is yet to reach a consensus. Meanwhile, Kansas, Kentucky, and Nebraska, its neighbors, have already legalised a form of betting. Seven of Missouri’s bordering states allow sports betting.
NFL reinstates five players
The NFL has reinstated five of the players that it had suspended in the summer due to their violation of the gambling regulations. Isaiah Rodgers, the Philadelphia Eagles player who was suspended last summer for violating gambling rules in sports, wasn’t among those reinstated.
Reinstatements came one day after NBA ban its first player Jontay Porter, for sharing proprietary information and betting on NBA with bettors.
NFL.com reports that Commanders’ defensive end ShakaToney is the only player who has been reinstated. Demetrius Tayloe, Quintez cephus and Rasho Berry, former Colts’ linebacker, were also reinstated by the league.
Despite brief revival, Maine doesn’t legalise online gaming
Last week the bill that would have given online gaming to the Wabanaki nation failed both in the Maine House and Senate. It was then revived, passed in the Maine House, and finally failed in Maine’s senate.
Mattie Dautry, assistant majority leader in the senate, asked for a re-examination of the bill. According to Portland Press-Herald, this tactic is often used in Maine. Legislators will often vote for the losing side in the hope that it will affect the final vote total.
Maine’s legislative sessions ended on April 17 and the bills passed during this session can not be carried forward.
DraftKings is being sued for “risk-free language”
DraftKings, a New York-based online sports betting company, was sued by a New York class action lawsuit on Thursday (17th April), for its use of “risk free”.
Bloomberg Law reports that bettors are promised that the money they bet will be returned to them if the “risk-free” bet is lost. But bettors say that they received a winning credit of less than half what would be earned if the bet had been made with real money.
In the past year, several major operators stopped using “risk-free”, and some US jurisdictions banned its use.
NY gaming commission lauds NCAA
Brian O’Dwyer is the Chairman of the New York State Gaming Commission. He sent an open letter to the NCAA, on April 15, supporting the NCAA’s call for a nationwide ban on college prop bets. New York prohibits these bets.
O’Dwyer stated in his letter that New York originally adopted the ban to “protect student-athletes against potential harassment about their performance”.
Around 15 US jurisdictions ban college player props. Louisiana is the latest state to ban college player props.
Mississippi Online Sports Betting Bill heads to Conference
The conference committee is set to hear HB 774. This bill would permit mobile gambling in Mississippi.
The committee will be made up of representatives Casey Eure and Henry Zuber III, and senators David Blount and Mike Thompson, as well as Chuck Younger. It is expected to meet the following week. The session is set to end on the 5th of May. This gives lawmakers a little over three weeks to find a solution.
A bill was passed by the House in February, and the Senate amended it on the 9th of April. This amended bill replaces existing law with the proposal of the House.
It was decided to continue the discussion. It was decided to send the bill back to the House for approval. The expected outcome is that a conference panel could work out a deal.
Other news…
The New York City Council approved changes to the zoning laws on Thursday, 18 April. This will allow those who win a bid to open a casino in downstate to be exempt from building within high-density areas or manufacturing commercial districts.
Caesars Entertainment, a leading online gaming company in Michigan and New Jersey announced on Friday the launch of its NHL Blackjack game.
Lottery Geeks announced on Monday (15th April) that MegaMillions was poised to vote for a ticket price hike from $2 up to $5.
The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe has announced that it plans to open a new Texas casino.
Virginia legislators approved legislation to put the question of building a casino in Petersburg on the November ballot.
Alabama’s Gambling Bill, originally a bill to expand gambling, including sports betting digitally, was referred by the conference committee. This proposal was significantly reduced and Senator Arthur Orr said to a local station that the chances of reaching a consensus were between 20%-30%.
ICYMI for iGB
Minnesota’s mess could mean that there is no legal betting for this year
North Carolina betting customers wagered $659m during the first three weeks
Ontario’s second-year: $63bn handled
Connecticut follows trend by proposing stricter ad guidelines
FanDuel could have a 2-year lead on DC’s competition
Ontario regulator stops betting on WBA
The US will soon have a national self-exclusion listing
