MGC Bet Limits Discussion Offers Insight, No Action
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) led a nearly three-hour discussion about bet limits Sept. 11. It was the second attempt at doing so after most operators stood the commission up in the spring.
The meeting revealed a disconnect between operators, regulators, consumers and responsible gaming advocates about how or if a regulator should have a hand in how operators manage risk, iGB reported.
Every operator live in Massachusetts participated in the meeting. The last time, only Bally’s, which wasn’t yet live with Bally Bet, attended.
In addition, there was a panel of stakeholders, ranging from a bettor/journalist to responsible gaming advocates to those with experience running casinos and sportsbooks. The conversation centered on how and why bettors may be limited. It also touched on general sportsbook limits, advertising and how sportsbooks communicate with customers.
College Football Player: Bettors Want Money after Losses
As sports betting has swept the U.S., athletes have been more and more vocal in saying that wagering has resulted in harassment. This week, Auburn quarterback Payton Thomas said he got multiple Venmo requests from bettors for cash after last weekend’s loss to California. He made the comments on “The Next Round,” according to ESPN.
According to the story, he’s not the only one. Max Homa, a PGA golfer, said he also gets Venmo requests from bettors – multiple times a week.
In August, tennis player Caroline Garcia posted on X that she often gets hateful messages, and shared this thought, “Yet, here we are promoting betting companies, which actively destroy the life of some people. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying they should be banned as people are free to do whatever they want with their money. But maybe we should not promote them.”
Fanatics Sportsbook Now Live in DC
Fanatics Sportsbook launched in Washington, DC Sept. 12, bringing the total number of wagering platforms to five. The company is already live in neighboring Maryland and Virginia, and has the only retail sportsbook inside of an NFL stadium at Commanders Field.
Fanatics Sportsbook got market access through a deal with the National Women’s Soccer League’s Washington Spirit, according to a company press release. It is Fanatics Sportsbook’s first partnership with a women’s pro team.
Caesars to Take Over GambetDC Kiosks
When the DC Council in June approved a budget that included opening the Washington, DC sports betting market to competition, there was one question mark. What would happen to the small businesses – mostly convenience stores – that have GambetDC kiosks?
That question was answered on Sept. 10 when Caesars Entertainment announced that it will replace GambetDC betting kiosks at 53 small businesses in the District. The company did not share when the new kiosks would be put into place.
Caesars got the go-ahead Sept. 9 through an Office of Lottery and Gaming executive order.
Oilers Fans Lash Out About Jersey Gambling Ad
The Edmonton Oilers Monday debuted new shirts for the 2024-25 season with a PlayAlberta logo on the front. Fans reacted almost immediately, and not in a good way, according to the Edmonton Journal.
Among the social media replies:
“This is cringe.”
“Shameful. Gambling is an epidemic and you’re now fully advertising it to kids.”
“Money talks as usual. Shameful.”
So far, the team has not responded, but in its original release spent significant time stating that funds from PlayAlberta “supports programs and services that Albertans rely on every day.”
Maryland Logs $5.6 Million in Sportsbook Taxes for August
Maryland’s sports wagering market generated $5,584,303 in contributions to the state from a handle of $377,381,689 during August. Sports wagering contributions go to the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Fund, which supports public education programs.
With the August total, the sports wagering program’s cumulative contribution to the Blueprint Fund has surpassed the $100 million mark. Maryland’s first retail sportsbooks launched in December 2021, and mobile sports wagering began in November 2022.
The $5.6 million contribution to the state in August 2024 was more than double the $2.6 million figure in August 2023. The $377.4 million in handle was an increase of 43.1 percent compared to the $263.7 million total in August 2023. Another $78,740 in expired sports wagering prizes were contributed to the state’s Problem Gambling Fund during August 2024.
Snowden Loads Up on Penn Stock
Penn Entertainment CEO Jay Snowden purchased $1 million worth of company stock in early September, according to CDC Gaming Reports. Snowden bought 54,200 shares for various prices, ranging from $18.15-$18.76. The timing dovetailed with the start of the NFL season and ahead of a projected September launch of ESPN Bet in New York State.
$20 Million at Stake at Circa
Circa announced its season-long NFL Survivor and Million VI contests with $20.3 million in prize money. That is a massive jump from last year, when the total pools were $15.2 million. There are 14,266 entries in this year’s Survivor contest, for a prize pool of $14.3 million. The Circa VI has 5,817 entrants, and the sportsbook will pay a $183,000 overlay to bring the prize to $6 million.
HardRock Bet Partners with Jaguars
HardRock Bet, the only live, legal sports betting platform in Florida, announced Sept. 6 that it is partnering with the Jacksonville Jaguars. As part of the partnership, the companies will do some co-marketing, HardRock Bet will offer VIP access to some Jaguars’ events and “backstage pass experiences” at EverBank Stadium.
This season marks the first with live sports betting in Florida. HardRock Bet is live for sports betting in six other states and for wagering and online casino in New Jersey.
NorthStar Bets Rolls Out Improvements
Ahead of the NHL season and in preparation for an anticipated legal wagering launch in Alberta, NorthStar Bets has streamlined navigation and is now using AI to craft customer-specific parlays, according to CDC Gaming Reports. The platform is also live in Ontario, and also has made improvements on the iGaming side, adding a new blackjack table design that targets VIP players and has also improved navigation.
In other news …
Ten additional athletes involved in the Iowa sports betting scandal joined a civil lawsuit against the state, the Associated Press reported Tuesday (10 August). An Iowa basketball equipment manager was also allowed to join, bringing the total number of plaintiffs to 37.
ESPN announced Tuesday (10 August) that it agreed to a contract extension with sports betting analyst Liz Loza. Details of the deal were not released, but Loza will continue to appear on Fantasy Football Now, SportsCenter, and ESPN BET Live.
NFL legend Terry Bradshaw is apparently looking to get back into the horse world. Bloodhorse reported that he was spotted at the Sept. 10 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
The Missouri Gaming Commission Sept. 6 announced that Mike Leara has been named executive director. He’ll replace Peggy Richardson. The agency did not announce a start date for Leara.
The Michigan Gaming Control Board’s “Don’t Regret the Bet” ad campaign won a Michigan Chapter Emmy Award from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, the agency announced earlier this week.
