sports betting | BestUSCasinos.org

MyBookie Bets Screenshot What does a sports bettor do if there are no actual sports to bet on?

While the thought of sports being “canceled” in the US seemed nearly impossible two weeks ago, that’s all changed with the rapid spreading coronavirus outbreak.

Just 9 days ago, Darren Rovell with the Action Network even predicted that all 50 states would officially make sports betting legal. His prediction came on the heels of several states, including Illinois and Michigan, legally green lighting sports betting.

The first major professional sports league to suspend play was the NBA after a player contracted the virus. Soon after, the NHL and MLB followed suit, with the most recent NCAA even canceling their March Madness tournament, a highly-anticipated event for bettors everywhere this time of year.

With the global pandemic heavy in play, it wasn’t too long until Las Vegas, the gambling mecca of the world, shut down their casinos for 30 days following a mandate given by Nevada Gov. Sisolak. And other casinos across the country have temporarily shut their doors, too.

So what does that leave a sports bettor to do? No sports. No casinos. But top bookies are saying “no problem” and choosing to get creative with their line offerings instead.

This creative spectrum of wagers is ranging from weather predictions, politics, Tom Brady’s future, celebrity dead pools and more. Let’s take a look at the unique lines being offered by some of our top bookies at BestUSCasinos.org.

Bovada

Trending betting opportunities at the popular online sportsbook Bovada this week asked what the weather would look like in several different states: “What will be the maximum temperature in Dallas, Texas on March 19?”

The winner said “Under 79 Degrees Fahrenheit, ” choosing to go under -155 as opposed to +155.

Bovada Bets Screenshot

Photo: Bovada Screenshot

“The severity of what’s going on in the world right now, it’s bombarding us,” said Pat Morrow, head oddsmaker at Bovada. “You can’t really flip away from cable news. You can’t have your usual distractions. So we figured: What else are people talking about? What else are people engaging with? Hopefully this could be our own way to provide distraction.”

Bovada also offers political wagers, which seem to be quite popular among bettors. Right now, political wagers are weighing the winnings odds between Republican and Democratic candidates, and the 2020 US Presidential Election Winner.

US Presidential Election 2020 – Democratic Candidate

Democratic Candidate

Joe Biden -2000
Hillary Clinton +1400
Bernie Sanders +2500
Michelle Obama +5000
Tulsi Gabbard +20000

US Presidential Election 2020 – Republican Candidate

Republican Candidate

Donald Trump -2000
Mike Pence +1600
Nikki Haley +3000
Mitt Romney +8000
Paul Ryan +10000
Ben Sasse +15000
John Kasich +15000
William (Bill) Weld +15000
All wagers have action. More upon request.

US Presidential Election 2020 – Odds To Win

2020 US Presidential Election Winner

Donald Trump -105
Joe Biden -105
Bernie Sanders +4000
Mike Pence +5000
Hillary Clinton +8000
Nikki Haley +10000
Michelle Obama +20000
Tulsi Gabbard +50000

Data taken from Bovada

BetOnline

Tom Brady has been a hot topic of discussion during the 2020 offseason, especially amid the sport suspensions.

On BetOnline, popular lines featuring Tom Brady are focusing on his total interceptions, passing yards, and TD passes during the 2020 regular season.

BetOnline Bets Screenshot

Photo: BetOnline Screenshot

MyBookie

Keeping in line with its motto, “Bet on Anything. Anywhere. At any time.” the online sportsbook has been offering a wide variety of unique bets, including U.S. politics, Trump, and celebrity dead pools.

One wager is having bettors place odds on “who will play the next James Bond.”

MyBookie Bets Screenshot

Photo: MyBookie Screenshot

Some Sportsbooks Are Staying in Their Lanes

While it isn’t illegal to bet on politics or other creative forms of non-sports event wagers in the US, some sportsbooks are decidedly sticking strictly to sports.

“Any offerings in Nevada are still sports based and horse racing,” said Vinny Magliulo of the Vegas-based sports betting network VSiN. “With Nevada casinos closed, the only way to bet on a limited menu (Australian Rules Football & Rugby, Turkish Super LIG Soccer, MLB Pennants & World Series & Super Bowl Futures, some later in the year boxing) is on the mobile apps within Nevada.”

Bets are Still Happening in the Midst of the Coronavirus Outbreak

Futures betting for offseason leagues are still on, like the MLB and NFL. Esports is also expected to rise up during this period of shutdown, should they remain to hold non-spectator events. Virtual horse-racing is also available on some platforms.

