The Bureau of Indian Affairs approval of the compacts between the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and North Carolina checked off the final step needed to bring sports betting to the state. The goal is to be ready for wagers by March Madness time, making it one of the first to go live this year.
North Carolina approved the enabling legislation in 2019, but the Covid-19 pandemic shutdowns delayed the process. The law only permits betting at the two tribal casinos, according to Legal Sports Betting.
Legislation designed to approve sports betting in Nebraska moved from the General Affairs Committee. The details include a constitutional amendment to permit casinos in racetracks and to regulate the gambling halls. Tax revenue would aid property tax relief. The bill comes after voters approved gambling in November 2020.
But the proposal skirts around sports betting.
Committee Chairman State Senator Tom Briese said the language permits all “games of chance,” which could include sports betting.
Senator John Lowe opposed the bill for inclusion of sports betting, according to WSN.
The legislation would not include mobile and online wagering; would prohibit betting on credit; would create a self-exclusion list for those who demonstrate a record of problem gaming; would bar wagers on underage athletes competing in college and university championship games.
If sports betting survives passage, a regulatory format would be needed to oversee the details.
South Dakota is poised to be the first state of the year to put an approved sports betting bill on the governor’s desk. The House passed the legislation March 4 outlining the details. Voters approved sports betting in November.
If Governor Kristi Noem puts her signature on the legislation, Deadwood casinos would add sports wagering to their offerings. The law does not permit online betting or wagering on South Dakota college teams, according to Sports Handle.
Licensing fees are only $2,000. The state tax rate on revenue will be 9 percent. The South Dakota Commission on Gaming will oversee sports wagering. Tax revenue will go towards the preservation of historic Deadwood.
In addition to South Dakota, fall referendums approved sports betting in three other states, including Maryland and Louisiana, which are working on their frameworks.
States surrounding South Dakota with already approved sports betting or bills before the legislation include Iowa, Montana, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Wyoming. Only Iowa offers statewide mobile.
With February’s $143.6 million in handle in February, Iowa surpassed $1 billion in total handle, the seventh state to do so.
“It is an exciting milestone to reach $1 billion total handle wagered since inception … and the 3rd consecutive $100+ million month,” Iowa Gaming Association President Wes Ehrecke said to Sports Handle. “With the casino sportsbooks offering remote registration and online access, it has created more options for those who love watching and wagering on sporting events!”
The other six states include Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Illinois, and Colorado.
“The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission has been very pleased, to this point in time, with how the sports wagering industry has progressed in Iowa,” Administrator Brian Ohorliko said in an email to Sports Handle “The foundation of the Iowa sports wagering industry was the thoughtful legislation that has allowed for market growth in a highly regulated environment.”
Revenue for February decreased to $7.7 million from the record setting $11.3 million in January. The state took in $520,444 in taxes from operators.
One of the triggers for a leap in handle was the introduction of remote registration starting in January. The mobile handle In February exceeded $125.2 million, accounting for 87.2 percent of the entire February handle.
Thirteen of the 18 sportsbooks with mobile access took in $2 million or more in wagers, led by the Isle Casino in Waterloo with nearly $21.6 million bet through William Hill. Diamond Jo in Dubuque, with FanDuel came in second, whose mobile book is run by FanDuel, was second with more than $20.8 million.
