Gambling in the USA

Online Gambling in Illinois Scrutinized in House Committee Debate

Published

3 years ago

May 21, 2021

Online Gambling in Illinois Scrutinized in House Committee Debate

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Illinois legislators have pushed forward with their promise of considering the legalization of online betting. In a recent House Executive Committee meeting, they talked about matters regarding sports betting.

The proposed Internet Gambling Act could change the landscape of sports betting in the state. Some of the proposed issues are getting rid of in-person registration, and betting on collegiate sports. During this meeting, the committee discussed almost a dozen proposals.

The Future of Illinois Online Gambling

From the eyes of onlookers, the future of online gambling in Illinois is bright. The Illinois General Assembly seems to be favoring the act. If there is any cause of doubt, it probably is regarding the launch date. Even though sports betting was legalized in 2019, the first app wasn’t launched until June 18. Illinois is looking to speed up the timeline for iGaming legalization. Some of the best Illinois online gambling sites can be found here.

The law on sports betting demands that gamblers register at local retail casinos within the first six months. This law is contained in the Internet Gambling Act. Betting enthusiasts in Chicago will be forced to travel out of the municipality to register.

The city has been considering proposals to establish its first retail casino. However, it won’t be choosing a winner until the beginning of 2022. It isn’t clear how long the construction process may last. Luckily, there are a few casinos close to the official city limits.

In-Person Registration Still Receiving Critical Support

The head of William Hill government relations, Trevor Hayes, proposed the removal of in-person registration requirement. His proposal was backed by John Pappas, a spokesperson of the trade group iDEA Growth.

Both of them believe that in-person registration is unnecessary and a waste of time. According to Hayes, 75 percent of all the bets at William Hill are placed online. In some states, the number goes beyond 90 percent. Penn National Gaming official, Jeff Kaplan also proposed the removal of this registration requirement.

In-person registration isn’t good for the market. As an illustration, Gov. JB Pritzker suspended these registrations twice during the peak of the pandemic. The suspension may have propelled the growth of sports betting in the state. The numbers quickly surpassed Pennsylvania in February. It is pretty clear that in-person registration is not necessary anymore.

Iowa, the state next door, is another great example of in-person registration and why it is bad for the industry. Its handle leaped to $149.5 million in January. It was a 42.7 percent increase from $104.8 million in December. This improvement was only recorded after ending the in-person registration requirement.

The House Committee Chairman Concerned Over Retail Casino Layoffs

In a long sitting, Committee Chairman Rep. Bob Rita stated that the opinions of stakeholders were welcomed. They would shape the gaming package of Illinois. The chairman specifically raised concerns that the Internet Gaming Act may cause many employees to be laid off.

When pandemic restrictions were enforced, retail casinos were forced to either close or lower their capacity. This caused a massive loss of employment. Speaking on behalf of iDEA Growth, John Pappas acknowledged that the question of layoffs was difficult to speak answer.

The association represents sports betting and online gambling operators. It supports the idea of legalizing online poker and iGaming.

Before the hearing, John Pappas expressed his appreciation for input from industry representatives. These representatives were from 30 companies in the association. They include Sports radar, and Daily Fantasy Sports leaders FanDuel, and DraftKings.

According to Pappas, iGaming may actually increase employment opportunities. Jeff Kaplan agrees that iGaming is unlikely to cause the ‘cannibalization’ of retail casino revenue. He points to Pennsylvania as an example of this. According to Kaplan, it will actually be beneficial to land-based casinos.

Trevor Hayes of William Hills explains that iGaming may be great for land-based casinos. Since online bettors are generally young, they are likely to visit casinos to supplement their online play.

Some Representatives Aren’t Receptive

A few representatives, including committee chair Rep. Robert Rita, aren’t in support of the new legislation. They continue to defend the 2019 legislation requiring in-person registration.

The 2019 law had an 18-month period within which you could sign up in person. The committee chairman insisted on the importance of supporting land-based casinos. However, there is no evidence that online registration may hurt their operations.

The Possible End of In-State College Sports Betting Ban

Rep. Michael Zalewski is proposing the removal of the ban on in-state college sports. He reports that even though the prohibition may be well-intentioned, it isn’t meeting its goal. He uses offshore books and the neighboring states as examples to illustrate his point.

According to Pappas, this ban limits the betting market by up to 15 percent. He supports Zalewski’s remark that the ban isn’t meeting its purpose. It isn’t upholding the integrity of betting or protecting college players.

However, Josh Whitman, University of Illinois Athletic Director, opposes these sentiments. According to him, student-athletes are susceptible to bad influence. They need to be protected. According to him, the ban is good for protecting athletes’ mental health. It limits negative messages from fans.

IGaming Could Help Illinois Generate $1 Billion In Five Years

According to Pappas, the revenue from Illinois operators may hit $250 million in the first year if iGaming is legalized. He anticipates that the state may receive direct and indirect benefits amounting to $1 billion within the first five years.