Other online sportsbooks are even betting on which league will come back from the crisis first.

For professional sports bettors wanting to keep their bets focused on sports, they’re turning to International markets like Mexican soccer, Turkish soccer, and Serbian soccer to get their bet fixings in.

Other professional bettors are shifting focus to smaller Esports league. NFL futures, and some UFC games.

While these creative betting handles aren’t replacing the NBA or March Madness, they’re still beneficial to bettors and give them something to fill the temporary void of not being able to place American sports bets.

Which one of these bets would you be willing to wager on? The weather? Tom Brady’s future? Or who the next James Bond will be?

There’s still a lot to stay busy with during this season of sports shutdown.

Happy wagering!

Posted on March 10, 2020

Gambling Laws, news

A New Gambling Bill in Missouri Has Been Introduced

By James Murray

Missouri has a unique set of gambling regulations. Recently, a large number of illegal gambling machines have begun appearing around the state. As a result, a new gambling bill in Missouri was just introduced. Slot Machines Inside A Casino

It’s an interesting development. Missouri is now one of many states currently working to revamp its gambling industry. Today, we’re going to take a look at what exactly is being proposed.

Missouri’s Gambling Laws, Explained

Missouri is considered to have fairly liberal laws towards the gambling industry. Throughout the 1800s, the state had a large and successful gaming market. Eventually, harsh regulations were placed on this industry and gambling venues were forced to go underground.

In 1980, the state began allowing bingo gambling. About a decade later, a law was passed here to allow riverboat casinos. Many of these venues quickly began operating in the state.

Poker laws here are a little unusual. Technically, social poker games are allowed in private residences. Those charging to host poker games or playing with people you are not familiar with is actually against the law.

Generally, though, lawmakers in this state are open to the gambling industry. There are many online casinos in Missouri available that are growing more popular every single day.

Several bills have been introduced here to legalize sports betting. Some feel that 2020 is the year that officials finally decide to start regulating this form of gambling.

A rise in illegal gambling machines is being found in this state. Now, lawmakers have proposed a new set of bills to combat this issue.

What Does The New Gambling Bill in Missouri Allow For?

Missouri still isn’t thought of as a gambling hub. Recently, law enforcement officials here have discovered a rise in electronic gambling machines throughout the state. A new gambling bill in Missouri was introduced that’s intended to help increase legal gambling revenue.

This bill, called Senate Bill 566, allows for state-regulated video gambling machines to become available in fraternal and veterans’ organizations, truck stops and retail locations with liquor licenses. Only those above the age of 21 would be allowed to play. The State Lottery Commission would be in charge of monitoring these machines.

Not everyone is on board with these new regulations, though. Senator John Rizzo has expressed his fear that this will have a negative impact on children.

“I don’t want a kid to walk in a gas station to get a Gatorade and have to walk past three or four of these machines,” he said.

The proponents of this bill believe that legalizing these machines will offer a serious benefit. Local areas where these gambling machines are available will also profit, they argue. It’s still unclear how the Senate and House will rule on these proposed regulations.

The Push For Sports Betting Continues in Missouri

Sports betting is now legal and regulated in more than 20 states across the country. This is all thanks to PASPA, which the Supreme Court struck down in May of 2018. In most states with regulated sports gambling, a huge amount of revenue is being made through taxes.

More and more states are beginning to see the potential in this industry. New Jersey, for example, is now one of the sports betting hubs of the United States.

Back in 2018, a bill was introduced to legalize sports gambling in Missouri. Unfortunately, it failed to make it past the legislative session. More attempts were made last year, to no avail. Many now believe that 2020 is the year this industry is finally allowed in the state.

One new gambling bill in Missouri that calls for the legalization of sports betting is now making its way to the Senate. The bill, called H 2318, seems very likely to be approved. Several major politicians have already endorsed it.

It’s an exciting time for gambling fans here. Before long, several new forms of gambling may become available here.

Posted on March 2, 2020

Casino, news

Poarch Creek Tribe Wants to Build New Alabama Casinos

By James Murray

Lawmakers in Alabama are currently working to gain more revenue from the gambling industry. This week, the Poarch Creek tribe revealed plans for two brand new Alabama casinos in the town of Huntsville. State officials are now taking a closer look at these casino plans. Alabama

Many states are currently revamping their casino regulations. Alabama may be the next to add several new gambling venues. Today, we’re going to take a look at what the Poarch Creek tribe has planned.

