Hawaii House Sends Sports Betting Bill to Senate
Despite some reservations offered about legal sports betting, Hawaii’s House sent a bill that would allow for digital platforms to the Senate for consideration, reports iGB.
After HB 1308 moved through Hawaii House committees with some lawmakers voting yes “with reservations,” it passed the full House March 4 with 16 no votes. The vote beat the legislature’s crossover deadline.
Ahead of the vote, legislators in opposition voiced concern about local dollars being diverted to out-of-state operators; the growth of gambling addiction; and harm to the purity of sports. They compared wagering to heroin and fentanyl with one lawmaker contending any revenue the state would get from legal sports betting would be “dirty” money.
A companion bill, SB 1569, was deferred by the Senate Consumer Protection/Ways and Means Committee Feb. 26 without discussion. It is unclear if that decision will set the tone in the Senate for other wagering bills such as HB 1308.
Sponsor Daniel Holt has carried sports betting bills for multiple sessions, but this is the first time the issue has moved out of the House.
Flutter: FanDuel Now U.S. iGaming and Sports Betting Leader
FanDuel is now the market leader for iGaming and digital sports betting, Flutter CEO Peter Jackson enthusiastically announced March 4 during the Flutter earnings call. The news was in line with the tone of the rest of the call from FanDuel’s parent company.
Despite an industry-wide difficult NFL season, FanDuel still had growth in its sportsbook, executives said. They reported structural gross revenue margin growth of 14.5 percent and iGaming revenue growth of 43 percent. For the start of 2025, executives said a strong Super Bowl offset other NFL results.
Overall, Flutter’s fourth-quarter revenue increased 14 percent and fiscal year revenue was up 19 percent, mostly on the back of U.S. sports betting and iGaming.
Executives also reported that for FanDuel in the U.S., the number of average monthly players grew 7 percent in the quarter and 13 percent for the fiscal year, per iGB.
The company pointed to success with its new customizable “Your Way” parlay, which is in beta testing, in addition to touting its ongoing stock buyback as positives.
Jackson said FanDuel is preparing for a late-year launch in Missouri. The company continues to find ways, meanwhile, to mitigate a significant tax increase that went into effect in Illinois last year, he said.
While the legal gambling world in the U.S. has been focused on threats from unregulated sweepstakes platforms and the rise of prediction markets, Jackson called the latter “an interesting opportunity” although they lack the excitement and range of options available with a “true sportsbook.”
New York’s Addabbo Files Anti-Sweeps, Expansion Bills
New York State Sen. Joe Addabbo filed two gambling-related bills in the last week. The latest, S5935, seeks to ban unregulated sweepstakes platforms. Operators of these platforms have been targeted by several state legislatures and the gambling industry, which say the platforms are pulling business from the regulated industry. Sweepstakes platforms operate in a gray area – they are unregulated and do not pay taxes.
Addabbo’s bill clearly defines what sweepstakes are, calling them games that “simulate casino-style gaming.” The list of casino-style games includes everything from blackjack to keno to sports betting. The bill would also make it illegal for licensed suppliers and vendors to work with unregulated platforms. The bill was filed March 4 and referred to the Senate Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee.
Also referred to that committee is Addabbo’s S6013, which, among other things, would increase the number of digital wagering licenses available in New York. The cap is currently nine, but Addabbo proposes to raise that to 14 by January 31, 2026 and 16 by January 31, 2027. The proposal would allow operators who originally applied for a license in 2021-22 to reapply and be given preference. Bet365 and Fanatics Sportsbook are among those that applied but did not get licensed.
The bill also seeks to change the tax rate based on the number of licensed platforms. While the rate would drop if the number of operators increased, it would rise if the number of operators fell below nine.
The tax rate could not drop below 12 percent of adjusted gross revenue. New York currently charges operators a 51 percent tax.
From the proposal:
- 4-5 operators – 64 percent
- 6 operators – 62 percent
- 7 operators – 60 percent
- 8 operators – 58 percent
- 9 operators – 51 percent
- 10-12 operators – 50 percent
- 13-14 operators – 35 percent
- 15 or more operators – 25 percent
NJ Bill Barring College-Wagering Partnerships Moves
A bill that would prohibit New Jersey public colleges and universities from partnering with sports betting operators was sent to the Senate March 3. HB 4113 unanimously passed the House Feb. 27.
While the bill would ban university partnerships, it would allow for higher education foundations to partner with such companies as long as there is no “direct advertising” or marketing to students.
The bill has been referred to the Senate Higher Education Committee.
BetMGM Laying Off 83
BetMGM has plans to lay off 83 workers from its Jersey City, New Jersey headquarters May 27, NorthJersey.com reported March 3. The company pointed to slow growth as the reason. According to the American Gaming Association, sports betting revenue was down 29 percent in December for the 38 U.S. states that have live, legal sports betting.
BetMGM is the third-biggest digital wagering operator in the U.S., behind FanDuel and DraftKings.