These sentiments are echoed by Kaplan, who also believes that iGaming will be profitable to the state. He estimates that the revenue may surpass Michigan’s. He believes that it will be a good way to make up for the money lost when the pandemic struck.

Brendan Bussmann of Global Market Advisor, has the same testimony. He believes that the demand for iGaming is high, and it is time for the State to meet it.

Even though the bill has received a lot of support, it has received its share of criticism. However, the most appealing part of it, for most proponents, is the removal of the in-person registration requirement.

They believe that bettors shouldn’t have to travel when they need to register. Since online operators have plenty of safety measures in place, there is no need to believe that in-person registration will make bettors safer.

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Gambling in the USA

Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – April 8-14

Published

5 days ago

April 15, 2024

Niji Narayan

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Welcome to our weekly roundup of American gambling news again! Here, we are going through the weekly highlights of the American gambling industry which include the latest news and new partnerships. Read on and get updated.

Latest News

FanDuel Group, the premier online gaming company in North America and an Official Partner of Churchill Downs Inc., announced five time Entertainer of the Year Luke Bryan and Grammy award-winning R&B singer Ne-Yo as the headlining performers at FanDuel’s inaugural Kentucky Derby Party. The exclusive, invite-only event will take place on Friday, May 3 at Paristown Arts and Entertainment District in Louisville, Kentucky from 7:00 PM to 12:00 AM.

TPI, a leading provider of innovative player communication solutions for the casino industry, has appointed Joe Tingson as its new Vice President of Customer Success. With his unparalleled dedication to his customers, Joe will play a pivotal role as a leader for our digital Customer Success and Product teams.

PrizePicks, the largest daily fantasy sports operator in North America, has announced plans for its new 33,000 square foot Atlanta Headquarters, which will be located in the Star Metals Building in Midtown Atlanta. The company plans to grow its workforce by 1000 new jobs over the next seven years, the economic impact of which will be $25M to the state of Georgia.

Century Casinos Inc. has announced that it opened its hotel in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, The Riverview. The Riverview is a 69 room, six-story building with 68,000 square feet that is adjacent to and connected with Century Casino Cape Girardeau. The project cost $30.5 million and was financed with cash on hand.

Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI) has announced the opening of Terre Haute Casino Resort in Terre Haute, Indiana. The $290 million investment includes a casino floor with 1000 slot machines, 36 table games, and a state-of-the-art sportsbook. The 400,000-square-foot entertainment venue also features regionally inspired bars and restaurants including: Four Cornered Steakhouse, Rockwood Bar & Grill, The Soda Shoppe, Crossroads Center Bar and High Limit Bar.

Bragg Gaming Group Inc., a global B2B gaming technology and content provider, announced that Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Ronen Kannor, has notified Bragg’s board of directors (Board) that he will resign from his position to pursue other career opportunities, effective June 3, 2024. The Company confirms that the search for a replacement CFO has commenced.

Partnerships

EQL Games has partnered with global aggregation leader and NeoGames company, Pariplay, to provide the Virginia Lottery, through an agreement with NeoPollard Interactive, with a series of eInstant iLottery games for their industry-leading digital platform.

JACK Entertainment LLC announced the selection of Konami Gaming Inc.’s SYNKROS to power industry-leading systems technology across its 1.5 million square feet of casino entertainment space. The Ohio-based gaming operator’s portfolio includes a combined 2600+ gaming machines and 85 table games at JACK Cleveland Casino in downtown Cleveland, and at JACK Thistledown Racino, located approximately 10 miles to the southeast.

PrizePicks, the largest daily fantasy sports operator in North America, announced that the company has reunited with the Atlanta Braves as the club’s Official Daily Fantasy Sports Partner for the 2024 season. The partnership extends a longstanding relationship that dates back to 2020, with the two Atlanta-based companies continuing to work together on unique opportunities for their dedicated fans.

Gambling in the USA

Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – April 1-7

Published

2 weeks ago

April 8, 2024

Niji Narayan

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Latest News

International Game Technology PLC (IGT) announced that it will showcase its performance-focused portfolio of games and solutions for tribal casinos at the Indian Gaming Tradeshow & Convention (IGA) 2024, April 9-11 in Anaheim, Calif. Under the theme “We’ve Got Game,” IGT’s booth #536 will feature a compelling array of gaming solutions designed to engage players and drive growth.

Caesars Sportsbook announced its receipt of the prestigious RG Check accreditation from the Responsible Gambling Council (RGC). The certification includes an assessment of Caesars Sportsbook’s commitment to Responsible Gaming, including areas such as player and Team Member education, public awareness advertisements and funding for organisations dedicated to Responsible Gaming research, awareness and education.

Veriff, a global identity verification (IDV) provider, announced the appointment of Jeffrey Guy as President and COO. Jeffrey brings a wealth of leadership experience at technology companies in driving profitable growth and expanding product portfolio. Before Veriff, he was Chief Operating Officer at DigitalOcean, a publicly traded cloud computing platform provider.