Let’s get into it!

Alabama’s Gambling Laws, Explained

For many years, Alabama had some of the strictest gambling laws in the country. Officials here made it illegal to partake in almost any form of gambling. In the late 1980s, things began to change in this state.

In 1988, the Supreme Court passed the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. This made it legal for Native American tribes to operate land-based casinos on sovereign land. Before long, several tribes in Alabama began pushing to open new gambling venues.

Today, there are several tribal casinos spread around the state. Most of them are hugely popular with locals and tourists from nearby states. No commercial casinos are allowed to operate here. It seems unlikely that any commercial casinos will be approved here in the near future.

Alabama still has not passed any laws to allow sports betting. Back in April of 2019, a 44-page bill was introduced here that would allow for wagering on professional and college sports. Lawmakers here are still waiting on approval for this bill.

Tribes in Alabama continue to push for new gambling venues. The Poarch Creek tribe has just presented a set of plans to open two new Alabama casinos.

Plans to Open New Alabama Casinos Are Presented

Over the past few years, several tribes in Alabama have presented plans to open new casinos. Many tribal leaders feel these additional gambling venues will help to bring the state millions of dollars in additional revenue every year. That’s the argument that the Poarch Creek tribe is making with their new casino plans.

This week, leaders of the tribe presented plans to open two new Alabama casinos in Huntsville. The tribe claims it will funnel $1 billion into these new venues. Not everyone feels this is the fairest option, though.

Alabama Senator Gerald Dial believes that a bidding process for any new casinos needs to take place.

“Once you pass a constitutional amendment, you can’t say the Poarch Creek Indians get the casino. You’ve got to have a process where you give anyone an opportunity. If someone from Las Vegas wanted to build one in Huntsville, they’d have the same opportunities,” he said.

Some are also concerned about a monopoly-like situation forming right now. The Poarch Creek tribe already operates several casinos in the state. Lawmakers want to ensure that the industry stays competitive for other tribes here.

It’s still unclear whether or not these new Alabama casinos will open up. The Poarch Creek tribe is certainly pushing hard.

A New Sports Betting Bill is Presented in Alabama

As we already mentioned, Alabama does not currently allow sports betting. That may change soon, though. This week, a new sports betting bill was presented to the state and some feel that 2020 is the year this industry finally opens up here.

Members of Alabama’s House of Representatives are now set to review this new legislation. If approved, land-based and online sports wagering will be approved. The bill, called HB 336, also details the tax structure set in place.

It’s extremely exciting news for sports fans here. Many believe that Alabama could become one of the country’s next major sports gambling hubs. Whether or not that’s true remains to be seen.

Several nearby states are looking into sports gambling legislation, as well. That includes Georgia, which is known for having some extremely strict laws towards gambling.

Many states in the Southern US are beginning to expand their gambling industries. Soon, several new Alabama casinos may open here.

Stay tuned for updates on this situation over the next few months!

Posted on February 24, 2020

Gambling Laws, news, Virginia

Virginia’s Gambling Industry is Ready to Expand

By Nickolas Branson

Over the past few months, lawmakers in Virginia have discussed plans to allow commercial casinos and sports betting. It’s a huge change, as in the past, very few forms of gambling were allowed here. Today, we’re going to look at how Virginia’s gambling industry could expand over the next few months. West Virginia

It’s an exciting time for both casino gambling and sports betting fans in the state. There’s a lot scheduled to come here over the next couple of months.

Bill to Allow Commercial Casinos Advances in Virginia

State officials in Virginia have discussed plans to allow casino gambling for years. In 2013, a push was made to start allowing riverboat casinos here. It was nearly approved, yet ultimately failed in the State Senate.

Gambling proponents haven’t given up, though. Many politicians here have continued to push for the legalization of land-based casinos. These gambling venues will help to bring the state millions of dollars, officials argue.

Finally, it appears these casinos may be on their way. In November, a bill to allow commercial casinos in Virginia was approved by a Senate Subcommittee. Lawmakers here are now reviewing this bill to see how it will impact the state.

Before this can be done, several steps need to be taken. The bill still needs to gain approval from the Senate and House. Eventually, residents in Virginia will need to approve the new casino plans, as well.

Virginia’s gambling industry is set to expand soon. This week, several experts began to raise concerns about problem gambling in the state.

Virginia Residents Warn About the Dangers of Gambling Addiction

There are several reasons why Virginia has been so anti-gambling over the years. Lawmakers here have been very concerned about the dangers that this industry poses on society. With Virginia’s gambling industry set to expand, several experts in the state have once again begun warning about the dangers of gambling addiction.

