SportsHandle and friends deliver another round-up of the week’s big developments in US sports betting.
Not all is well in Ontario
Greg Warren takes an extremely deep dive into the work of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) since sports betting and online gambling launched earlier this year. As regulated companies struggle to meet the advertising limits on things like inducements, some are raising eyebrows at the unlicensed grey market operators who have yet to seek regulation. Meanwhile, the AGCO’s approach to being somewhat hands off might be creating even more confusion.
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DFS remains another challenge in the Canadian province
Another challenge for gambling companies in Ontario is DFS. The industry was de facto shuttered with the launch of regulated sports betting because of the high licensing fees and a high barrier to entry, including no pooled liquidity with other jurisdictions. One operator who is offering DFS in the province is OwnersBox, who spoke with SportsHandle about the product.
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Welcome offers are waning
Operators said they were going to curb advertising and marketing spend. We may not have seen that on the airwaves, but where costs are getting cut are welcome offers. Four-figure offers are disappearing, but this could just be temporary if another big state like California passes sports betting. Another possible disruptor for these offers? Fanatics.
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Massachusett’s Encore Boston Harbor installs RG slot software
In a move other Massachusett’s casinos have already taken, Encore Boston Harbor launched the responsible gambling tool Play My Way on all of the electronic slot machines and video poker machines on the property. Meanwhile, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) is starting to consider how to implement a similar high bar of responsible gambling standards to sports betting.
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Michigan gambling ring sentenced and fined
The American Gambling Association is pushing lawmakers at the federal and state level to do more about illegal gambling. Michigan did just that this week, sentencing four men to probation and a fine for operating an illegal slot parlor called Jackpotts. Their legal trouble extends beyond the Wolverine State too.
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Ohio sports betting kiosk pool includes unique players
The regulations for Ohio allow for a wide range of operators thanks to its Type C license to offer sports betting via kiosk. Most applications belong to grocery chains Kroger and Giant Eagle, but the rest of the list is an eclectic group from bowling alleys to saloons.
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Sporttrade launches financial trading-inspired sportsbook app
There seems to be a big overlap in interest between financial trading and sports betting. Sporttrade is betting on that commonality with the launch of its new NJ online sportsbook. The app is a peer-to-peer betting site where, instead of betting on games, users buy and sell shares of the action.
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New York already the most active sports betting market
GeoComply data always gives a good indication of the handle to follow. With that in mind, big numbers should be coming for New York, which is already responsible from almost 16% of all sports betting-related geolaction during NFL Week 1. The betting industry grew rapidly year-over-year, jumping to over 103 million transactions compared to 60 million this time in 2021.
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