Gaming Archives

September 20, 2023

Michigan online gambling revenue rises 13.2% in August

Combined online sports betting and igaming revenue in Michigan increased 13.2% year-on-year to $175.4m (£141.5m/€164.2m) in August, with this total almost level month-on-month.

Gross internet gaming and sports betting receipts from commercial and tribal operators is ahead of $154.9m in August 2022. It is also only slightly below $176.1m worth of online gambling revenue in Michigan in July this year.

Online casino gaming gross receipts hit $152.2m, up 16.3% on last year but behind July’s $153.9m total.

Read the full story on iGB North America

September 19, 2023

GC clashes with Racing Post over coverage of proposed risk checks

The GB Gambling Commission has published an open letter to Racing Post readers in an attempt to “clear up misunderstandings” about the ongoing consultation regarding proposed financial risk checks.

The regulator accused the racing and sports betting publication of providing readers with “imbalanced stories”. Additionally, the Commission said that the newspaper had “refused” to publish a letter from the authority responding to the coverage.

Financial risk checks – also known as affordability checks – have been one of the most contentious topics included in the Gambling Act review white paper since its publication in April.

In response to the letter, Racing Post editor Tom Kerr released a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“We told the GC we were unwilling to publish a letter if it misrepresented disagreements over our coverage as errors of fact,” he wrote.

“That is precisely what this letter does. It simply repeats contentious assertions from the white paper and consultatio..

September 18, 2023

EGBA urges Norway to drop online gambling monopoly

The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) has urged lawmakers in Norway to switch from its current monopoly system to a licensing model for online gambling.

Norway remains one of the last European countries with a state gambling monopoly. Lottery Norsk Tipping has the rights to online casino gaming and sports betting, while Norsk Rikstoto covers horse racing.

However, EGBA says Norway should follow the example of other European markets such as neighbouring Sweden and Finland and make the move to a licensing system. EGBA secretary-general Maarten Haijer said this would help combat issues such as consumers gambling with unlicensed sites.

“The belief that a monopoly model is essential for safer gambling does not align with the current European trend,” Haijer said. “Nearly every other European country has implemented some form of licensing system, successfully prioritising player safety within a regulatory framework that provides clear rules for companies to follow.

“In Norw..

September 18, 2023

DraftKings claims NJ sports betting top spot in August

DraftKings and partner Resorts World led the New Jersey sports wagering market in August, knocking Meadowlands off top spot for the first time since January 2019.

The partnership heralded $56.9m (£45.9m/€53.3m) in August. This was ahead of Meadowlands and partners FanDuel, PointsBet and SuperBook on $25.7m. PointsBet will soon rebrand as Fanatics after the latter completed the acquisition of the PointsBet US business in eight states, including New Jersey.

Total sports betting revenue for the month amounted to $96.0m, representing a 47.1% rise on last year. This was also the sector with the highest percentage of growth in the state in August.

In addition, sports wagering handle in New Jersey hiked 32.7% year-on-year from $546.8m to $725.8m. Of this total, $697.1m was bet online and $28.8m at retail sportsbooks across New Jersey.

Sports betting drives overall market growth in New Jersey

Total gambling revenue in New Jersey hiked 12.9% year-on-year to $531.6m in August. The monthly t..

September 15, 2023

Delaware igaming spend down again in August

Consumer spending on igaming in Delaware fell for the third consecutive month in August, while the state reported year-on-year declines across online gambling and sports betting.

Delaware players wagered $32.4m on igaming during the month. This was 12.0% lower than $36.8m in August 2022 and 11.0% down from $36.4m in July. The figure was also the lowest monthly total since $31.9m was bet in May last year.

Video lottery drew $23.3m of all bets in August and table games $9.2m.

Players won $32.4m, meaning revenue from igaming reached $1.1m. This was 15.4% lower than August 2022 and 8.3% behind July’s total this year.

Revenue from video lottery games amounted to $952,437 and table games $122,089. The remaining $32,607 came from poker rake and fees.

Delaware Park remained the igaming market leader with $488,308 in revenue from $14.1m in total wagers. Bally’s Dover followed with $319,237 off $10.2m, then Harrington Raceway on $299,588 from $8.1m.

RSI cliches igaming contract

This comes..

September 14, 2023

Brazil lower house approves gambling bill

Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies has approved the government’s gambling bill, which regulates both sports betting and online casino.

The passage of the bill marks one of the final hurdles in the long journey to regulate online gambling in Brazil, the 10th largest economy in the world.

Bill 3,626/23 – which will replace the provisional measure (PM) president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva issued in July – was amended several times from the original bill that the rapporteur, deputy Adolfo Viana, presented yesterday.

However, the bill still legalises online casino in addition to sports betting. Betting on fantasy sports will remain illegal due to a specific exemption from the new rules.

deputy adolfo viana presents amended bill

The bill will now head to the Federal Senate, which has 45 days to comment on the bill.

Foreign operators barred from licensing

Unlike the PM, the proposed law excludes foreign companies from offering regulated gambling. Only businesses incorporated under Brazilian ..

September 13, 2023

Online casino included in imminent Brazil gambling regs

Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies is set to vote today on the latest set of sports betting regulations, which leaves in place the high tax regime put in place by the provisional measure (PM), but includes the legislation of online casino.