Billy Hoffman, a former gambling addict and current member of Gamblers Anonymous, spoke about the dangers of this new industry. He claims that unlike most substance addiction, gambling offers a sense of hope. Dr. Carolyn Hawley, the president of the problem gambling council in Virginia, spoke about these issues, as well.

“As we’ve seen those markets expand, we’re seeing more people reporting those problems,” she said. “We have to have those discussions and a comprehensive plan in place, because there are some people who develop significant problems. And that hurts the individual. It hurts their families. It hurts their communities.”

Several lawmakers in the state recognize the dangers of this new industry. Fortunately, they have a huge number of other states to ask for guidance. Many states around the country have recently begun to expand their casino and sports gambling laws.

There are certainly more pros than cons when it comes to the gambling industry. Virginia will likely soon begin earning millions of dollars a month in the form of gambling taxes. This is especially true if the state decides to allow sports gambling.

Will Virginia’s Gambling Industry Include Sports Betting?

Since May of 2018, every state in the country has the ability to legalize sports betting. This is thanks to the Supreme Court striking down PASPA. Since that time, 21 states have officially decided to legalize and regulate sports gambling.

Many of these states are now earning a huge amount of money from the industry. New Jersey, in particular, is bringing in an incredible amount of revenue from taxing the state’s legal sports betting operators. Virginia lawmakers seem to recognize this and seem ready to embrace the sports gambling industry.

The state’s sports betting bills recently passed through the Virginia General Assembly. Under this bill, Virginia’s Lottery Board will take control of sports betting regulation. Hope is that the state’s sports betting options are available before the end of the year.

Lawmakers seem to recognize that it’s time for Virginia’s gambling industry to grow. Many states around the country are choosing to earn more money from their gaming markets every month.

It’s still unclear exactly when the first casinos will begin operating here. Several Native American tribes have recently begun presenting plans to open casinos in different parts of the state. In time, Virginia may become one of the East Coast’s gambling hubs.

Stay tuned for more Virginia gambling news over the next few months!

Posted on February 17, 2020

Casino, news

A New Glendale Casino is Opening to the Public This Week

By Nickolas Branson

Arizona’s casino industry continues to expand. On Wednesday, a brand new Glendale casino officially opens its doors to the public. Based on several reports, this will be one of the best new gaming venues in the state. Desert Diamond Casino West Valley

There’s a lot happening here. Several lawmakers continue the push to have sports betting legalized in Arizona. Today, we’re going to talk about what this new casino has to offer and look at the road to make sports betting legal here.

Arizona’s Gambling Laws, Explained

Today, Arizona has a large and highly successful casino industry. This wasn’t always the case, though. Just a few decades ago, this state banned almost all forms of gambling.

In 1988, the Supreme Court passed the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. This allows Native American tribes throughout the country to operate gambling venues on sovereign land. Not long after this law was passed, tribes in Arizona began requesting permission to open casinos.

Unfortunately, lawmakers here didn’t make things easy. Politicians began fighting the tribes in court, arguing they had no right to open casinos under state law. This legal battle lasted for five years and finally, tribes were granted permission to operate casinos.

There are now a huge number of gambling venues spread all around the state. All of these casinos are operated by tribes. They help to bring in millions of dollars to the state every single year through taxes.

A brand new Glendale casino is opening up this week. Here’s what it has to offer!

New Glendale Casino Finally Opens on Wednesday

As we’ve already mentioned, there are a huge number of fantastic casino gaming options available in Arizona right now. On Wednesday, another is opening up. The Desert Diamond Casino West Valley officially opens to the public and gambling fans have a lot to look forward to.

Construction on this venue first started in 2017. It’s now a 1.2 million-square-foot facility that features a massive range of different gambling options.

Gamblers here can choose from 1,100 slot machines, 36 poker tables, 48 blackjack tables, five different restaurants, and a VIP lounge. This makes it one of the biggest casinos in the state. The Talking Stick Resort & Casino in Scottsdale, for example, offers only 900 slot machines.

It’s operated by the Tohono O’odham Nation, who believe this will be an extremely popular gambling venue. Treena Parvello, director of Government Relations and Communications for the nation, commented on the opening of the new Glendale casino to the media this week.

“This has been a long time coming,” she said. “We’re excited to finally unveil the next phase for this unique amenity in the West Valley, which is creating jobs and opportunities. This would not have been possible without the leadership of the Tohono O’odham Nation, and the guidance of the Enterprise Management Board.”

