Betting News Archives

January 4, 2024

Arkansas generates $3.8m in gambling revenue for December

Arkansas reported $3.8m ($3m/€3.5m) in gambling revenue for December, outperforming the state’s monthly forecast.

While Arkansas had estimated gaming to generate $3.7m in revenue for December, it surpassed that figure by an additional $100,000. The month’s above-expectation results take the state’s year-to-date gaming revenue up to $25.8m, 4.5% above the forecast of $24.7m.

In total, Arkansas’ gaming revenue for December was 7.5% higher than the same month last year. The year-to-date revenue is also an 11.2% increase on 2022’s numbers.

Arkansas: betting journey

SPORTS BETTING WAS LAUNCHED IN ARKANSAS IN JULY 2019

Sports betting launched in Arkansas in July 2019, following approval from the Arkansas Racing Commission. Arkansas became the ninth state to begin taking bets since the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) was struck down.

Online sports betting was introduced in April 2022, when a collaboration between Gaming1 and Delaware North led to the launch of Be..

January 4, 2024

ITIA bans four more tennis officials over corruption charges

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has handed lengthy bans to four officials after they were found guilty of a series of corruption offences.

Bans were issued to Edvinas Grigaitis, Givi Khudoiani and Arsen Movsisyan after being sanctioned by an independent anti-corruption hearing officer. The ITIA also said Manuel Sperger was also banned after being convicted of tennis match-fixing activity in an Austrian criminal court.

Breaking down the bans, Sperger an Austrian, a national-level official, will serve a seven-and-a-half-year ban. This is effective from 18 December 2023 until 17 June 2031. He will also pay a fine of $25,000 (£19,708/€22,860), with $18,750 suspended

Sperger was the subject of match-fixing-related proceedings in a criminal court in Austria. He admitted to manipulating scores in 2016 and 2017 for betting purposes.

The ITIA charged Sperger with 12 offences under its Tennis Anti-Corruption Programme (TACP). These included manipulating the entry of scoring ..

January 3, 2024

Episode 25: Predictions for gaming regulation in 2024

The World Series of Politics is back from its festive break with the lowdown on what sort of regulatory progress the gaming industry can expect in 2024.

Happy new year listeners! Brendan Bussmann and Brandt Iden are back to discuss a Festivus miracle in Brazil, as well as setting out their predictions for US sports betting growth and whether 2024 will finally be the breakthrough year for US igaming.

brazil has the potential to be huge, but integrated resorts are not part of the mix

We come back after Brazil sports betting and igaming finally makes it over the finish line, giving the industry an early Christmas present. The market has potential to be huge, Brendan Bussmann says, especially after the 18% tax rate was cut to 12% of GGR.

There’s one thing missing, he adds. Integrated resorts are not part of the mix. This could bring billions in revenue into the local economy and, after the sports betting saga, we know Brazil isn’t one for rapid progress.

Regulatory predictions for 20..

January 3, 2024

Delaware Lottery launches first online sportsbook

The Delaware Lottery has announced the launch of its first online sportsbook and relaunch of its three online casinos.

Powered by Rush Street Interactive (RSI) and BetRivers, the sportsbook soft launched on 27 December. After a successful first week of operation, the new sportsbook is now fully live in Delaware.

Players can access a range of wagering options across professional and collegiate leagues, games and players. Betting options include spreads, moneylines, player props, futures and same game parlays.

Accompanying the new sportsbook are three updated versions of the state’s existing online casinos. These will continue to be operated by Delaware Park, Bally’s Dover Casino and Harrington Raceway & Casino.

RSI sees off competition to land Delaware igaming contract

RSI secured the contract to power the Delaware Lottery’s igaming offering in August of last year. This followed an RFP process that reportedly also involved 888. RSI was the only remaining bidder after other interest..

January 3, 2024

Delaware: Igaming revenue rises in November – sports betting declines

The Delaware Lottery has reported a year-on-year rise in igaming revenue for November but also posted a decline in revenue from sports betting during the month.

Total igaming revenue in Delaware in November was $1.1m (£882,214/€1.0m). This was up 13.0% from $987,423 in November 2022 and 13.5% ahead of $982,919 in October 2023.

Of this total, $900,418 came from online video lottery games, $188,050 via internet table games and $27,170 from poker rake and fees.