GAN Limited announced that Mr. Brian Chang has recently been named the Company’s Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Chang had previously been serving in an interim capacity. Mr. Chang will be focused on guiding the Company towards a timely closing with Sega Sammy Creation Inc. (Sega Sammy).

Partnerships

The Commerce Casino & Hotel, home to the largest poker room in the world, has announced an exciting partnership with the richest, most prestigious and longest-running poker series – the World Series of Poker (WSOP). This collaboration signifies a pivotal moment for the poker community, bringing together two powerhouses to elevate the poker experience for players and fans worldwide.

BetRivers, powered by Rush Street Interactive, a leading US-based online betting and gaming company, has announced its partnership as the title sponsor for the upcoming NASCAR Xfinity Series Dash 4 Cash race at Dover Motor Speedway. The BetRivers 200, set for Saturday, April 27, is being undertaken with the Delaware Lottery and marks the beginning of a thrilling new chapter in NASCAR history, as RSI commits to the long-term support of this top tier sporting event.

Elys BMG Group Inc., an interactive gaming and sports betting technology company, announced the completion of its sportsbook installation at The Ugly Mug restaurant and bar situated at 723 8th St SE, in Washington, DC. This collaboration underscores Elys’ commitment to providing unparalleled sports wagering experiences for small and local businesses across America.

SCCG Management has announced a strategic partnership with mkodo, a leading technology provider in the iGaming space. This collaboration is set to distribute mkodo’s innovative geolocation product, GeoLocs and other leading solutions across the US and key global markets, including Brazil, leveraging SCCG’s robust market presence and industry expertise.

Prove Identity Inc. announced a strategic partnership with BetMGM, a sports betting and iGaming leader, to enhance the security and user experience for BetMGM customers through the cutting-edge Prove Pre-Fill identity solution. Prove Pre-Fill accelerates digital consumer onboarding by up to 79% and is used by more than 1000 businesses globally across diversified industries, including 9 of the top 10 banks.

Gambling in the USA

Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – March 25-31

Published

3 weeks ago

April 1, 2024

Niji Narayan

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Latest News

Bragg Gaming Group is now registered as an approved service provider by the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism, allowing for the distribution of online casino games, including Bragg’s proprietary and exclusive games portfolio, via the Bragg HUB aggregation platform to operators in the soon-to-be-launched LatAm iGaming market.

PENN Entertainment announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Anuj Dhanda to the Board, subject to customary regulatory approvals. Mr. Dhanda’s appointment expands the size of the Board to ten members, nine of whom satisfy the standards for director independence under the current Listing Rules of the NASDAQ Stock Market.

SlotsCalendar has launched its tailor-made platform for American users: https://www.slotscalendar.us. The brand’s clear aim is to provide a digital environment where impartial and informative content is optimised specifically for the American market.

MGM Resorts International announced that it proposes to offer $750,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of senior notes due 2032. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering of the notes to repay existing indebtedness, including its outstanding 6.750% senior notes due 2025. Pending such use, the Company may invest the net proceeds in short-term interest-bearing accounts, securities, or similar investments.

Genius Sports Limited, the official data, technology and commercial partner that powers the ecosystem connecting sports, betting and media, announced that it has been certified by the State of Wisconsin Division of Gaming as a gaming-related contractor with immediate effect.

Win Systems is going to participate in the next edition of GAT with its exclusive distributor in Colombia, Comercializadora Selan S.A.S. The event will be held in Cartagena de India on April 10–11, and the company’s booth will be A11.

Pragmatic Play is set to make another appearance at a Latin American exhibition, at GAT Expo in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia. The gaming provider will be on stand A31 and A32 to showcase its diverse portfolio, including Slots, Live Casino, Virtual Sports and Bingo content, alongside its new Sportsbook offering.

Partnerships

DraftKings announced an expanded relationship with Kindbridge Behavioural Health to provide access to therapy and treatment for problem gaming in every jurisdiction where DraftKings operates its online sportsbook and iGaming products. DraftKings and Kindbridge originally joined forces in September 2023 to launch a pilot programme to deliver personalised support for sports bettors in Colorado.

The Connecticut Lottery, in partnership with Fanatics Betting and Gaming, the online and retail sports betting subsidiary of Fanatics Holdings, has opened a new retail sportsbook location at Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport. The exciting new location is more than 2300 square feet and features betting windows, self-service betting kiosks from Suzohapp and high-definition TVs situated all around the sportsbook.

The Texas Lottery and Texas Motor Speedway have joined together again to rev up luck for lottery players and racing fans through the new LUCKY 7s scratch ticket game. The new $5 game features chances to win a $100,000 top prize and integrates a series of promotional second-chance drawings. The drawings give players with non-winning tickets a chance to win exclusive Texas Motor Speedway prizes.