The ribbon-cutting ceremony officially begins at 8 pm on Wednesday. Tribal leaders expect a huge turnout for opening day. Hopefully, venues like this one can soon begin offering sports betting options.

When Will Sports Betting Be Allowed in Arizona?

This is the million-dollar question. In May of 2018, PASPA was officially struck down. This instantly gave every state in the country the ability to legalize sports betting. In the past, only Nevada was legally allowed to offer sports betting options.

Today, 21 states now have regulated sports betting options. Many more have bills being reviewed to open their sports betting markets. Arizona is one of the states currently looking into legislation to legalize sports gambling.

Several lawmakers presented HB 1158 to legalize sports betting in 2019. It failed to get approved before the end of the year. That isn’t stopping this push, though.

The main issue with bill 1158 was that it went against tribal rules. It seems that State Senators are now looking for an amendment that allows sports betting to be done throughout the state. Many analysts believe that 2020 is the year that sports betting becomes available here.

This state’s gambling industry is still growing. A new Glendale casino is opening this week and more will likely be constructed in the near future.

Stay tuned for more Arizona casino news over the next few months!

Posted on February 16, 2020

Arkansas, Casino, news

Cherokee Nation Reveals Study on New Russellville Casino

By Nickolas Branson

Arkansas’ casino industry is growing rapidly. Since 2018, Class III gambling venues have been able to operate here. The state’s Native American tribes have been preparing to open new casinos in the state ever since. This week, the Cherokee Nation revealed a new study that shows how much revenue the new Russellville casino will generate. Arkansas

It’s a great time to be a casino fan in Arkansas. Several new gaming venues are scheduled to open here over the next few years. Today, we’re going to look at how much money a casino-resort in Russellville could generate.

Let’s get into it!

Arkansas Finally Expands Its Gambling Industry

Arkansas hasn’t always been a gambling hub. In fact, most traditional forms of gambling were banned here until fairly recently. Finally, in 2018, lawmakers in this state decided it was time to make a change.

A bill was passed that year that allows four Class III casinos to open in the state. These venues will be operated by Native American tribes. Not long after this bill was passed, tribes began coming up with casino plans.

Arkansas also now allows sports betting. In July of 2019, the first legal sports wager was placed here.

There are now several popular gaming venues in this state. One that’s beginning to generate serious revenue is the Southland Casino. Recently, this casino began offering its first sports betting options just in time for the Super Bowl.

More casinos are scheduled to open here over the next few years. The Cherokee Nation has worked hard to have plans for a new Russellville casino approved. This week, the tribe released information about how much revenue this new casino could generate for the state.

The New Russellville Casino Will Generate Billions

Arkansas is shaping up to be a major new casino market. All of the casinos that open here are likely to be successful. According to the Cherokee Nation, the new Russellville casino will be a serious revenue generator.

The tribe released a study that indicates this casino will generate billions of dollars. An economic impact of more than $3 billion is expected over the first 10 years of operating. This study was made by the Economic Impact Group, which used information from six different counties to form these statistics.

Chuck Garrett, CEO of Cherokee Nation Businesses, commented on the report to the media this week.

“In forming our plans for Legends Resort & Casino, we turned to a network of experts to help us understand how this project would impact the region’s economy,” he said. “It was fitting for us to engage this research through Dr. Russell Evans and EIG who are already very familiar with current CNB operations.”

The study also claims that more than 1,700 jobs will become available once the casino is up and running. Lawmakers are likely to see these figures and should give the green light to begin construction within a couple of months.

Casinos Already Generate Millions in Tax Money for Arkansas

Most analysts predicted that Arkansas would become a hot casino market. These predictions seem to be correct. Since casinos began opening here, revenue from this industry has been skyrocketing.

In October of 2019, a revenue record was set. Casinos in the state brought in an incredible $554.4 million. That beat the state’s forecast by $36.8 million. With sports betting now up and running, revenue earnings are increasing even more.

The new Russellville casino will be a major revenue generator for the state, as well. If the estimates are correct, it will bring in billions to the state within a decade.

As of now, only four casinos are allowed to open here. That may change in the future. As time goes now, state officials may decide to allow more gambling venues to start operating.

We’ll need to wait for the state to approve the Cherokee Nation’s new gaming venue. Stay tuned for updates over the next few months!

