Author: Kyle Miller

Summary: After the December online gambling totals were tallied in New Jersey, the state was able to surpass the $1 billion mark in lifetime revenues.

New Jersey continues to be the top operating state when it comes to online gambling. Offering online casino, poker and now sports betting, the state continues to be the top producer when it comes to revenues earned as well as wagers placed. Top brands operate in the region and help to solidify large numbers month after month by way of revenues. The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement has now released the December 2018 totals, with the state having finally reached a new milestone, earning over $1 billion in lifetime revenues since starting in 2013.

December Totals:

For the month, the state was able to earn over $29 million via casino and poker online gaming. They surpassed their previous monthly record amount by over $2 million. The state continues to hit records when it comes to online gaming revenues. With the numbers being so large for the month, it allowed the state to finally surpass the $1 billion mark when it comes to overall lifetime earnings.

In total, the state has brought in $1,013,752,368 in revenues. Online gambling came in at just over $29 million, the highest monthly total ever since the industry launched in 2013. For online casino gaming, revenues came in at just over $27.2 million, which was also a record setting amount.

Add in the poker gaming numbers and the state was able to surpass the $25 million mark for the fourth month in a row. When compared to 2017, the state was up almost 40% with year-on-year revenues.

Individual Breakdown

Every month, there are operators who outdo the others in the online gaming industry. Time and time again, the Golden Nugget holds the number one position, easily outpacing the competition. For December, the Golden Nugget, was the first to earn an eight figure earning, bringing in just over $10.1 million. This is the most ever earned in a single month by an operator.

Not to fall too far behind, the number two operator usually is the Borgata and they were again in December. The brand was able to reach a new milestone for the month, finally surpassing the $5 million mark. The Borgata continues to do well, but remains millions behind the Golden Nugget regarding monthly earnings.

Caesars and Resorts were up to over $4 million for the month, while the Tropicana continued to struggle, sitting around the $3 million mark in earnings. Online poker remains a low earner for the state, but December did see the industry up for the first time in several months. Total online poker revenues came in at $1.7 million.

When reviewing the overall totals, the online gambling industry of the state was up 4.2% from November and a whopping 39.75% from December 2017. For online casino gaming, the state was up 3.9% from November and 44.8% from the previous December. Online poker saw the highest monthly jump, increasing by just over 9% but surprisingly, this was a decline from December 2017, by about 8.9%.

Overall, online gabling continues to be strong in New Jersey and is showing no signs of slowing down. It will be interesting to see how they fare in 2019 and if the industry continues to break their own records month after month.

Summary: After legalizing sports betting last year, West Virginia is now going to consider online gambling as Representative Shawn Fluharty introduces a new bill.

In 2018, the state of West Virginia decided to legalize sports betting, following in the footsteps of several other individual states in the US. This year, the state is now going to consider online poker and casino gaming, as Representative Shawn Fluharty formally introduced a new bill this week. Fluharty was part of the sports betting push and seems to be using that momentum to see iGaming come to fruition in the state.

Understanding the New Bill

The new bill has information listed within that provides details for the new online gaming industry. A licensing fee would be set at $50,000 with gross gaming revenues taxes set at 14%. Any of the gaming facilities located in the state will be able to get started offering services. Currently, there are five gaming facilities in the state: Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, Wheeling Island Hotel, Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack and Resort, Mardi Gras Casino and Resort as well as The Casino Club at The Greenbrier.

Sports betting is currently overseen by the West Virginia Lottery Commission and the group would be put in charge of online gaming as well. For the state, this is the third time in three years that legislation has been introduced. Last year, similar legislation was unable to move forward, but now that sports betting has been legalized, the opportunity may be there for online gaming to be approved.

The state has launched online sports betting with the BetLucky app, so after seeing the success of this app, lawmakers may be more open to passing online gaming legislation for additional revenues in the state.

Joining a Small Club

If West Virginia was able to pass an online gambling bill, they would become the fifth state in the US to legalize online poker and/or casino gaming. New Jersey, Delaware and Nevada have offered services since 2013, with the first two states providing both online poker and casino games while Nevada has solely been focused on online poker games.

Pennsylvania passed legislation in 2017 and 2018 was basically a setting up phase. The state spent the year working on creating regulations and licensing operators. This year, the state should launch their online gaming sites, but no date has been provided for launch.

