Betting News Archives

February 16, 2024

Super Bowl Sunday: Stats showdown

On 11 February, the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers faced off in Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, for Super Bowl LVIII. iGB brings you a comprehensive analysis of the game's most interesting betting data.

Many in the industry had high hopes for the 58th edition of the Super Bowl. And they were right too – Sunday’s game was the most-watched American television broadcast since Neil Armstrong walked on the moon.

While loyal American football fans and cheerful once-a-year viewer types undoubtedly tuned in, the hype around the final was no doubt amplified by the presence of Taylor Swift. According to Apex Marketing Group, Swift has generated a hefty $331.5m (£264.0m/€309.5m) for the National Football League (NFL), simply by showing up to watch her boyfriend Travis Kelce, the Chiefs’ tight end, play.

A survey by the American Gaming Association projected that a record 67.8 million American adults would bet $23.1bn on this year’s Super Bowl, marking a 35% rise in bettors from 2..

February 16, 2024

DraftKings ups 2024 forecast after strong end to 2023

DraftKings has lifted its forecast for 2024 after posting positive earnings as well as soaring revenue in the final quarter of 2023.

DraftKings expects to post its first full year of positive adjusted EBITDA in 2024, with earnings of up to $510m (£405.2m/€473.7m), compared to the previously stated $450m. Revenue for 2024 is now expected to be between $4.65bn and $4.90bn from the range of $4.50bn-$4.80bn. The forecast was published in its preliminary results for 2023 and Q4 results.

Significant operating efficiencies

draftkings will acquire lottery app jackpocket for $750m, it announced on thursday

In the year to 31 December 2023, DraftKings saw revenue rise 63% to $3.7bn. Loss from operations was $789.2m, compared to $1.5bn in 2022, while negative adjusted EBITDA was $151.0m. This was significantly less than last year’s $721.8m.

During the year, DraftKings saw cost of revenue grow by 57% to $2.3bn. However, sales and marketing was flat and general and administrative expenditure de..

February 15, 2024

Super Bowl wagers hit $71.5m in Pennsylvania

Super Bowl wagers in Pennsylvania totalled $71.5m (£56.8m/€66.4m), according to data released by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.

These were wagers made through both retail and online sportsbooks. In total, this is a decrease of 15.1% compared to Super Bowl 2023, when the Philadelphia Eagles were defeated by the Kansas City Chiefs.

The regulator added that after payouts, revenue should come to $11.0m, down 62.7% from the $29.7m revenue generated from last year’s Super Bowl.

This marked the sixth year that sports betting was legal in Pennsylvania for the Super Bowl. It was also the fourth year of online sports betting in the state. Bettors could choose between 18 retail locations and 12 online betting sites to place their bets.

Online versus retail breakdown

Online wagers totaled $64.6m for Super Bowl 2024, a decline of 12.5% compared to online wagers on 2023’s game. The 2023 online wagering total was also the highest since online sports betting was introduced in Pennsylvania..

February 15, 2024

Connecticut report says 1.8% of state residents suffer from problem gambling

A study has found 67.8% of Connecticut residents consider the current availability of gambling in the state to be “fine”.

The study, carried out by the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, revealed a general ambivalence towards gambling in the state, with 93.5% rating the recreational activity as “not at all” or “not very” important.

Over two-thirds (67.2%) of the over 5,000 residents surveyed believe the risk of gambling harm outweighs the benefits. Meanwhile, 69.2% pointed to addiction as the biggest risk of legalised gambling in Connecticut.

However, 70.8% believe the responsibility for minimising gambling harms falls between gamblers and providers, while 68.7% have no opinion over the integrity and fairness of how gambling is offered in Connecticut. Just 17.3% are dissatisfied with the Connecticut government’s ability to minimise gambling harms.

Of the positives of legalised gambling, employment and increased government revenue led the way with 21.6% ..

February 15, 2024

Penn reports Q4 net loss of $358.8m following ESPN Bet launch

Penn Entertainment has announced a net loss of $358.8m (£258.9m/€334m) for Q4 2023, a quarter in which the operator launched its ESPN Bet sportsbook.

ESPN Bet, the product of Penn’s $1.5bn deal with Disney-owned ESPN, launched across 17 states on 15 November.

Penn’s Interactive segment recorded revenues of $31.5m in Q4, although its adjusted EBITDA loss stood at $333.8m.

Revenue across the whole company dropped 12.5% in Q4 year-on-year from $1.6bn to $1.4bn. Overall adjusted EBITDAR for Q4, meanwhile, plummeted from $468.3m to $112.5m year-on-year.