Posted on February 10, 2020

Casino, New York, news

Revenue From Upstate NY Casinos is Slowly Increasing

By Nickolas Branson

Over the past couple of years, New York lawmakers have worked hard to expand their casino industry. Unfortunately, revenue from Upstate NY casinos failed to increase for months. New reports indicate that in 2019, things began to turn around for casinos in the Upstate area.

Lawmakers in this state are looking to earn more money from the gambling industry. More gaming options may soon become available here. Today, we’re going to look at how the Upstate casinos performed in 2019.

New York’s Expanded Casino Laws, Explained

For decades, New York was considered a very anti-gambling state. Lawmakers here implemented a blanket ban on casinos back in the late 1800s. Despite laws against it, many small, illegal gambling venues continued to operate in the state.

Eventually, state officials began allowing horse race wagering. In the 1950s, lawmakers decided to legalize bingo and five years later, opened a state lottery. It wasn’t until the late 1980s that officials began looking at the possibility of legalizing casino gambling.

In 1989, the Supreme Court passed the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. This set of laws made it legal for Native American tribes to operate casinos on sovereign land. Not long after this bill was approved, New York began allowing the state’s tribes to run gambling venues.

In 2013, lawmakers completely changed their stance and decided to officially legalize commercial casinos. Since that time, several of these gambling venues have opened up, most of which are in the Upstate area. Unfortunately, revenue from Upstate NY casinos hasn’t been quite as high as many initially predicted.

There are several reasons why this is. Most cite the competition as the primary reason why these casinos have struggled to make money. According to new reports, things are beginning to improve.

Revenue From Upstate NY Casinos is Going Up

It hasn’t been an easy road for casinos in New York. As we just mentioned, almost all of these are located in the Upstate area. Many are within close proximity to each other. Competition is extremely high here and just about every single casino has struggled to bring in players.

It seems things are improving, though. The four casinos in Upstate New York are beginning to see an increase in gaming revenue. Each one saw its revenue increase last year.

Resorts World Catskills, one of the largest casinos here, saw a massive 48% jump in revenue. In total, revenue at Upstate NY casinos increased by 18% last year. That’s fantastic news for the state, as lottery sales dropped by more than 35%.

Bob DeSalvio, president of Genting New York State, says he’s not surprised to see things start to get better.

“If you look at the history of regional gaming properties over their lifetime, it’s about two years for them to really click in,” he said. “A 24-month ramp up period is not unexpected in today’s environment.”

There has been fear that the state’s casino industry might fail. Lawmakers have discussed new ways to help these gambling venues generate more money. Things are beginning to improve, and new sports betting options may help make things even better.

New Sports Betting Options Might Be Coming to New York

In May of 2018, the Supreme Court officially struck down PASPA. This decision immediately gave every state in the country the ability to legalize sports betting. Today, more than 20 states have decided to legalize this form of wagering.

New York began working to legalize sports betting in early 2019. On July 16th of that year, the first sports wager was placed here inside the Rivers Casino in Schenectady. As of now, only land-based sports betting is available in the state.

This could change soon, though. For months, lawmakers in New York have discussed legalizing online sports betting. Many feel this will help to increase revenue from NY casinos.

This is currently being decided in the courts. Officials argue that allowing online sports betting will help to bring the state more revenue and make things more competitive with New Jersey, which allows sports wagering to be made over the internet. It’s still unclear whether or not the courts will agree with this assessment.

Revenue at Upstate NY casinos is beginning to increase. State officials hope that this trend continues. We’ll need to wait and see whether or not these officials can succeed in allowing online sports wagering.

Stay tuned for more updates over the next few months!

Posted on January 20, 2020

Las Vegas

NFL Enthusiastic About Vegas Hosting A Future Super Bowl

By Joy Noel

It’s the most exciting year Las Vegas has ever experienced when it comes to sports, and it’s a year of firsts. First, the Oakland Raiders will be making their new home in the valley, making them Las Vegas’ very first professional football team. Secondly, Vegas will host the 2020 NFL Draft this year (April 23-25), their first time hosting the NFL Draft in the city’s history. And finally, Allegiant Stadium, the Raiders’ new $2-billion home, will officially open its doors August 2020, making it Las Vegas’ first football stadium.

NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodell, said that Las Vegas’ hosting of the NFL draft will essentially serve as the Raiders’ welcome party with the league planning to “incorporate all the iconic features of this city.” Goodell said:

“This city knows how to put on big events, there’s no question about that. You have the infrastructure and it’s Super Bowl ready. You have Allegiant Stadium, which is going to be a world-class stadium that will be our stage ultimately. You have everything here.”

