This week’s State of the Union, in partnership with Segev LLP, covers William Hill’s partnership with CBS Sports, a blow for fantasy operators in New York and a twist in Maine’s push for legal betting. Elsewhere, states including New Jersey, Indiana and Iowa have released their latest sports betting revenue figures.
William Hill strikes sports betting deal with broadcaster CBS
Bookmaker William Hill has entered into a wide-ranging sports betting partnership with the CBS Sports division of US television network CBS.
Under the strategic agreement, William Hill will serve as the official sportsbook and wagering data provider across all CBS Sports platforms.
The new partnership will begin in March with initial integrations on CBS Sports digital platforms, with a full rollout planned for the fantasy football season.
CBS Sports will be able to utilize William Hill’s odds, experts and more than 140 sportsbooks to enhance its current digital offerings, with the aim of delivering deeper information and programming, and further engaging bettors and fans.
NY appeals court rules DFS contests unconstitutional
A New York State appeals court has struck down a law allowing for daily fantasy sports in the state, ruling the games to be illegal gambling.
The ruling came as part of a lawsuit from four plaintiffs – Jennifer White, Katherine West, Charlotte Wellins and Anne Remington, who said they had been harmed by gambling – against a law passed by the New York State Legislature in 2016.
The law stated that Interactive Fantasy Sports (IFS) such as those provided by FanDuel and DraftKings would not be considered gambling, which is currently illegal in New York outside of casinos, permitted state lotteries and charitable contests.
Maine Senate overrides Governor veto on sports betting bill
Maine’s Senate has voted to override Governor Janet Mills’ veto of a bill that would legalise sports betting in the state, with the legislation now set to move forward and become law.
The Senate voted 20-10 in favour of the measure when asked the question: “Shall this Bill become a law notwithstanding the objections of the Governor?” The bill will now be put to a vote in Maine’s House, where it is expected to pass.
Mills vetoed Legislative Document 553 last month, arguing that the people of Maine are not ready for sports betting. Though she praised the bill’s intention in bringing sports betting away from the black market, she did not believe such a bill at this time was the will of the people of her state.
New Jersey sets sports betting revenue record in January
Licensed operators in New Jersey generated $53.6m in sports betting revenue in January, representing a new monthly record for the state.
January revenue comfortably surpassed the previous record of $46.4m that was set in October of last year, while the monthly total was also up by 185.2% year-on-year from $18.8m in January 2019.
Players wagered a total of $540.1m on sports last month, which was 40.0% up from January 2019. Much of this wagering was done over the internet, with the state’s online handle standing at $471.1m, compared to retail at $69.9m.
IN sportsbooks post another record month for January
Indiana sportsbooks set new records in handle and revenue for January 2020, even as online betting revenue dipped.
Sportsbooks in the Hoosier state took in $12.9m in revenue, up 7.3% from December 2019, on a handle of $170.8m, up 5.6%. The new record high in handle means that players in Indiana have bet more on sports with every month since the market opened on 1 September.
The state made $1.2m from betting tax in January, which also represents a new monthly record.
Iowa sportsbook revenue rises to $3.2m in January
Iowa casinos took in $3.2m in revenue in January, an 11.4% year-on-year increase, despite handle declining 2.1% to $58.0m as lower success of retail punters offset a weak online win rate.
The improvement in revenue came mostly thanks to success from retail sportsbooks, which took in $1.9m, up 76.3% from December 2019. This increase came in spite of retail handling declining 6.3% to $24.2m.
NY sportsbooks bounce back in January with $1.9m in revenue
Sports wagering revenue from New York’s four commercial casinos picked up significantly in January 2020, with revenue of $1.9M, more than double the record-low figure posted in December 2019.
Rush Street’s Rivers Casino and Resort in Schenectady, the closest in-state sports wagering location to New York City, retook its spot as the largest source of sports wagering revenue in the state, with its Kambi-powered sportsbook bringing in $778,997, up 149.8% month-on-month.
Delaware sports betting revenue reaches $1.5m in January
The Delaware Lottery has revealed a 5.5% year-on-year rise in sports betting revenue for January, despite an overall decline in player spending.
Collective revenue from the three licensed operators in the state amounted to $1.5m in January 2020, compared to $1.4m in the same month last year.
West Virginia sports betting revenue hits $2.2m in January
Licensed gambling operators in the state of West Virginia generated a collective $2.2m in sports wagering revenue in January, with mobile the most popular form of betting for consumers.
Players spent a total of $35.4m on sports betting during the four weeks through to January 25, 2020, winning $32.9m in the process.
Wyoming to consider online sports betting bill
Lawmakers in Wyoming are to assess a new bill that aims to legalize online and mobile sports wagering in the US state.
Sponsored by Representative Tom Walters and Senator Ogden Driskill, House Bill 0225 was introduced in the Wyoming House yesterday (February 12).
Penn National Gaming lands partnership with Nascar
Casino operator Penn National Gaming (PNG) has agreed a multi-year deal to become an authorized gaming partner of stock car racing series Nascar in the US.
The agreement, which represents PNG’s first partnership with a professional sports league, will center around a new, free-to-play mobile game that offers players the chance to win a $50,000 jackpot every race.
FanDuel and Fox Bet score partnerships with XFL
Sports betting operator Fox Bet and Flutter Entertainment-owned FanDuel have both agreed partnerships with the XFL, the new football league that will begin its inaugural season this weekend.
Fox Bet, the joint venture between The Stars Group and broadcaster Fox Sports, will become an authorized gaming operator of the league, with FanDuel named the league’s official daily fantasy sports partner.
Circa Sports set for Colorado sports betting launch with Century
Las Vegas-based sports betting brand Circa Sports has joined forces with casino operator Century Casinos to launch online sports wagering services in the state of Colorado.
Under the 15-year agreement, Circa Sports intends to roll out its mobile sports betting application in the state, in association with one of Century’s Colorado Master Licenses for sports wagering.
PNG net income declines despite revenue increase in 2019
Penn National Gaming (PNG) has reported a 53.1% year-on-year decline in net income for 2019 despite reporting a 47.8% increase in revenue for the year.
Total revenue for the 12 months to 31 December 2019 amounted to $5.30bn, up from $3.59bn in the previous year following PNG’s acquisition in 2018 of Pinnacle Entertainment, a transaction that expanded the company’s portfolio by a further 40 sites.
BetMakers pens NJ fixed-odds horse racing deal
Online wagering solutions provider BetMakers has agreed a deal with the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen Association and Darby Development, operator of Monmouth Park racetrack, to deliver and manage fixed-odds horse racing into the state.
The 10-year exclusive agreement, which represents the first of its kind in the US, will also see BetMakers distribute Monmouth Park racing content in other parts of the US and around the world.
Amelco scores tribal sports betting deal with Atlantis Gaming
Sports betting software and trading services provider Amelco has agreed a new strategic partnership with Atlantis Gaming Corporation (AGC) to produce a fully serviced sportsbook offering for 450 tribal casinos across 28 states in the US.
The agreement covers the development of a turnkey solution for sportsbook operations across retail, mobile, online and self-service sports betting, pursuant to Tribal Gaming Network’s approval to operate across its jurisdictions.
Hard Rock Casino launches live slots
Hard Rock Casino has launched live slot games on its website in partnership with Softweave, in what the operator said is an industry first.
The slots take place through streams from Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City in New Jersey and are available to play at HardRockCasino.com. Gaming technology provider Softweave will power the live slots.