Betting News Archives

October 25, 2023

ATG bucks the Swedish market with big rise in profits

Aktiebolaget Trav och Galopp (ATG) has welcomed a double-digit rise in operating profit despite challenging conditions that have caused the Swedish market to stall.

In a trading update for the three months to 30 September 2023, the state-owned betting business said net gaming revenue was up 4.5% to SEK1.35bn from SEK1.29bn last year. The second highest figure for a third quarter in ATG’s history came despite the Swedish market stalling in H1.

Total revenue for the three-month period was at SEK1.53bn, which was up 3.0% year-on-year. Net gaming revenue for racing was up by just over 1.8% to SEK1.02bn. Sports betting was also up slightly from SEK151m to SEK159m.

The group made an operating profit of SEK497m, which was up 13.7% year-on-year. The increase was in part down to a 3% reduction in operating expenses to SEK761m. ATG said the savings came from cutbacks in marketing and consultancy costs.

Economic concerns

“We’re growing revenue – net gaming revenue in the third quarter is his..

October 25, 2023

A force to be reckoned with

There’s an element of fun to the niche sports Pro League Network (PLN) presented to regulators. But don’t doubt its impact, or PLN’s ability to harvest player attention, writes Cole Rush.

“It’s okay to laugh.”

That’s what Bill Yucatonis, co-founder of PLN tells regulators when he presents niche sports for potential wagering.

“We’re going to talk about mini golf today,” Yucatonis tells them. “It’s okay to laugh.”

With PLN, it’s all fun and games. There’s a serious side, sure – we’re talking about carefully constructed alternative sporting leagues, after all. But Yucatonis and his team don’t shy away from the lightheartedness that permeates PLN sports.

Yucatonis and his partner and co-founder Mike Salvaris concocted PLN almost two years ago. With backgrounds in the gaming and sports industry, they set out to bring “alternative sports” into the mainstream.

“We’ve got 16 leagues in our network and we’re growing,” says Yucatonis. “We look for sports that have some viral components and..

October 25, 2023

Arizona sports betting spend surpasses $358m in August

Consumers in Arizona spent more than $358.0m betting on sports in August, while operators in the state posted more than $30.0m in total revenue.

Total spend in Arizona amounted to $358.9m. This was marginally lower than the $361.0m bet in August 2022 but 11.1% ahead of $323.2m in July this year.

Arizona bettors wagered $354.6m betting on sports online and a further $3.4m at retail locations across the state.

Player winnings stood at $327.2m, resulting in $30.9m in adjusted gross event wagering receipts before free bets. The latter is 10.7% lower than in August last year and includes $30.2m from online betting and $606,731 retail.

Free bets exceed $9.4m in Arizona in August

Reporting the figure, the Arizona Department of Gaming also noted the impact of free bets and promotional credits. These hit $9.5m in August, compared to $8.5m in the same month last year, with almost all coming from online betting.

When taking these free bets off, adjusted gross event wagering receipts reached..

October 25, 2023

Michigan: online casino jump offsets sports betting dip in September

Online gambling revenue in Michigan increased year-on-year during September, with growth in internet casino offsetting a decline in the sports betting segment.

Gross internet gaming and sports betting receipts from commercial and tribal operators hit $210.4m in September. This is 19.2% higher than $176.5m in Michigan last year and also 20.0% ahead of $175.4m in August this year.

Online casino remains the primary source of igaming revenue in Michigan. Gross receipts in this segment amounted to $166.4m, up 29.3% on last year.

In contrast, sports betting gross receipts slipped 8.0% to $44.0m for the month. This is despite handle increasing by 25.6% to $457.7m.

Michigan adjusted gross gaming receipts exceed $168m in September

When accounting for promotional spending, adjusted gross receipts from igaming and sports betting combined was $168.5m. This is 17.8% more than September 2022 and 10.1% ahead of August this year.

Online casino adjusted gross receipts in Michigan in September rea..

October 25, 2023

LiveScore Group’s Sam Sadi builds his media empire

LiveScore Group aims to become the world's leading sports media operator, and sports betting is just the start. Chief executive Sam Sadi explains the masterplan.

“I remember the days when we used to press F5 to refresh the LiveScore.com website. That’s how long back it was,” says LiveScore Group chief executive Sam Sadi.

LiveScore launched in 1998, offering visitors football scores. Gamesys acquired the business in 2017 and, following that operator’s £490m sale to Jackpotjoy Group and then the £2.0bn merger with Bally’s Corporation, LiveScore Group stands alone as an independent business led by Sadi.

LiveScore turns 25 today, starting out providing live match data to players in 1998

The LiveScore Bet sportsbook launched in 2020, complementing the affiliate arm, not to mention its second brand, Virgin Bet. But Sadi isn’t only interested in building a sports betting business.

“We have a plan we’re implementing,” he explains. “You could call it a ten-to twenty-year plan. We i..

October 24, 2023

HKJC aims to expand World Pool after strong 2023

The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) said it is looking to further expand its World Pool offering for UK and Ireland races after generating HK$4.7bn ($600m/€566m/£490m) in turnover during 2023.

Some 19 races featured this year in this year’s World Pool UK and Ireland offering, including the Lockinge, the Irish Derby and the Sun Chariot for the first time.

The overall total was marginally down on 2022’s figure of HK$4.9bn, but still significantly up on the 2021 figure of HK3.9bn.

Meanwhile, prize money won across the 131 World Pool races in the UK and Ireland this year was at a record high of £32m. In the UK and Ireland, the international pari-mutuel pool is accessed via the Tote, at racecourses, online and via the Tote App.