NFL Draft Predicted to Bring Substantial Economic Impact

Jeremy Aguero, a principal analyst with Applied Analysis, says that since Las Vegas has never hosted the NFL Draft before, it’s tough to really say the kind of impact it will have on the local economy. But, when factoring in information from last year’s host city, Nashville, it’s becomes easier to predict an outcome.

According to Aguero, that outcome looks positive. This is largely considering the fact that Vegas is a hot location, and one that’s able to accommodate and entertain the large crowd the NFL Draft will undoubtedly bring:

“When you think about what the draft did in Nashville, about 600,000 people, and you see some of the other markets it’s been in, our expectation is Las Vegas has a good opportunity to beat some of those numbers, and that economic impact would be pretty substantial for the community.

“Not only are we superior to other locations, and I don’t mean that in any derogatory way, but we have more hotel rooms, access is easier here, we have a lot of entertainment options, we’re going to draw people to the event, we believe. And, in addition to that, every visitor that comes to Las Vegas spends more than $800 per person, per trip.”

How Hosting the Super Bowl Could Impact the City

With the Raiders making the move to Las Vegas, it marks the beginning of a shift of seeing Vegas as strictly a “casino town” to becoming a “sports town.” With Sin City the hosting Super Bowl, which the NFL wouldn’t predict to happen for at least the next five years (due to the location of the next four Super Bowl’s already being set), would further drive the economy in substantial ways.

Las Vegas hosting the Super Bowl could successfully marry the elements of what the city has been known for, gambling, with the valley’s newly infused sports culture in major ways.

“We think sports gambling in many ways creates a lot more engagement for our fans. It’s another opportunity for them to engage with our game.

What I see now is a city that has emerged from the Strip and primarily a casino-driven town to a city that’s really quite remarkable,” Goodell said. “I think we’ll all be grateful that Mark Davis made the decision to come here.”

Posted on January 16, 2020

Las Vegas

Daily Fantasy Sports Provider DraftKings Opens Las Vegas Office

By Joy Noel

DraftKings, the Boston-based daily fantasy sports contest provider, just opened up an office in Las Vegas.

President and co-founder, Matt Kalish, and DraftKings race and sports director, Johnny Avello, welcomed guests to the Town Square office on Wednesday, where 70 employees currently work. The company moved into their flexible new workspace on Monday – which it leases from WeWork – and plan to have more than 300 employees in the upcoming months.

Why Las Vegas is the Perfect Fit

When asked why the company chose Las Vegas to hold their office, Kalish said this:

“This is an iconic city when it comes to sports betting. It’s been the hub of all of that activity in our country for many decades. We see ourselves as looking to integrate as deeply as possible into the community.”

The opportunities with sports betting keep opening up nationwide. We want to make sure we continue to lead the pack and, to do that, we needed to invest in Las Vegas and take advantage of some of the great talent that’s here in this market.”

The Las Vegas office established a dedicated back-of-the-house call center that will handle customer experience, fraud, casino, sportsbook traders, human resources and information technology. Local employees are expected to handle customer inquiries around the clock. Once the DraftKings’ Las Vegas office is fully operational, it will be the second largest in the country behind the Boston operation.

Currently, the company offers its sports-betting app in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Indiana, New Hampshire and West Virginia with physical retail sportsbooks in New Jersey, New York, Iowa and Mississippi. According to Kalish, the company hasn’t decided how they’ll pursue a retail outlet or become a licensed operator in Nevada just yet, instead focusing solely on growing the company’s presence in the Silver State as of now.

Help from Local Talent

Former Wynn Las Vegas sports book director, Johnny Avello, was one of the first local talents to come aboard. He was hired by DraftKings in 2018 to work in the same capacity. Avello’s Las Vegas team includes sportsbook personnel that also formerly worked at other Las Vegas resorts.

Avello said this of finding a sweet spot for the company in town:

“Finding this location, it’s been in the works for a long time and, to me, it’s perfect. Town Square has great amenities, and this is a great work environment. It’s also close to the airport for people who need to get in and out. Anywhere where sports betting is legal, we’re looking to be in that market.”

DraftKings Continues to Expand

The company got its humble start out a spare bedroom. Founded in 2012 by Kalish and his two friends, Jason Robins and Paul Liberman, DraftKings quickly became a known brand once the popularity of fantasy sports was met with more loosened sports rules in different parts of the country.