Other states may use 2019 as a way to bring online gaming within their borders. Michigan came so close to passing iGaming last year, with a bill gaining full support in the state. However, Governor Rick Snyder decided to veto the measure, which has caused lawmakers to start over with legislative efforts. Representative Brandt Iden already has plans to introduce new legislation so that players can access online gaming as soon as possible.

The changes made by the United States Supreme Court in May of last year regarding sports betting, when the Professional & Amateur Sports Protection Act was struck down, has paved the way for change across the nation. As states begin to look at sports betting legislation, they are also open to other additions within the gambling industry including online casino games, as well as poker. It will be interesting to watch and see how the bill moves forward in West Virginia and if any other states introduce legislation in the coming weeks, months.

Summary: Senator Joseph Addabbo has introduced a new online poker bill in New York State.

It seems like it has been forever since an online poker or casino bill has been introduced in the United States. For months now, all eyes have been focused on sports betting. State after state have been creating legislation that will be considered to get started in the new industry. Thankfully, this week, we have seen a senator in New York State decide to introduce legislation involving online poker gaming.

Senate Bill 18

Senator Joseph Addabbo formally introduced Senate Bill 18 this week, seeking to legalize online poker in New York. The bill sits within the Senate Committee on Racing, Gaming and Wagering, a committee in which Addabbo is a member.

The bill is quite similar to legislation that was introduced in the past, seeking to authorize poker only and not focus on sports betting application or online casino gaming. The state is expected to consider sports betting in the future, possibly within discussions of the state budget.

The new bill would see operators of online poker gaming paying a one time fee of $10 million for licensing. A 15% tax rate would be set on gross gaming revenues with 11 licenses up for grabs. Once the law is passed and in effect, the state would have six months to establish regulations for the new industry.

Operators who are eligible to apply for licensing include those who have a license for video lottery gaming as well as a Class III license for gaming.

Will They Succeed in 2019?

Year after year, lawmakers in New York have continued to shoot down any possibility for online poker gaming in the state. Going back as far as 2013, the state saw online poker gaming included in the state budget only to see the idea fail to move forward. A bill was passed in 2016 in the Senate as well as one in 2017, only to be unable to move forward within the Assembly.

Surprisingly, not a single online poker bill has been able to make it to the Assembly floor for a vote. However, this year might be the exception. Assemblyman Gary Pretlow, a lawmaker who has been vocal on online gaming in the past, and is in support of online poker and reportedly is prioritizing his efforts to see it come to pass this year.

Even though he is in favor of online poker gaming, Pretlow is more in favor of sports betting. He even told Online Poker Report late last year that he would give up trying to see online poker come to pass if it meant that sports betting would move forward.

Now, it seems that it will all come down to what is wanted more, online poker or sports betting. It seems the state would be open to both options and lawmakers could create a omnibus package that would allow for both options and even more, like online casino games. However, the state has been unable to see any legislation move forward involving gambling expansions, so lawmakers may be iffy about creating legislation covering several aspects.

Only time will tell what will come of the Senator’s new online poker bill. Hopefully, the measure will be able to move out of committee and venture further within the legal system. All eyes will be on the state, as well as several others, as gambling efforts continue to emerge across the United States.

Summary: iGaming was approved in the state of Pennsylvania in late 2017, with 2018 used to get regulations and licensing in order. Will operations begin in 2019?

It seems like Pennsylvania lawmakers approved online gaming ages ago and residents of the state have been patiently waiting to see when gaming will get started. With the gaming package approving online gaming taking place in 2017, it was expected that 2018 would be the year for online options to get started. However, regulations and licensing took some time, so now we wait to see if 2019 will finally be the year.

Licensing Delay

In early 2018, the application process for interactive gaming licensing opened up, yet operators seemed leery to apply. In the beginning, operators had to purchase each license, once for online poker, online table games and slot games at a price of $10 million. After a short time frame, operators were open to purchasing individual licenses but the price went up to $4 million each.

Operators finally began applying for online gaming licensing and the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board got busy reviewing the applications. One would think that this process would be sped up in order to see the industry begin, but that is not the case. In general, the Board seemed to only approve around two applications per month.