Michael Fitzsimons, executive director of wagering products at the HKJC,  said: “We are really pleased with how World Pool has been received in the UK and Ireland again this year and the turnover figures look strong against a challenging economic backdrop.

“There a..

October 24, 2023

Kentuckians wager $250m on sports since opening

Andy Beshear, the governor of Kentucky has said that close to $250m (£204.0m/€234.8m) has been wagered in the state since sports betting went live.

Beshear made the comment on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“Nearly $250 million has been wagered in Kentucky since sports betting went live,” Beshear wrote. “It took many years and a lot of hard work to get here, but we got it done!

“And now those dollars are staying in our commonwealth to make this a better place to call home for all our families.”

Kentucky’s sports betting market opened in two parts. Retail sports betting opened on 7 September, followed by online sports betting on 28 September.

Long road to sports betting success

The journey to a legal sports wagering market in Kentucky has been long and winding. Beshear authorised sports betting in the Bluegrass state with the signing of House Bill 551 in April this year.

The bill approved nine racetracks to be operational for on-site retail sports betting, with each track eligibl..

October 23, 2023

GAN Sports set for Nevada entry

GAN is set to launch its sportsbook services in Nevada after being granted regulatory approval by state authorities.

The North American B2B gambling technology provider – whose board is considering its sale – said it will commence field trial operations of its GAN Sports betting platform with its Nevada customers after the platform is certified and approved.

It expects to launch in the coming months, with the platform to serve both mobile applications and retail sports betting.

Seamus McGill, chairman and interim chief executive, said: “We are very pleased and humbled to have received regulatory approval from the State of Nevada to hold a gaming licence. We are excited that we will be launching our leading-edge GAN Sports product in Nevada in the next few months.

“The Las Vegas Locals market is one of the largest and most recognisable gaming markets in the world and we are incredibly excited to be entering it.

“This is the third state where our B2B sports betting technology and ..

October 20, 2023

Delaware sports betting handle hits eight-month high in September

Players in Delaware spent $7.6m betting on sports in September, the highest total in eight months, while igaming wagers also increased.

Sports betting handle was down 14.6% from $8.9m in September 2022. However, the figure was up 216.7% from $2.4m in August 2023 and was the highest total in in Delaware since January.

It was a similar story for revenue, which at $958,547 was down 65.6% year-on-year but up 208.9% from August.

Delaware Park remains the sports betting market leader with $130,379 in revenue off a $1.9m handle.

Bally’s Dover ranked second with revenue of $71,880 from $1.0m in bets. The Harrington Raceway posted $30,707 in revenue and a $434,662 handle, while a further $725,583 in revenue came from $4.3m in bets at retailers.

Delaware igaming revenue dips despite higher spending

Turning to igaming and spending increased 3.4% from last year to $39.3m. This figure was also 21.3% higher than August and the largest monthly total since May. Of this total, $22.3m was wagered ..

October 20, 2023

Eight in ten Spaniards gambled in 2022

An annual report compiled by CeJuego, Spain's Gaming Business Council, found that 83.9% of the Spanish population aged 18-75 participated in gambling in 2022.

The percentage represents 29.5 million people.

The report is based on CeJuego’s Game and Society survey, which studies the gambling habits of adults in Spain. The 2023 edition found that although Spanish adults participate in gambling, they tend to take part in low-risk games that don’t promise a high reward.

The survey found that 23.3 million people played national lotteries, ONCE games or La Quinela.

A total of 17.9% of Spaniards play games offered in casinos, gaming halls and bingo halls, and take part in sports betting. This equates to 6.3 million people. The report emphasised that this is far below, for example, the number who said they go to the theatre in their leisure time – 24.5%.

However, this is higher than those who said they take part in painting at 16.1% and almost double the percentage of people who play..

October 20, 2023

Superbook Sports launches online sportsbook in Virginia

Las Vegas-based sports wagering business SuperBook Sports has announced the launch of its online sportsbook product in Virginia.

Players in Virginia can download the SuperBook Sports app and place bets on a wide range of sports and competitions. The app is accompanied by a SuperBook Sports website.

Betting options include major US sports contests such as the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL. Users can also bet on college sports and other leading events from around the world including soccer’s English Premier League.

“We couldn’t be happier with our continued growth,” SuperBook Sports CEO and managing partner Mark Lipparelli said. “We’re thrilled to be live in Virginia. We feel confident that we have a great product with a strong history that will become a fast favourite of sports bettors in the region.

“Sports fans in the region can find all their favourite teams and get in the action with some of the best sports traditions in the country.”

SuperBook Sports continues to expand in the US

Lau..

October 20, 2023

Red card for double standards

The Guardian recently reported on the bizarre scenario of football club owners in the UK being allowed to place bets on football matches… while their employees are banned from doing likewise. This raises a ton of questions, writes Jon Bruford. Like how? Why? And who knew?

The story, which emerged in late September, has seen the governing body (the Football Association, or FA) accused of double standards after hanging Brentford player and diagnosed gambling addict, Ivan Toney, out to dry. This followed breaches of the player code of conduct.

Ironically, Matthew Benham, owner of Brentford FC, was named as one of the gamblers. The story states: “Benham is one of a select few multimillionaire club owners who enjoy an opaque arrangement with the FA that allows them to be involved in betting. The Guardian has seen evidence that appears to show that Benham has made money from bets on football placed in his own name, via a UK-based gambling syndicate called MSPP Admin. Benham said he abides ..

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