Betting News Archives

October 16, 2023

Betfred launches Maryland sportsbook with Long Shot’s

Sports betting operator Betfred has expanded its retail reach into Maryland after rolling out a new land-based sportsbook in the state in partnership with Long Shot’s.

The Betfred Sportsbook is now open at Long Shot’s, an off-track betting location in the Capital Region of Maryland.

The new sports betting facility features an 80-panel television wall and 12 self-service kiosks. Players can place cash bets at the betting counter, as well as deposit and withdraw from their Betfred online account.

Betfred only secured a licence in Maryland in February of this year. However, its course to launch in the state was plotted well in advance of this, with details of the Long Shot’s link-up revealed in July 2022.

Maryland legalised sports betting in December 2021 with retail launching first. Regulated online sports wagering did not launch until November last year.

“Our commitment to enhancing the sports betting experience remains unwavering,” Betfred USA CEO Kresimir Spajic said. “The effort..

October 16, 2023

Juventus contacts Italian FA over Fagioli betting reports

Italian Serie A football club Juventus has contacted the country’s football association over reports that one of its players, Nicolò Fagioli, is embroiled in a dispute over betting.

Reports have emerged that several Italian players, including Fagioli, have allegedly placed bets through an unauthorised gambling website.

Sandro Tonali of Newcastle United in the English Premier League and Nicolò Zaniolo, on loan at Premier League team Aston Villa from Turkish Süper Lig club Galatasaray, were the two players initially named in the case. Allegations of Fagioli’s involvement came to light soon after.

Shortly after reports emerged, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) said two players had been sent home from national team duty. Tonali and Zaniolo are now back training with their respective clubs.

The FIGC did not say why the pair had been sent home. However, it did state that it was in relation to an investigation by the Turin Public Prosecutor’s Office. Media reports say this investig..

October 13, 2023

Kansas smashes sports betting handle record in September

Consumers in Kansas spent a total of $219.3m on sports betting during September, a new monthly record for the US state.

Kansas opened its legal sports betting market in September last year. Players bet $160.5m in the opening month, with this year’s figure 36.6% ahead year-on-year.

The September 2023 figure was also up 132.3% from $94.4m in August this year. In addition, it surpassed the previous record of $206.3m set in March this year by 6.3%.

Some $201.1m of all bets placed in September were done so online, while $18.2m was spent at retail sportsbooks.

As for revenue, this amounted to $8.1m in September. Revenue was up 523.1% from $1.3m in the same month last year and 68.8% ahead of $4.8m in August.

Online sports betting accounted for $7.6m of all revenue for the month, with retail’s share at $459,336.

Boot Hill Casino and DraftKings retain the lead in Kansas

Breaking down monthly performance, Boot Hill Casino and partner DraftKings continue to lead the online market. The par..

October 13, 2023

Indiana sports betting handle surpasses $400m in September

Players in Indiana spent more than $400.0m betting on sports during September, while operators were able to generate in excess of $41.0m in revenue.

Sports betting handle in Indiana reached $404.1m in September. This was 5.7% more than $382.5m last year and also 69.7% ahead of $238.1m in August this year.

The start of the new NFL season meant football was the most popular sport to wager on in September. Indiana bettors wagered a total of $155.4m in football during the month.

Baseball also proved popular with players, drawing $50.3m in bets, and basketball $10.4m. A further $124.8m was spent on parlay bets and $62.9m other sports.

As for taxable adjusted gross revenue, this amounted to $41.1m. This was 19.7% lower than $51.2m in September 2022 but 74.9% higher than $23.5m in August of this year.

Ameristar Casino and DraftKings edge ahead with sports betting in Indiana

Looking at individual operators, Ameristar Casino and DraftKings moved to the front of the state’s market in Septe..

October 13, 2023

Ontario igaming revenue more than doubles in Q2

Online gambling revenue in Ontario more than doubled year-on-year in Q2 to CA$540m (£324m/€375m/US$395m), while player spending in the Canadian province rocketed 132%.