“The flurry of jurisdictions legalizing and launching sports wagering has slowed — slowing the rapid growth of the industry overall as much of the population has now gained access to legal sports wagering channels,” Jane Bokunewicz told NorthJersey.com. Bokunewicz is an associate professor with Stockton University’s Lloyd D. Levenson Institute of Gaming, Hospitality and Tourism, which studies New Jersey’s casino market.
Sports Betting Back on the Table in Alabama?
Though it’s been widely reported that any gambling legalization in Alabama is on hold, Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton told 1819News March 1 that the issue could resurface. Singleton said he’s been hearing concepts, but that no legislation is circulating in Montgomery.
In 2024, lawmakers tried to push forward a massive gambling expansion, including digital sports betting, lottery and land-based casinos. An amended version passed through the House, but it fell short by one vote in the Senate. Singleton said he’s heard that a bill or package of bills that would legalize sports betting, lottery and either Class II or Class III gaming was in the works.
As of March 4, no gambling bills had been filed in Alabama.
Manfred Reported to be Considering Rose to HOF
ESPN reported March 1 that Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred may take Pete Rose off the ineligible list, meaning that he could be considered for entry into the Hall of Fame.
Rose remains baseball’s all-time hits leader. He was banned from MLB in 1989 by then-Commissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti after it was discovered that he bet on baseball, including his own Cincinnati Reds. Rose was a star player for the Reds in the 1970s and 1980s who went on to manage the team.
The news came on the heels of President Donald Trump saying he has plans to grant Rose, who served time for federal charges related to gambling, a full pardon.
According to ESPN, L.A. lawyer Jeffrey Lenkov filed a petition for reinstatement following a meeting that Lenkov and Rose’s daughter, Fawn, had with Manfred in December. Rose died last September. Manfred in 2015 denied a previous petition for reinstatement from Rose.
Trump posted his thoughts and plans on social media last weekend.
“Now he is dead, will never experience the thrill of being selected, even though he was a FAR BETTER PLAYER than most of those who made it, and can only be named posthumously. WHAT A SHAME!” Trump posted.
“Over the next few weeks I will be signing a complete pardon of Pete Rose, who shouldn’t have been gambling on baseball, but only bet on his team winning, He never betted against himself, or the other team. He had the most hits, by far, in baseball history, and won more games than anyone in sports history.”
Trump’s pardon doesn’t ensure that he will get a shot at the HOF, but Rose prior to his death predicted he would get into the Hall after he died. But also lamented that there would be no joy – for him or others – in a posthumous honor.
“… the Hall of Fame is for two reasons: your fans and your family,” Rose said in a Sept. 20 interview with sportscaster John Condit. “That’s what the Hall of Fame is for. Your fans and your family. And it’s for your family if you’re here. It’s for your fans if you’re here. Not if you’re 10 feet under. You understand what I’m saying?
“What good is it going to do me or my fans if they put me in the Hall of Fame couple years after I pass away? What’s the point? What’s the point? Because they’ll make money over it?”
FitzDares Pulling Out of Ontario
U.K.-based sports betting platform FitzDares is pulling out of Ontario and will cease taking bets March 24 at 11:59 p.m. The final day to withdraw funds from accounts will be March 31.
First reported by Covers, FitzDares posted a notice on its Ontario website March 4 alerting customers to the news. “After serving our customers in Ontario for the past two years we have taken the difficult decision to exit the Ontario market. Fitzdares Ontario will be ceasing operations effective midnight on March 31, 2025. Thank you for being a Fitzdares customer and for trusting us with your business,” the notice reads.
Ontario has a population of 16 million, making it bigger than any U.S. state but California, Texas, Florida and New York. There are about 50 platforms live in the province – more than are live in any one U.S. state. Competition has been fierce since launch.
“We have loved Ontario, and made some great friends, but the cost of doing business was becoming prohibitive,” said Clive Harris, Fitzdares’ country manager for Canada, in a statement to Covers. “We will continue to monitor the competitive and regulatory environment closely, as we gear up for exciting times ahead.”
In Other News ….
DraftKings closed on a $600 million Term Loan B, per Seeking Alpha March 4. The loan was initially approved at $500 million but was increased due to “strong demand.” The loan will mature in 2032 and may be used for “general business purposes.”
The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) issued five cease-and-desist letters to offshore operators. It sent letters to BetWhale Casino, Black Lotus Casino, Coins Game Casino, Love2play Casino, and Orion Stars 777 Player. In a March 5 press release, the MGCB wrote that the platforms have 14 days to shutter or it will pursue further action through the state attorney general.
Caesars Sportsbook partnered with IC360 to integrate its ProhiBet product, the companies announced March 4. The technology allows users to monitor prohibited bettors in real time, in addition to offering other integrity monitoring tools.
Hard Rock Digital joined the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA), it was announced March 4. IBIA now works with more than 70 companies and 140 sports betting brands in its global integrity monitoring network.
Eric Snider announced that he is now the chief regulatory officer for the North Carolina State Lottery Commission, which oversees digital wagering. Snider, formerly the lottery’s deputy general counsel, shared the news in a LinkedIn update posted March 4.
