Betting News Archives

May 4, 2023

New York greenlights $455m racing Belmont development

On 2 May, New York State lawmakers approved the FY2024 budget, which included funding for a $455m (£362.0m/€412.2m) loan to renovate and upgrade the Belmont Park race track.

Non-for-profit racetrack operator the New York Racing Association (NYRA) is charged with developing the project to build the new thoroughbred racing facility at Belmont Park.

The NYRA said that the “significant” construction development would have no cost to tax payers, due to being funded through loans that the operator is obliged to pay back to the state government.

Belmont Park’s existing grandstand and clubhouse are to be replaced with a new building, designed to “reflect the evolution” of racing and wagering since the site was last redeveloped in 1968.

In keeping with the declining popularity of racing in New York, the new construction is to be smaller, with the current 1.25 million square foot facility set to be replaced with a 275,000 square foot structure.

According to the NYRA, the new building is to..

May 4, 2023

Buying and selling the future of US sports betting

WagerWire is taking the simple concept of buying and selling bets and aiming to disrupt the US sports betting industry. As it looks to do away with transactional sportsbook experiences, and operators buy into the vision, chief experience officer Travis Geiger tells iGB there’s a new breed of executives ready to take charge.

“From the bettor’s point of view, it’s like StockX or Coinbase,” chief experience officer Travis Geiger says of WagerWire’s core proposition. “We want to be your central hub for all things sports betting. We’re not just trying to sign you up; we’re trying to be a part of your betting journey.”

It’s a big claim, but WagerWire is entirely different from any other US sportsbook. It holds affiliate vendor licences in 16 US states as well as Washington DC, Puerto Rico and Ontario. Not to mention affiliate partnerships with some of the biggest names in the industry – but the core product feels unique to that sector as well.

Want to understand WagerWire? Think StockX, ..

May 3, 2023

Delaware sports betting handle continues to decline in March

Player spending on sports wagering in Delaware fell to a seven-month low in March, although the state was able to report an increase in igaming wagers.

Betting handle for the month amounted to $3.5m, which was 32.7% lower than $5.2m in the same month last year and 14.6% behind the $4.1m wagered in February this year. This was also the lowest monthly total since August 2022.

However, sports wagering revenue was $544,385, only marginally lower than $553,465 in March 2022 and 77.6% higher than $306,573 in February.

Read the full story on iGB North America

May 3, 2023

IBIA received 40 suspicious alerts in Q1 2023

The International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) received 40 suspicious betting alerts across nine sports in the first quarter of 2023.

This was down by 16.6% compared to the alerts IBIA recorded in Q1 2022 and 20% from the previous quarter.

Sport-by-sport, football generated the highest number of alerts at 15, representing 37.5% of the total. Tennis was close behind with 12, representing 30% of the total. Combined, football and tennis made up 67.5% of the alerts in the first quarter.

Table tennis accounted for four of the alerts. Basketball and esports generated two alerts each, while volleyball, boxing and snooker each accounted for one alert.

By continent

A total of 24 alerts took place in Europe. Six took place in Asia, while four took place in Africa. North America and South America accounted for two alerts each.

Two esports alerts were not included in this breakdown as IBIA said it was unclear where the alerts took place.

IBIA noted a particular trend in Spain. Eight..

May 3, 2023

RMG to pay British racecourses £117.6m in rights proceeds

Racecourse Media Group (RMG) has announced it will pay £117.6m (€133.3m/$147.0m) to British racecourses from the sale of their media and data rights in 2022.

Payments were derived from a range of RMG businesses including via betting shops, online bookmaker streams, the Racing TV pay TV channel, international betting, non-betting distribution, the mainstream TV agreement with ITV and data sales.

The payment total represents a 6.9% increase from £110.0m paid out in the previous year.

“The RMG model has once again proved to be resilient and reliable – in the face of significant challenges – producing record results, and performing ahead of expectations,” RMG chairman Roger Lewis said.

“The results are a testimony and tribute to the vision and dedication of those racecourses who came together and stuck together to create, grow and develop the RMG business.”

Lewis will step down from the RMG board this year and will be replaced by former Flutter UK and Ireland chief executive Conor Gra..

May 2, 2023

German regulator classifies DFS as illegal gambling

German regulator Gemeinsamen Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL) has classified “certain forms” of daily fantasy sports (DFS) as illegal gambling in Germany.

The classification occurred after GGL reviewed several forms of DFS, and concluded at a hearing that they could be classified as illegal gambling.

The regulator referred to Germany’s Fourth State Treaty on Gambling, which states that gambling must only be operated with the strict permission of the GGL.

GGL said that a “well-known” DFS provider ceased to operate in Germany after the hearing occured.

Ronald Benter, GGL board member, said that the decision had been made to protect German players from addiction and illegal gambling offerings.

“We find that our decisions are accepted by the providers and implemented promptly,” said Benter. “This protects consumers from illegal offers and the risk of betting and gambling addiction.”

GGL CEO Benjamin Schwanke added that keeping illegal gambling offerings at bay is a joint effort th..

May 2, 2023

Bally’s to outsource tech stack

Land-based and online gaming operator Bally’s Corporation has announced sports betting supplier Kambi and PAM platform solution provider White Hat Gaming will power its sports betting services.

The deal, which consists of both online and land-based offerings, will see the providers supply the technological capabilities for sports betting to the business, as well as support the relaunch of Bally’s online sports betting platform Bally Bet.

The operator said that it expects Bally Bet to roll out across seven states and at four retail gaming locations by the end of 2023. The company further hinted that this may represent only the first stage of a global expansion.

Variable cost structure model

Through these partnerships, Bally’s said it wants to leverage Kambi and White Hat’s “proven” technology integration, licensing across regulated jurisdictions end-to-end, as well as the companies’ track record of executing “quick launches”.

The business said that another factor in why it has chos..

May 2, 2023

RI sports betting revenue up in March despite handle decline

Sports wagering revenue in Rhode Island increased 8.1% year-on-year in March despite the US state reporting a decline in handle.

Players spent $41.5m betting on sports during the month, down 9.4% from $45.8m in March 2022 and also 3.7% lower than the $43.1m wagered in February this year.

Of this total, $30.0m was spent betting online, with the remaining $11.5m wagered at retail facilities at the Twin River and Tiverton Casino locations. Twin River took $6.2m in bets and Tiverton $5.3m.

Read the full story on iGB North America

May 2, 2023

Colorado sports betting revenue up despite handle drop in March

Player spending on sports betting in Colorado declined 2.2% year-on-year in March, although the US state was still able to report an increase in revenue.

Handle for the month amounted to $494.4m, which was down from $505.6m in March 2022 but 16.3% ahead of the $425.1m wagered in February of this year.

Consumers bet $489.9m online during the month, while the remaining $4.5m was wagered at land-based, retail sportsbooks in the state.

Read the full story on iGB North America