Total igaming revenue in Ontario for the three months to 30 September was up 105% from $267m in Q2 of last year – the second full quarter since the regulated market opened in April 2022.

Of this total, $407m came from online casino activity in Ontario. A further $118m in revenue was generated from internet sports betting and $16m online poker. Revenue covers all cash wagers, rake fees, tournament fees and other fees, minus player winnings.

As for player spending, total igaming wagers in Q2 reached $14.20bn. This was significantly more than the $6.04bn spent during Q2 of last year.

Consumers spent $11.90bn on internet casino games, $1.90bn on sports betting and $397m online poker. Players spending does not include promotional wagers such as bonuses and free bets.

Ontario: an expanding igaming market

The figures, pub..

October 12, 2023

Elys launches new SportBet.com brand in US

Elys Game Technology has announced the launch of its new SportBet online and mobile sports betting brand in the US.

Focusing on the US market, the SportBet.com website will allow players to wager on a range of sports. The launch marks the first solo sports wagering launch by Elys in the US following a number of partnership ventures.

A roll-out of an online sportsbook was mooted earlier this year, with a launch planned in Q3.

It is not clear in which states and markets SportBet.com will be accessible. However Elys says, subject to regulatory approvals, it expects to expand its online sports betting footprint into multiple US jurisdictions. This will be done under direct licensing and through market access partnerships during Q4.

Elys expands US sports betting presence

Elys is already active with sports betting via partnerships in New Jersey and Washington DC. It has been powering the sportsbook at Ocean Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey since March last year.

The business also j..

October 12, 2023

UK’s Grand National cuts runners for 2024 race

The Jockey Club has announced that the maximum number of runners for the Grand National, the UK’s showpiece horseracing event, will be reduced in 2024 due to concerns over safety.

The current limit on horses running in the Grand National is 40. This has been in place since 1984. However, it is being cut to 34 in line with new measures to protect the welfare of racehorses and jockeys.

Changes will be implemented from the 2024 Grand National, which takes place on 13 April at Aintree Racecourse. One horse died during the 2023 race while the start was delayed due to protests from animal rights activists.

“The Grand National is the most iconic race in the world and one which transcends our sport,” Jockey Club chief executive Nevin Truesdale said. “For many it is also their introduction to horseracing. I believe that a competitive, fair and safe Grand National is one of the best ways of ensuring the sport continues to thrive for generations to come and remains an important part of Britain..

October 12, 2023

Best Bookies’ Price halts Australian service after ACMA warning

Best Bookies’ Price has ceased offering a betting odds comparison service in Australia after being issued a formal warning by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) over unlicensed activities.

ACMA reprimanded Best Bookies after ruling its comparison service breached national gambling laws in Australia. Best Bookies allowed users to compare odds across licensed operators and place bets with those operators on their behalf.

This, ACMA says, met the definition of a “gambling service” in the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA).

Best Bookies has certain authorisations from the relevant state-based regulator. However, it does not hold the required wagering licence to provide interactive gambling services under the IGA.

ACMA ruled the Best Bookies service was offered in contravention of the IGA. As such, it was deemed an unlicensed regulated interactive gambling offering, leading to the warning.

“We strongly encourage people who wish to bet online to do so with a lice..

October 11, 2023

Sportradar and Genius slapped with patent suit

Panda Interactive has filed two separate lawsuits in the Texas Eastern District Court accusing Genius Sports and Sportradar of patent infringement.

The suits claim Sportradar and Genius, which are both Panda competitors, implemented the company’s video streaming technology patents without authorisation.

Panda said it had developed several patents in the live data and content streaming verticals. These include technology that allows viewers to see live odds and place a bet while watching sports.

The company say competitors have “widely copied” its patents in the streaming market generally, and even more so in the online sports betting market.

“We have made substantial investments in the development of our technology and cannot tolerate having our patented technology used unfairly by others and against us,” said Panda chairman Donald Schupak.

“No one wants to see their own arsenal used against them in battle.”

Sportradar and Genius accused of patent infringement

The filings also..