Currently, the company’s daily fantasy product is available in eight countries, with its sports book division offering mobile and retail betting in eight states. DraftKings is also the official daily fantasy partner of the National Football League and the PGA Tour.

For the past five years, DraftKings has had its eye on operating in Nevada. Last February, they announced their multi-state partnership deal with Caesars.

Under terms of that agreement, Caesars is offering DraftKings market access for its online gaming products, subject to passage of applicable laws and the parties securing applicable gaming licenses.

Their partnership with Caesars could result in new growth in the months ahead with Caesars on the verge of merging with Reno-based Eldorado Resorts Inc., in a proposed $17.3 billion deal. The deal is expected to close in the first half of this year.

The strategic plan to open a company office in the US gambling capital will only continue to expand their highly sought-after product and presence. Kalish said:

“DraftKings is in a great position. We have a ton of interest in the company because of our story. Everybody’s drawn in because of what’s going on with sports betting in the U.S. People want to change industries and change their career path to come work for us. I think we got 45,000 job applications last year.”

Posted on December 20, 2019

Gambling Laws, Michigan, news

Online Gambling in Michigan is Officially Legal

By James Murray

For years, officials in Michigan have been working to expand the state’s gambling laws. This week, their efforts have finally paid off. Online gambling in Michigan is now officially legal. It’s extremely exciting for gaming fans here. Michigan State Outline

That’s not all! Sports gambling has also been made legal in this state. Today, we’re going to look at the road to make this happen. We’ll also talk about exactly what forms of gambling are now legal in this state.

Let’s get into it!

Michigan’s Long Road to Sports Betting, Online Gambling Legalization

Since PASPA was struck down in May of 2018, several politicians in Michigan have stated their desire to see sports betting legalized in the state. It’s a highly profitable industry, helping to earn many states millions of dollars every month. Unfortunately, some of the most powerful politicians in Michigan have been hesitant to embrace any new gambling expansion plans.

Michigan has been close to sports betting legalization several times. In 2018, it was approved by both the House and the Senate, yet Governor Gretchen Whitmer vetoed the bill at the last minute. It was extremely disappointing news, particularly for sports fans here.

As soon as 2019 kicked off, lawmakers once again began working to legalize new forms of gambling in the state. House Bill 4916 was introduced and eventually made its way through the state’s legislative bodies. In September, the bill was officially approved by Michigan’s House Committee.

Some had concerns that Governor Whitmer would once again shut down this bill at the last minute. She had voiced her concerns over the bill, particularly with its tax structure.

Fortunately, the Governor decided that it was time for Michigan to embrace some new forms of gambling.

Sports Betting and Online Gambling in Michigan Are Now Legal

House Bill 4916 slowly made its way through Michigan’s legislative bodies. This week, the bill had its final test with Governor Whitmer. She decided to approve the bill, meaning both sports betting and online gambling in Michigan are now legal.

Many supporters of this bill believe that the newly-expanded gambling laws will help bring millions of dollars to the state. The majority of the money will go towards the School Aid Fund. Some will be used to help pay for firefighters’ medical costs, as well.

Gretchen Whitmer commented on the approval of the bill to the media this week.

“My top priority in signing this legislation was protecting and investing in the School Aid Fund, because our students deserve leaders who put their education first,” she said. “Thanks in part to the hard work and leadership of Senator Hertel and Representative Warren, these bills will put more dollars in Michigan classrooms and increase funding for firefighters battling cancer.”

An 8.4% tax rate will be applied to sports betting operators in the state. Taxes for online gambling range from 20% to 28%.

Many are now wondering when exactly the new gambling options will become available here.

When Will Sports Betting and Online Gambling Be Available in Michigan?

This is the million-dollar question. Several states legalized sports gambling, yet took months to actually get their sports betting operations up and running. Hopefully, this is not what happens here in Michigan.

Ultimately, it will come down to how long it takes the Michigan Gaming Control Board to set specific regulations on the industry. Of course, there will be different rules for sports betting and online gambling in Michigan.

Once a set of gambling laws are established, lawmakers will need to choose which sports betting companies can operate in the state. Several of the biggest sports betting companies in the UK are now actively working to break into the US market.

Several lawmakers are pushing to have this industry available to the public before March Madness. If it does, the state will likely earn millions of dollars via revenue from the bets placed on the popular NCAA tournament.

Online gambling in Michigan is finally here. If you’re a gambling fan in the state, things just became a lot easier.

Stay tuned for more US online gambling news over the next few months!