DELAWARE IGAMING REVENUE WAS UP 13.5% COMPARED TO OCTOBER 2023

In terms of spending, players in Delaware spent $32.1m on igaming in November. This was 24.8% lower than $42.7m in 2022 5.3% ahead of $30.5m in October.

Video lottery games drew $23.4m in total wagers and table games $8.7m.

Delaware Park claimed top spot in the igaming market with $452,554 in revenue off $11.9m in wagers. Bally’s Dover placed second with $384,111 from $9.3m, then Harrington Raceway, posting $278,973 from £11.0m.

Declines in the Delaware sports ..

January 3, 2024

Rhode Island: Handle and revenue down in November

Sports betting handle and revenue fell year-on-year in Rhode Island in November, although there was a slight month-on-month rise in player spending.

Bettors spent $48.3m (£38.2m/€44.1m) on sports wagering in Rhode Island in November. This was 21.1% down from $61.1m in 2022 but 5.5% ahead of $45.8m in October 2023.

Of this total, $38.6m was wagered with online sportsbooks in Rhode Island. A further $9.6m was spent at retail locations at Twin River and Tiverton Casino. Twin River took $6.0m worth of bets in November and Tiverton Casino $3.6m.

Revenue slips to four-month low in Rhode Island

As for revenue, this amounted to $3.4m. Not only was this 30.6% behind $4.9m generated in November 2022 but also 24.4% less than $4.5m in October 2023.

The Rhode Island Lottery also noted the November total was the lowest monthly amount since $1.4m was reported in August 2023.

Online betting accounted for $2.6m of all revenue in November. Retail’s share amounted to $837,173, of which $488,920 cam..

December 22, 2023

British, Irish and Japanese horse racing industries form committee

British, Irish and Japanese horse racing regulatory bodies have joined forces to create the Joint Cooperation Committee.

The deal sees the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) and Horse Racing Ireland team up with the Japan Racing Association (JRA).

The aims of the committee include promoting Japanese horses, while easing the travel of connections between the regions. Other objectives include the enhancement of awareness of each industry, creating a regulatory partnership and “further internationalising” horse racing.

The chairman of the new committee will be Joe Saumarez Smith, who is also the BHA chairman.

Commenting on the partnership, he said: “The British and Irish horse racing industries have enjoyed a close and fruitful relationship with the JRA – and the wider Japanese racing industry – for many years now.

“We are delighted to be collaborating with the JRA and are hugely grateful for their significant support. This can only lead to increased participation in each other’s ra..

December 22, 2023

Netherlands minister Weerwind announces new plans to counter problem gambling

The Netherlands minister for legal protection, Franc Weerwind, has announced new measures that he hopes will protect players from problem gambling.

Weerwind’s letter comes in response to “worrying and undesirable developments” in the Netherlands’ gambling industry. With the evaluation of the Remote Gambling Act not expected until 2024, Weerwind has decided to push on with the government’s new plans before then.

The new measures, announced on Thursday, include providers being required to contact players who have set a deposit limit of €350 (£303/$386). Operators should inform such players of the risks of gambling in such high amounts.

As reported by CasinoNieuws, Weerwind’s other proposals involve exhibiting financial amounts in euros and pushing for further research on overarching gaming limits.

In October, Weerwind announced a multi-year digital resilience campaign programme to combat fraud associated with online gambling.

In his letter, Weerwind said: “Everyone who wants to do s..

December 22, 2023

New Hampshire sports betting spend continues to rise in November

Player spending on sports betting in New Hampshire increased month-on-month during November, but the $78.5m (£61.9m/€71.3m) wagered was less than the previous year.

Handle for November was down 15.7% from $93.1m in the same month last year. However, it was 2.0% ahead of October this year and the highest monthly total in New Hampshire for eight months.

Of the total wagered, $67.9m was bet online and $10.6m at retail sportsbooks across the state of New Hampshire.

Turning to gross gaming revenue, this amounted to $8.2m in November. This was 64.0% up from $5.0m last year but 5.8% behind October’s $8.7m haul.

draftkings holds exclusive sports wagering rights in new hampshire

Online sports betting accounted for $6.6m of all wagering revenue during the month. Retail betting generated the remaining $1.6m.

DraftKings remains the only operator offering online sports wagering in New Hampshire. It secured exclusive rights for the state in November 2019.

In terms of tax, the state took $3.6m..