The Board would take one monthly meeting to decide on which application would be reviewed and if approval was given. This meant that operators would slowly find out if they were approved. As of this month, all operators who have applied for online gaming have been approved, except for the Presque Isle Casino, as the venue is awaiting approval for sports betting.

The casinos of the state who have been approved for online poker, online slots and table games along with sports betting include:

• Harrah’s Casino
• Hollywood Casino
• Parx Casino
• SugarHouse Casino
• Valley Forge Casino

Additional casinos applied and were approved for varying categories, opting out of certain offerings including online poker and sports betting. Casinos with minimal approvals include:

• Mohegan Sun (Table,Slots)
• Mount Airy (Table, Poker, Slots)
• Presque Isle (Table, Slots)
• Rivers Casino (Sports)
• Stadium Casino (Table, Slots)

Creating Partnerships in 2018

Last year was spent by land-based casino operators working to create partnerships with companies to set up online operations. With each operator, they are allowed to partner with several interactive platforms. The only restriction is with sports betting as they are limited to one brand per license.

As operators set up their online gaming sites, they have the option to choose an established third-party brand or hire a supplier or developer to create a native platform.

An example of what operators are choosing to do lies within the Harrah’s Philadelphia partnerships. The casino has decided to partner with two companies for online gaming, 888 Holdings and Scientific Games. For sports betting, the company will be working with Scientific Games. The owner of the casino, Caesars Entertainment, has partnered with 888 for some time, working with the brand in New Jersey, Nevada and Delaware. This partnership in Pennsylvania helps the two brands to extend their reach into a new market.

Other operators who have been approved for online gaming as well as sports betting have made similar partnership deals to be ready to launch services. This year, we wait to see when each company will launch their online services. As of yet, there have been no dates revealed, so there is no idea as to what when online gaming sites will go live in Pennsylvania. We will stay tuned and update as any new information is provided.

Summary: Daily Fantasy Sports operator DraftKings is becoming an all-around gambling operator, having recently launched online casino games via the New Jersey sportsbook.

Sports betting continues to grow in the United States, with more and more states becoming involved in the industry. Casinos, sports teams and other stakeholders are seeing the benefits of sports betting from every angle. Daily fantasy sports operator DraftKings was one of the first to begin offering sports betting services, quickly benefiting from the real money gaming option. The company launched a sportsbook online in the state of New Jersey and just a short time ago, decided to add online casino games to the mix.

A Well-Rounded Offering

The DraftKings Sportsbook now offers not only sports betting options, but they also provide casino games including blackjack, video poker, roulette, and the slot games Wheel of Fortune and Cleopatra. The slot machine selection may be small, but the games will give players a nice option for additional gaming when visiting the online casino and placing sports bets.

With the DraftKings casino games, the options are listed right in the sports betting application, which makes it easy for players to take part. In the beginning, the provider launched only blackjack, making the game available just before the Christmas holiday. The response to the product was a good one so the provider decided to offer even more with the additional gaming selection.

According to the Chief Revenue Officer and Co-Founder of DraftKings, Matt Kalish, the company is creating a one-stop destination for skin-in-the-game American sports fans. The new games are simply an early preview as to what the company plans to offer regarding online gaming products this year.

DraftKings began as a daily fantasy sports betting company and quickly rose to fame as a top provider of the contest option. Their only competitor was FanDuel and they both did quite well in gaining a stronghold on the DFS industry. With their sports knowledge, the company quickly began working on offering a sports betting product, once it became legal to do so in the United States.

The decision has been a smart one as the company has been able to make deals in several states. New Jersey was an obvious choice as the state led the charge when it came to sports betting expanding in the US. The company now has their sights on West Virginia and are currently operating land-based business in Mississippi and of course, New Jersey.

The company also be operating in Pennsylvania in the future as the state is preparing to begin allowing online casino and poker gaming as well as legalized sports betting. It is unknown as to if the company has a partner in the state, as they have yet to make any such announcement.

Expanding Industry

As sports betting continues to grow in the US, it will not be uncommon to see such offerings combined with sports wagering services. Gaming is big business and most gaming operators want to offer as much as they can. As operators began to get started with sports betting, particularly online, it will not be farfetched to see others join the DraftKings bandwagon and provide online casino gaming content along with the sports wagering options.

It will certainly be interesting to see if DraftKings has success with their casino games and if players spend equal time playing the online games as well as placing sports wagers.

