Hawaii Legal Sports Betting Bill Advances
Hawaii’s House Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs Committee Feb. 12 moved forward a legal sports betting bill that would allow for statewide mobile wagering. An amended version of HB 1308 passed, 6-4, but two committee members said they voted “aye” with reservations.
Committee chairman David Tarnas said he previously has voted against gambling bills, but that the state is “in a fiscal crisis.” He pointed to cuts in federal funding and said he was “trying to be creative and move forward with legislation in a deliberative way.” The bill now moves onto the Finance Committee.
Its companion bill, SB 1569, moved out the Senate Economic Development and Tourism Committee Feb. 12, as well. It now goes to the Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection and Ways and Means committees.
In the House committee hearing, BetMGM and DraftKings were among those testifying in favor as well as the Ironworkers Stabilization Fund. Cody Sula of that group testified that legal sports betting would bring funding for the islands.
“We have people leaving our islands, moving to Vegas, Arizona, Texas, wherever,” he said. “Half of our money is going out to Vegas, anyway … we want to come up with innovative ways to bring help to our people.”
Multiple community groups and the Honolulu attorney’s office testified in opposition, citing concern for the mental and financial health of Hawaiians.
Federal GRIT Act Reintroduced
Ahead of the Super Bowl Feb. 9, Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Oregon Rep. Andrea Salinas reintroduced the GRIT Act, which seeks to use a percentage of a federal gambling excise tax to create a national framework for problem and responsible gambling.
The federal proposal would also require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to submit a report after three years about the effectiveness of the act. The legislation would direct 75 percent of federal gambling tax revenue to states for problem and responsible gambling initiatives. The remaining 25 percent of tax revenue would be earmarked for gambling research through grants from the National Institute of Drug Abuse.
“Federal funding for gambling addiction research, prevention, and treatment is long overdue, and the GRIT Act is a critical step in addressing this urgent need,” National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) Board President Susan Sheridan Tucker said. “This legislation provides essential support for those impacted by gambling addiction. We applaud Senator Blumenthal and Representative Salinas for their leadership on this important issue.”
The NCPG endorses the legislation.
Sportsbooks See Bump in Users Around Super Bowl
The Philadelphia Eagles weren’t the only winners this past Super Bowl weekend. According to initial data, legal sportsbook operators saw a 14 percent increase in active accounts over last year.
Compliance and geolocation tech supplier GeoComply released its annual data report after the game Feb. 9. The top-line news was a 14 percent year-on-year increase in active legal online sports betting accounts.
This is welcome news for the industry, especially given that there were no new markets launched for this year’s game. Missouri voters legalized sports betting there last November but the market has yet to launch. Over the course of the weekend, GeoComply said there were 724,400 new accounts created from 12 a.m. Feb. 8 through the end of the game Sunday night.
Georgians Overwhelmingly Support Legal Betting
Georgians want legal sports betting, according to a poll released by the University of Georgia School of Public Affairs. Eight hundred registered voters were surveyed by phone and 63 percent support legal sports betting. That number rose to 79.8 percent if state monies from sports betting were directed to the state’s HOPE program or pre-K programs. Also 77.9 percent of those surveyed say the decision on whether or not to legalize should be sent to the voters.
The poll did not specify whether or not lawmakers were considering in-person or digital sports betting or both.
Georgia lawmakers have been trying for at least five years to bring legal sports betting to the state, but have run into political issues that have prevented passage. So far, no bills have been filed for this session, though several lawmakers have promised to carry the issue again.
NY Sports Awards, Season-Long Props Bill Moves
The New York State Senate passed a bill that legalizes a new kind of proposition bets and some awards wagers, writes iGB.
In a bill sponsored by New York State Sen. Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr., the committee voted Feb. 11 to amend the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law. SB 2616 would allow for betting on season-long proposition and future award winners, such as the Heisman Trophy. It would also add betting on pre-game coin tosses.
The bill passed unanimously. From here, it will continue moving through the Senate. It must pass the House and get Gov. Kathy Hochul’s signature before it could become effective.
According to the text of the proposal, allowing for season-long proposition bets and predicted award winners would “expand on an already successful” online sports betting product.
Canada’s NorthStar Gaming Trending Up
NorthStar Gaming Tuesday (11 Feb.) released preliminary fourth-quarter results that project a 42 percent increase in handle against Q4 2023 and a 31.6 percent increase in gross gaming revenue (GGR) against the same quarter in 2023. The company also projects a 51 percent increase in handle for the full year vs. 2023 and a 51 percent increase in GGR.
The company also announced that it has secured $30 million in financing, which CEO and Chair Michael Moskowitz said “we believe we have the funding in place to reach profitability based on the current business platform.” The company expects to release audited Q4 and FY 2024 results in late April.