Bill No 3626/23 amends PM No 1,182 issued by Brazil president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in July. If passed, the law would keep in place the high tax regime brought in by the PM. This will maintain the original 18% tax on gross gambling revenue.

However, commentators previously pointed out that once additional mandatory contributions are accounted for the effective tax rate will run between 31% and 34%.

On top of this, the law will impose a 30% tax on prizes won over R$2,112 (£342/€398/$427).

the bill keeps in place the high tax regime imposed in lula’s provisional measure

The maintenance of the high tax rates no doubt will be a blow to Brazil’s gaming industry. The sector largely responded negatively to the original PM, with many criticising the tax r..

September 8, 2023

LeoVegas breaks ground with BetMGM UK

The news that BetMGM would be launching in the UK gave its gambling market a much-needed shake. But it was the fact that LeoVegas, not Entain, would be MGM’s launch partner that really set the conversation alight. Gustaf Hagman, CEO of LeoVegas, believes his company is more than ready to take on the challenge.

To say the journey to the launch of BetMGM UK has been complex would be an understatement.

To the uninitiated, an established US-facing brand – a joint venture of two industry giants – has managed to implant itself into the UK market.

But peeling back the layers reveals a different story. BetMGM’s US offering is a joint venture shared between MGM and Entain. But the launch of BetMGM UK doesn’t include Entain at all.

Instead LeoVegas, which was acquired by MGM Resorts last year for $604m, will power BetMGM’s new UK platform. This means that BetMGM UK will be competing directly against Entain’s UK brands, which include the likes of Ladbrokes, Coral and Gala.

Despite the enormi..

September 1, 2023

Ontario: The state of play

More than a year on from the regulation of the Ontario gaming sector, gambling businesses have each adapted to the market in their own way. But how can operators stand out from the crowd in North America’s most competitive market?

With every gold rush comes the prospectors.

In the 16 months following the regulation of the gaming sector in Ontario, gambling operators of all shapes and sizes have thrown the dice to get a slice of the biggest and most dynamic market in North America.

Those involved range from former grey market players trying to make the regulated transition, the big European operators, media brands which have grown a betting wing and land-based companies trying to get in on the action – plus everything in between.

The landscape

Ontario has become an incredibly competitive market, with iGaming Ontario recording 46 companies operating 71 brands as of Q1 2023.

However, one trend to note is its diversity. This is especially striking when compared to the US which, butt..

August 23, 2023

Michigan online gambling revenue tops $176m in July

Combined online sports betting and casino revenue in Michigan increased 18.8% year-on-year to $176.1m (£138.8m/€162.7m) in July, while the state also reported a month-on-month rise.

Gross receipts were comfortably ahead of $148.2m in July 2022 and also 4.0% more than $169.3m in June this year. The total also halted three consecutive months of decline in Michigan.

Online casino gaming gross receipts reached $153.6m in July, up 21.3% on last year and 1.7% ahead of June’s total.

Gross sports betting receipts were 4.2% higher year-on-year at $22.5m and 23.0% more than in June. This was despite handle falling 10.8% from $225.0m in July 2022 to $200.8m, with spend also 11.9% lower than in June.

July adjusted gross receipts up 17.8%

In terms of adjusted gross receipts, which account for promotional spending, Michigan also reported growth.

Combined igaming and sports betting adjusted gross receipts amounted to $154.6m. This was 17.8% ahead of last year and 5.8% higher than June’s total…

August 22, 2023

Delaware igaming wagers continue to decline in July

Delaware reported year-on-year declines across online casino and sports betting spend in July, while player wagers on igaming in the state fell to a calendar-year low of $36.4m.

The total amount wagered in July was 7.6% lower than wagers in July 2022 and also 4.0% less than in June this year.

Players spent $24.6m playing online video lottery games and a further $11.8m on internet table games.

Online casino revenue amounted to $1.2m in July. This was 5.6% behind July last year but 7.3% higher than June 2023.

Video lottery games generated $915,640 in revenue and table games $221,187. The other $44,861 came from poker rake and fees.

Delaware Park took top spot in the igaming market with $475,192 in revenue from $16.9m in bets. Bally’s Dover was second on $363,047 from $9.8m, then Harrington Raceway with $343,449 from $9.7m.

Sports betting revenue and wagers down

Looking at sports betting, monthly handle for the market reached $2.3m. This was down 14.8% from $2.7m last year and 23.3..

August 21, 2023

Australia launches national self-exclusion register BetStop

The Australian government has today (21 August) announced the launch of the country’s new national self-exclusion register, BetStop.

Players can self-exclude from gambling for a minimum of three months and for as long as their lifetime. BetStop covers all licensed interactive wagering service providers in Australia, including online and telephone-based operators.

Operators must block self-excluded players from opening account and cannot accept any bets from these customers. Licensees must also ensure they do not send any marketing materials to those on the register.

In addition, operators are required to promote BetStop including on their websites and apps, as well as in marketing material sent to customers.

BetStop completes National Consumer Protection Framework for Online Wagering

The launch of BetStop has been a long time coming, with plans to launch a register announced in June 2022. Today’s launch is in line with a timetable set out by the government last month.

BetStop m..

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Tag: Gaming