Summary: Representative Brandt Iden is not happy with the outcome of his online gambling package, still unsure as to why the Michigan Governor decided to veto the bills.

Online gambling has been in the works for the state of Michigan for around four years now with efforts finally seeing a legislative package that had the chance to become law. Representative Brandt Iden worked tirelessly on a set of online gambling bills, taking on the responsibility of sponsor, pushing other lawmakers to get on board.

The state was able to see an online gambling bill package pass within the House and Senate, only to be shut down by Governor Rick Snyder, who choose to veto the bill as he prepared to leave office.

Snyder Goes Out With a Bang

Governor Synder will not be retaking his place as Governor of the state and decided to use his last decisions in the position to veto the online gambling package. Now, the state will be set back at least one more year as they try to work on legislation that will allow for online casino and poker games, sports betting and more.

In speaking with Online Poker Report, Iden stated that the veto pen was out for the entire package and he is disappointed with the outcome. The Rep. had no idea that the veto was coming, as stakeholders were in support and any concerns about online gaming had been eliminated. For lawmakers in the state, online gaming was basically a done deal and they expected that the governor would sign his name on the dotted line.

According to the Rep. Iden, the office of the governor supplied reasons for the veto which included concerns about how online gaming would impact revenues within the state-run lottery. Concerns also include an overall expansion of the gambling industry for the state.

Iden now has plans to reintroduce the bills when the new legislative session begins next month. Along with his original plans, the Rep. also will be focusing to see the state become involved in the sports betting industry.

Protecting the Lottery

According to Iden, a big reason behind the veto was to protect the lottery, which is run by the state. A portion of lottery revenues go towards public schools in Michigan, with the money much-needed for educational purposes.

In defense of online gaming, Iden pointed out that other states have been successful with their lottery gaming despite offering online gaming as well. New Jersey is one such example that the Rep. pointed out. The state has seen lottery revenues actually increase with online gambling.

However, it must be considered that Michigan already offers online lottery gaming and there is no state to compare to when considering online lottery games and online casino and/or poker games.

As far as calling the changes a gambling expansion, Rep. Iden sees the changes as a new platform instead of expanding. The state already has 23 tribal casinos in operation and commercial gaming venues. With online casino and poker gaming, players will have a new platform to access that only accentuates the existing offerings.

For now, Michigan lawmakers like Iden will have to start over and hope that support remains so that legislation can become law in 2019, allowing for online gaming to take place, plus sports betting too. All eyes will be on Michigan as efforts renew to see the iGaming industry come to fruition within the state.

Summary: Switching from DFS to sports betting, DraftKings is making a name for themselves in the United States as a top provider of services via casinos.

DraftKings has been known for years as a top provider of Daily Fantasy Sports. The brand has helped players enjoy fantasy sports contests, providing prizes and fun in states across the US. When sports betting became a reality in the early summer, the brand decided to expand their business and offer sports betting services. The operations have been a success as DraftKings have been able to secure partnerships with top operators in the industry. Most recently, the company has announced a new deal with Penn National.

West Virginia Sports Betting

DraftKings has signed a partnership deal with Penn National, set to launch online sports betting via the Hollywood Casino, a venue located at Charles Town Races in West Virginia. According to a press release, DraftKings will be providing a ‘superior and engaging online sports betting experience’. This offering will include live and in-game betting, wagering on major US sports as well as niche international options.

Penn National is the operator behind the West Virginia casino but they also operate the Hollywood Casino located at the Penn National Race Course in Pennsylvania. Now that the WV casino is set to launch sports betting online, analysts are wondering if DraftKings will launch online at the Pennsylvania venue as well.

Conflicting Partnerships

In Pennsylvania, Penn National has partnered with William Hill to offer sports betting within their casino. The brand is the owner of the Hollywood Casino as well as the Meadows Casino. While the Hollywood has sports betting licensing and is offering services, the Meadows has not applied for such licensing as of yet.

Penn National is also working with William Hill to launch sports betting in West Virginia. The company announced the land-based services in conjunction with the brand at the Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races. It seems that Penn National is relying on William Hill for their onsite sports betting services and are looking to use DraftKings for their online options.

