SportsHandle and friends deliver another round-up of the week’s big developments in US sports betting.
Responsible gambling critics gather on Northeastern public health panel
The gambling industry may be largely united around responsible gambling messaging, but it appears this approach is not without its critics. A recent Northeastern Law School Public Health Advocacy Institute panel framed the problem discussion a little differently in a panel called “It’s Not the Dough, It’s the Dopamine: The Dangerous Myth of the Responsible Gambling Model“.
Speakers during the session presented their argument that the industry is, by nature, addictive and should be limited in scope. Obviously, industry experts interviewed for the story beg to differ.
Las Vegas already starting on Super Bowl preparations
Gamblers may be focused on March Madness, but the city of Las Vegas is already thinking ahead to the historic 2024 Super Bowl, which will be held at Allegiant Stadium in Sin City. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) expects the event to produce half a billion in spending and revenue for the city, but also create some potential logistical problems. The city is already working to establish plans for parking and traffic.
Thos looking to attend the Big Game might want to get ahead on their planning too. Room rates at even the cheapest casinos are going for over $300 a night, while some ParkMGM rooms were listed at $10,000.
Talking with Betr about its Ohio start
Betr made headlines this week with news it was expanding its offerings from just micro-bets to full, pre-game and in-game markets on totals, spreads, and moneylines. OH Bets spoke with Betr co-founder and CEO Joey Levy about how the sportsbook’s first launch in Ohio has gone, its plans for March Madness, and what the future holds for Betr.
“A couple years from now, we’re going to go out, raise a lot of capital, and we’re going to start playing the market share game,” Levy said at the conference. “But right now, we’re only focused on proving out the model.”
Forecast for NY online casinos in 2023 remains grim
State Sen. Joseph Addabbo remained more optimistic than most about the chances of getting an online casino bill across the finish line in New York this year. However, even he thinks the efforts are done for the year now that the measure was not included in the one-house budget.
That is not to say the pessimism extends beyond this year. Addabbo maintains this is a matter of when, not if, so even though 2023 may not be the year, it will remain on his radar in 2024 and beyond.
The downside of Same Game Parlays
Gaming lobbyist Steve Brubaker has been conducting an experiment for a couple of months now where he bets FanDuel’s suggested Same Game Parlay every day and, unsurprisingly, the results have not been profitable so far. SportsHandle’s Jeff Edelstein spoke with Brubaker about his quest and looks into the industry practice of pre-creating these bets and whether or not it is preying on naive sports bettors unaware of their long odds.
PA latest state to limit risk-free language
Pennsylvania started allowing online gambling in 2018 and, for years, operators ran ads offering free bets and “risk-free” offers. However, after other states like Massachusetts and Ohio have instituted more stringent marketing rules, Pennsylvania has followed suit. Operators in the state are now limited from using language that suggests there are no strings or risk attached to sign-up offers or other promotions.
“We saw a number of the providers changing how they approach this on their own, and we thought it best if we could get everyone on the same page,” a PA Gaming Control Board spokesperson said. “The thinking was let’s try to make sure we can get this consistent across the industry.”
Georgia sports betting hopes resurrected in an unexpected way
It seemed like sports betting was over and done with in Georgia, but lawmakers have found an interesting and controversial way to resuscitate its hopes.
A Senate committee substitute to a bill to formalize a Georgia soap box derby is now a vehicle for a sports betting bill. This measure would put sports betting under the purview of the Georgia Lottery and expand gambling without a constitutional amendment.
The bill passed out of committee, but one of the two opponents of the bill said in the committee meeting that it has no chance of passing on the floor.