Penn’s northeast segment, encompassing 17 properties including Ameristar East Chicago and Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg, accounted for $662.9m of the $1.4bn in revenue.

Diluted earnings per share also went from $0.13 to a loss of $2.37. Meanwhile, total liquidity dropped to $2.1bn from 2022’s figure of $2.6bn. Net debt at the end of Q4 stands at $1.6bn.

Penn’s full year results

The $1.4bn in Q4 revenue took Penn to $6.36bn for the yea..

February 15, 2024

Minnesota governor vows to pass betting bill at start of 2024 session

Minnesota governor Tim Walz has confirmed he would approve the legalisation of sports betting if lawmakers can progress legislation during the 2024 session.

The legislative year began at the start of this week, and a first reading of Senate Bill 3803 has already taken place. The Minnesota Sports Betting Act 2.0, proposed by Representative Jeremy Miller, would allow Native American tribes, racetracks and teams to offer in-person wagering at their facilities.

According to the bill, which has been referred to the State and Local Government and Veterans Committee, a state commissioner would oversee betting in Minnesota. The commissioner would issue up to 11 sports betting operator licences, up to 11 platform provider licences and sports betting supplier licences.

Licence holders would also have the option to operate retail betting on the premises of horse racing tracks or professional sports stadiums in Minnesota, pursuant to a partnership agreement with the track operator or sports te..

February 15, 2024

FDJ reports “solid” 6.5% year-on-year revenue growth for 2023

La Française des Jeux (FDJ) has reported a 6.5% year-on-year growth in revenue to €2.62bn (£2.24bn/$2.81bn) for its 2023 financial year.

FDJ attributed the “solid” growth in revenue to momentum in its sports betting and online gaming sectors. This was evidenced by an 18.8% increase in its net gaming revenue (NGR), becoming almost 13% of the group’s NGR.

FDJ’s 2023 report came in the wake of the group submitting an offer worth SEK27.96bn (£2.10bn/€2.45bn/$2.67bn) to acquire the entire outstanding share capital of Kindred Group in January.

During 2023, FDJ’s net profit rocketed by 38% to €425m, from 2022’s figure of €307.9m. Recurring operating income shot up from €459m to €532m, again a sizeable rise of 15.8%.

Despite the rise in revenue, the 6.5% revenue hike fell behind the 9.1% increase to $2.46bn reported last year. The previous year’s success was largely powered by an 11% jump in lottery. Interestingly, this was while the lottery sector only grew by 4.9% in 2023.

FDJ recorded ..

February 14, 2024

Detroit casino revenue down 8.8% year-on-year

Detroit, Michigan's three casinos recorded $94.4m (£75.2m/ €88.0m) in revenue for January.

This marked a dip of 8.8% from January 2023. In total, $93.9m came from table games and slots, while $500,221 was generated by retail sports betting.

The overall revenue also fell month-on-month, trickling down by 18.8% from Detroit’s December report.

In terms of market share, MGM held 48% in January. MotorCity held 30%, while Hollywood Casino at Greektown took up 22%.

Table games and slots revenue

Looking at revenue from table games and slots specifically, it fell by 9.1% compared to January 2023 and 15.7% from December 2023.

Detroit’s casinos also recorded drops in gaming revenue year-on-year. Revenue at MGM decreased by 11.3% compared to January 2023, while revenue at MotorCity dipped 10.4% to $27.1m. Hollywood Casino at Greektown recorded a dip of 2.0% to $22.2m.

Things were similar when looking at the month-on-month comparisons. MGM gaming revenue fell 11.8% and MotorCity gaming ..

February 14, 2024

Tennessee: January betting handle drops 5.6% month-on-month

Tennessee has reported a 5.6% month-on-month drop in handle for January, with players’ spending of $465.8m (£370.8m/€434.4m) also 9.6% down on the record month of November last year.

November 2023 was the first month in which handle in Tennessee surpassed $500m. The state’s legal wagering market opened in November 2020.

Gross wagers in Tennessee also dropped 5.6% month-on-month to $467.4m, again falling 9.6% short of November’s total of $517.1m.

Despite the month-on-month decrease, Tennessee’s gross wagers for January were 13.8% higher than the same month in 2023.

Privilege tax assessed for January stood at $8.6m, the first time it has dipped under the $9m figure since November 2023.

The Quarterly Survey of State and Local Tax Revenue (QTAX), carried out by the United States Census Bureau, found Tennessee ranked seventh in the country in terms of the tax generated by sports betting in Q3 2023 with $16.1m. That is 3.1% of the $506m generated nationwide.

Leading operators in Tennes..