It is interesting to consider, particularly since William Hill also operates online sports betting services, internationally, and has vast experience when it comes to such services. It seems that Penn National has decided to stick clos to home when it comes to online gaming and work with DraftKings, however, no information has been revealed as to if the company will be providing online services in Pennsylvania for Penn National as of yet.

While DraftKings is known for their daily fantasy sports offering, they are making headway in the sports betting industry. The company was the first to launch an online sportsbook in the state of New Jersey, launching before any of the established casinos got their services off the ground.

Revenue reports provided by the state’s Division of Gaming Enforcement have shown that DraftKings is the top performer when it comes to sports betting in the region. For last month, DraftKings, along with Resorts Casino and BetStars, their partner companies, were able to generate over $7.1 million in revenues. The majority of that number came from DraftKings.

It will be interesting to see how DraftKings fares when services start online in West Virginia. We expect additional partnerships will continue for the company in other states as they continue to build a stronghold in the sports betting industry.

Summary: As casinos try to gain the attention of the millennial generation, are virtual reality games the wave of the future?

Over the past few years, casino operators have realized that gaming tastes of consumers has changed. For decades, players have been happy with traditional table games and slots but now, as technology has changed rapidly and continues to change, consumers want more. Because we use technology on a daily basis, younger consumers are not attracted to the classic style of casino gaming. For a few years, casinos focused their efforts on adding an element of skill to game play. Now, it seems casinos are shifting gears and looking into virtual reality as a way to bring in gamers to their venues.

Virtual Reality

Several companies are working on virtual reality technology to be able to attract the younger audience to the casino venues. Such companies as International Game Technology have developed virtual reality options where money can be wagered during game play. At IGT, booths known as Virtual Zone are being offered to allow players to try VR games that feature archery theming. The company wants to provide fresh content for consumers as the gambling habits of players are changing.

Back in the spring, the company added VR booths to two casinos in the Las Vegas area to see how well players responded to the offering. The feedback was mixed. The product is now being refined to meet the needs of players.

Caesars Fan Zone

Caesars Entertainment Corp is taking a different approach to the player experience, including VR in the mix. The company launched what they are calling Fan Caves back in October to allow players to have a more social experience at the casino. Each cave can house as many as ten people, offers several television screens, VR gaming and more.

Players can kick back and relax with friends, play VR games or just enjoy drinks and food. The goal is to create and interactive experience where players can be social and enjoy a variety of gaming options. Today’s patrons want to be more involved with technical aspects when it comes to gaming, with a more interactive experience. With Caesars new offering, players can easily find a spot to hang out and enjoy gaming at the same time.

The mindset of casinos online and offline will have to change especially as technology continues to evolve. Think about the 30 to 20-year-old consumer group. These individuals have been able to access mobile technology, computers and video games. Traditional slots and table games like blackjack and craps seem minimal and do not offer as much excitement as other types of gaming content.

For casinos to be successful in the future and gain a stronghold with the younger generations and consumers going forward over the next few decades, changes will have to be made by way of what is presented for entertainment. Currently, casinos are focused on skill games and virtual reality. While traditional games will still be a staple at casinos, the venues will have to offer something new and exciting to keep players interested.

Gaming companies will still create new cabinets that feature slots or tables with games like craps and baccarat, but new elements may be included to offer a flashier way to play. Companies like IGT will continue to look for new and innovative ways to present gambling games that will be accepted by players of the younger generation, implementing skill as well as mobile aspects along the way.

Summary: As online gambling becomes even closer to becoming a reality in Michigan, the state prepares to bring more jobs to the region along with other benefits.

As sports betting has taken center stage in the United States, online gambling has taken a step back. States are more focused on passing legislation involving sports wagering instead of focusing on online casino and poker gaming. However, last week, Michigan brought online gaming back to the forefront by passing an online gambling bill during the final hours of their legislative session.

The bill just needs to be signed by Governor Rick Snyder and sports betting will become law. It is very likely that the bill will become law, which will see Michigan become the 5th state in the US to legalize the online option.

What’s to Come?

If sports betting is legalized, then Michigan expects to see similar earnings to that of New Jersey. The state of New Jersey has been the most successful when compared to Delaware and Nevada, as they are the top earner each and every month.

Victor Strategies Executive Vice President Gene Johnson recently spoke with Online Poker Report discussing the incoming sports betting industry for Michigan. Johnson stated that online gaming has generated close to $1 billion over the first three years of operation. Michigan should see similar benefits, according to the analyst.

