This week’s State of the Union, in partnership with Segev LLP, includes the highest-profile betting-related suspension in US sports since the repeal of PASPA, as well as another bill to legalise igaming in New York and a lawsuit to block a tribal ballot measure for California sports betting.
NFL star Ridley suspended for season after betting on games
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley has been suspended by the National Football League (NFL) for betting on league matches during the 2021 season.
The suspension will run until at least the conclusion of the 2022 NFL season.
Second New York igaming bill introduced in Assembly
A new bill to legalise interactive casino gaming in New York has been introduced to the state’s Assembly, joining a previous Senate proposal.
The legislation – A09436 – describes interactive gaming as wagers on casino-style games, made through virtual or electronic means from a location within New York state, is transmitted to and accepted by electronic equipment located at a licensed gaming facility.
California cardrooms file lawsuit against tribal sports betting initiative
Two cardrooms, Hollywood Park Casino and Cal-Pac Rancho Cordova, have filed a lawsuit challenging an initiative that would legalize sports betting in California and allow tribal owned casinos to sue cardrooms.
The suit was filed at the Los Angeles Superior Court.
Oregon online sports betting handle reaches $39.5m in February
Players in Oregon wagered $39.5m (£30.0m/€35.8m) on sports online during February, while gross gaming revenue from sports betting reached $3.3m for the month.
The amount spent during February was 33.5% higher than in the same month last year but 7.9% behind the record $42.9m set in January of this year.
New Yorkers spend $1.54bn on internet sports betting in February
Consumers in New York staked a total of $1.54bn (£1.17bn/€1.42bn) on internet sports betting in February, while gross gaming revenue from online wagering reached $91.7m.
The amount bet during the period from 31 January to 27 February, which included the Super Bowl, was 5.5% lower than the $1.63bn spent in the opening 23 days of the state’s legal market.
Betfred expands US presence with sports betting launch in Arizona
The Betfred USA Sports division of Betfred Group has launched mobile sports betting in the state of Arizona through a partnership with tribal facility the We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort.
Players in Arizona can now download the Betfred Sports-branded app and place pre-event and in-play bets on a wide range of professional and college sports competitions.
NHL signs OLG’s Proline+ as first Canadian sportsbook partner
Proline+, the sports betting brand of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG), has become the first sportsbook partner of the National Hockey League (NHL) in Canada.
Under the multi-year deal, OLG will becomes an official NHL sports betting partner on both its Proline+ digital sports wagering platform and the new Proline product at retail lottery outlets across the Ontario province.
Caesars relaunches mobile sports betting in Illinois
Caesars Entertainment has announced the relaunch of its mobile sports betting application in Illinois following the state’s permanent switch to remote registration.
The Caesars Sportsbook was already active in Illinois, but will now relaunch using its own Liberty platform, acquired when the business bought William Hill, with consumers able to download the app and place bets from anywhere in the state.
Arizona falls just short of $500m sports betting handle in December
Players in Arizona bet a record $499.2m on sports in December 2021, though gross revenue fell 23.1% month-on-month.
Wagering was up 7.0% month-on-month from $466.7m in November, with the state’s handle split $494.5m for online bets and $4.7m at retail sportsbooks.
Missouri sports wagering bills advance to committees
A number of new bills that would authorize sports wagering in Missouri have progressed in the state legislature.
Senate Bills 643, 1046 and 1061 are all currently pending the Senate Appropriations Committee after being referred there during their last hearings.
BetMGM rolls out online sports betting in Illinois
BetMGM has further extended its reach in the US market by announcing the launch of its mobile sports betting app in the state of Illinois.
Consumers in the state can access BetMGM’s online sports wagering platform to place pre-game, live in-play, futures and parlay wagers on a range of sports leagues and events.
Rhode Island sports betting handle hits $58.6m in January
Consumers in Rhode Island spent $58.6m on sports betting in January, the second-highest monthly total since legalization in November 2018.
The January figure was 47.2% higher than the $39.8m wagered in the same month last year and 6.7% more than $58.6m in December 2021. The total was also just short of the $60.2m record set in October of last year.
Bojoko secures Michigan and West Virginia licenses
Online gambling affiliate brand Bojoko has strengthened its position in the US after securing new licenses in Michigan and West Virginia.
Players in both states will be able to use Bojoko to browse and choose from licensed online casinos in each state.
Internet Vikings continues US expansion with Indiana launch
Swedish igaming hosting business Internet Vikings has further extended its reach in the US market by launching in the state of Indiana.
Internet Vikings went live with its data center in the state during the fourth quarter of last year, and as Indiana does not require the business to hold a license to operate in the state, Internet Vikings has now commenced hosting service operations.
BetMGM scores NHL MVP Connor McDavid as latest brand ambassador
BetMGM has signed Connor McDavid, captain of National Hockey League (NHL) team the Edmonton Oilers, as its latest brand ambassador.
McDavid becomes the first active professional athlete from the four North American major sports leagues to join BetMGM as a brand ambassador and will now feature in the operator’s marketing campaigns, promotions, social media content and fan events.
Bill proposes increasing US slot tax threshold to $5,000
The US Congress is to consider a new bill that proposes increasing the country’s current slot tax threshold from $1,200 to $5,000.
Introduced yesterday (March 3), House Bill 6937 has been passed to the House Committee on Ways and Means, with sponsors hoping to amend a law that has been in place since 1977.
Virginia smashes sports betting handle record in January
Consumers in Virginia wagered a total of $485.5m on sports during January, a new monthly record for the US state.
The January figure surpassed the previous record of $427.3m set in October of last year by 13.6% and was also 13.8% higher than $426.6m in December.