Because New Jersey was one of the first to launch online gaming, other states can benefit from their struggles. Michigan can avoid early on issues and benefit from learning what New Jersey went through and making the appropriate changes or decisions with their operations.

Online gambling will not only provide options for players but it will also boost the land-based gaming industry of the state. Jobs will be created, which will benefit residents of the state who need employment. According to a paper titled Economic Impact of New Jersey Online Gaming: Lessons Learned, co-authored by Johnson, the new industry will bring jobs to Michigan.

The paper reported that just over 3,300 jobs were created in New Jersey due to online ambling and employee wages came in at just over $218 million. The numbers include info from 2014 to 2016, with the paper produced in 2017.

Ready for Gaming

Residents of Michigan are certainly ready for gaming. In the region, there are only a few options for land-based casinos, with three commercial casinos located in Detroit. There are tribal venues in the state, but of course no online options. With online gaming in place, Michigan residents would be able to access gaming from any region in the state. Visitors as well, as long as they are located within the borders of the state.

In New Jersey, Delaware and Nevada, there are top iGaming operators in business, including such companies as Caesars Entertainment Corp., 888 Holdings, PokerStars, WSOP, Golden Nugget and more. Such operators should have the opportunity to take vie for licensing to offer services in the state once online gaming is passed into law.

We imagine that as 2019 begins, such operators will begin to apply for licensing or seek partnerships with the gaming venues of the state. We should see a mix of operators working with commercial as well as tribal venues to begin online operations. The New Year will certainly be exciting as we get to see just how Michigan will be implementing their new online gaming industry.

Summary: This week, Betfair Casino and FanDuel Sportsbook linked their two apps for a shared wallet, providing players with access to casino and sports bets with one seamless payment option.

Online gamblers usually like to take part in several gaming options. At an online casino, players have access to slots, table games and more. Most operators who offer online casino games also dabble in other areas such as sports book, poker and even bingo. To help provide players with seamless access, the operator will provide one wallet for all operations. This means that players can use the money they deposit for table games in the casino, for placing sports bets or playing poker in the poker room. Just this week, it was announced that Betfair Casino in New Jersey and the FanDuel Sportsbook have linked their apps to offer one wallet for their members.

Sports Bets and Casino Gaming

The linking of the two applications took place quietly this week, allowing players to use their deposited funds within the online casino of Betfair or the sportsbook of FanDuel. The shared wallet will make it easy for players to access both options without having to log into a separate wallet for wagering.

Both brands operate under the FanDuel Group. With the linking, players will need to log in with their username and password. The apps are still separate but players will use the same log in details for both applications. A new log in does not need to be created for players to take part in both gaming options.

Customers of the FanDuel Sportsbook now have access to hundreds of casino games where real money can be wagered. Once an account has been created via FanDuel, players will need to deposit funds. There are several methods on offer for depositing. Online bank transfer, wire transfer, credit card, debit card, PayPal, PayNearMe, FanDuel prepaid card and cash at the counter or check can be used.

Once the wallet has funds, players can place sports wagers or play casino games from the same amount of cash. Players of FanDuel now have access to a special deal at Betfair Casino. Games can be played risk-free with up to $100 provided to new members on their first day.

After placing the first real money wager, net losses from the first 24 hours will be given at the casino as a credit, worth up to $100. The deal is only good for new players at the casino.

Operating Under Paddy Power Betfair

The parent company of FanDuel and Betfair is Paddy Power Betfair. The company took over operations of FanDuel back in July, with PPB now having access to sports betting operations, daily fantasy sports and TVG of the brand.

FanDuel has been quite busy in New Jersey, working quickly to offer sports betting after it was legalized in the state. In mid-July, the sportsbook began offering wagering options at the Meadowlands Racetrack, with the application for online gaming launching on the 1st of September. The brand has done quite well in the sports betting sector, having earned $4.4 million in November, this strongest month so far.

Now that the wallet of FanDuel has been combined with Betfair Casino in the state, the brand should see even more earnings fairly quickly. Online casino fans will see promos for the sportsbook and be prompted to place a wager. It will not be surprising to see totals increase in the coming months as players have a more seamless experience with Betfair and FanDuel operations.