Gambling in the USA

Gambling and Tech Companies Charge Into American Sports Betting Market

Published

6 years ago

September 12, 2018

Zoltan Tundik

Reading Time: 5 minutes

NetworkNewsWire Editorial Coverage

A recent change in United States law has led to a gold rush in the gaming industry as numerous companies scramble to set up sports gambling operations.

The U.S. Supreme Court’s overruling of 1992 gambling legislation essentially makes sports betting widely legal throughout the country.
Casinos are moving to make the most of this by opening sports books.
Technology companies are also exploring possible revenue avenues through online gambling apps.
The United States is set to see a $3–$5 billion take in the global sports betting market within a few years – a market already worth an estimated $40 billion.

One of the new players in the sports gambling space is SinglePoint, Inc. (OTC: SING) (SING Profile), a tech company focused on innovation that has invested in gambling app StakeHaul. In the world of big gambling, casino companies such as Caesars Entertainment Corp. (NASDAQ: CZR) are exploring ways to add sports gambling to their existing entertainment rosters. MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) already provides sports gaming alongside traditional betting options. Following suit, Penn National Gaming, Inc. (NASDAQ: PENN) has started offering sports betting at some of its casinos, as has Boyd Gaming Corp. (NYSE: BYD), which is also entering the online gambling space.

To view an infographic of this editorial, click here.

The Race to Benefit from Sports Betting

From soccer in Europe to cricket in India, people enjoy betting on the outcome of sports competitions. In fact, sports betting is one of the most popular forms of gambling in the world, producing an estimated $40 billion global industry that includes local bookmakers to national brands to international betting websites.

In the United States, this type of betting has been extremely limited since the early 1990s. Legislation designed to protect people from the harmful effects of gambling effectively made betting on sports illegal across the country, with limited exceptions in a handful of states.

The recent overturning of this law has suddenly created a new market. Because that market hasn’t existed for the past 25 years, the renewed interest has revealed an infrastructural void in the American gaming industry. Technological innovations have not been applied to sports gambling, so companies are now playing catch up. The results will shape an industry estimated to be worth billions of dollars every year.

The Death and Life of U.S. Sports Gambling

This year is seeing a number of gambling companies expand their operations to include sports betting while tech companies such as SinglePoint, Inc. (OTCQB:SING) are looking at what they can do to fill a commercial void. But how did this gap in the gambling market come about in the first place?

The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) was passed by the U.S. Congress in 1992. It effectively outlawed betting on sports across the United States, with limited exceptions, including specific forms of racing; sports lotteries in Delaware, Montana and Oregon; and licensed pools in Nevada.

The law quickly became an unpopular one. By 2017, a majority of Americans reportedly wanted to see sports betting legalized so they could join in a pastime enjoyed by millions around the world. Several attempts were made to overturn the law, eventually resulting in a legal case being heard before the Supreme Court. In May, the court overturned PASPA, declaring that the law violated the 10^thConstitutional Amendment.

The sports betting market was already growing around the world. Because of the nature of the business and the lack of centrally collected figures, it’s impossible to accurately measure its worth, but it was estimated at around $40 billion in 2016. And now, America is expected to become a significant growth area, worth an estimated $3 billion to $5 billion within the next five years .

That’s a lot of money. So how does a company such as SinglePoint go about getting a piece of the acton?

Gambling on Technology

The key to this market, like so many others, lies in online interactions and mobile technology in particular. By bringing gambling first into customers’ homes and then into their pockets, tech-savvy gambling companies have vastly increased the opportunity to make small, casual bets.

One of the products that has sprung from this is StakeHaul. A mobile gambling platform, StakeHaul allows users to bet on anything. Whether it’s a traditional test of machismo such as who can do the most pull-ups, a motivational bet on who will complete a chore first, or even a gamble on the outcome of world events, StakeHaul can make it happen. And with sports betting now apparently legal in the United States, StakeHaul can include that too.

StakeHaul makes it easy to carry out the sort of casual bets traditionally placed in person. The stakes need be nothing more than the honor of knowing who won, although they can just as easily be financial. The company is currently finalizing a peer-to-peer payment model that can pay out in either U.S. dollars or cryptocurrency. With internet native currencies on the rise, it makes sense for an online gambling system to recognize those types of transactions.

With more than 70,000 downloads, StakeHaul is currently the top-ranked app for making bets with friends – and those numbers are steadily increasing. Each month has seen a double-digit percentage rise in active users and bets placed through the platform.

With more than a third of Americans betting on at least one sports event every year, there are plenty of people looking to make the most of the newly loosened laws, and StakeHaul provides a way to do that. “All in all, our unique features, our ease of use, and the legal momentum behind betting in the U.S. makes our opportunity not just a home run but a grand slam,” stated Jeffery Lippert, founder of StakeHaul.

Investing in the Future of Gambling

It’s not surprising then that tech company SinglePoint has made an investment in StakeHaul.

Originally a full-service mobile technology provider, SinglePoint has evolved into a company with an interest in a wide range of technologies. The organization focuses on companies that have great potential and proven assets currently believed to be undervalued on the market. By investing in such companies, SinglePoint has developed a diverse portfolio of up-and-coming tech companies.

Payment systems play a large part in SinglePoint’s holdings. The global payment market is changing, with finance increasingly transacted online or with smartphones. SinglePoint’s payment processing systems are designed to deal with this new world. It is also working to provide cryptocurrency payment systems using Bitcoin and Ethereum, the leading global cryptocurrencies. These are technologies that will fit well with the financial side of the company’s investment in StakeHaul.

But it’s not all about electronic payment. SinglePoint has teamed up with New Sun Energies to provide cost effective solar power in six states. With interests in blockchain, renewable energy and the sports betting market, the company has investments in several sectors that are due to see considerable growth over the next decade.

The Bigger Game Market

History shows that gambling can lead to big wins for a business. Caesars Entertainment Corp.(NASDAQ:CZR) started off as a single bingo parlor in 1930s Nevada. Over the decades, it’s become the most famous name in gaming, with 47 casinos in five countries. Its buildings play host to conventions, meetings and hundreds of thousands of tourists. The thrill of betting keeps the customers coming through the doors of those casinos and has helped to build up a legendary reputation as a place of decadence and entertainment, a reputation that also helps explain the success of over 600 bars, restaurants and clubs across the United States.

With its string of hotels and casinos, MGM Resorts International (NYSE:MGM) has done a job similar to Caesars’ in turning the pleasure of gambling into a multimillion-dollar entertainment empire. Even before PASPA was struck down, MGM was profiting from sports betting as well as traditional gambling, thanks to the popularity of its venues. Hosting events such as world-class boxing matches means not just ticket receipts but also a flood of fans using the hotels and their facilities.

Penn National Gaming, Inc. (NASDAQ: PENN) might not have the glamor of the big names, but the company is still a very successful operator in the American gambling sector. It has gaming, racing and video gaming terminals spread across 29 facilities in the United States and Canada, with a focus on slot machines. The recent legal change is creating more options, and the company recently started offering sports betting at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races in West Virginia.

One of the largest casino companies in the United States, Boyd Gaming Corp. (NYSE:BYD) has 24 gaming properties spread across seven states. The company runs 10 sports betting operations across Nevada and has recently opened sports books at two of its Mississippi properties. It has also teamed up with FanDuel Group to engage in online betting and sports gaming opportunities across the country.

The overturning of PASPA is set to transform the American gambling industry. Both online and in casinos, sports gambling is taking off in a big way. Early adopter companies are set to benefit enormously from this change.

For more information about SinglePoint, please visit SinglePoint, Inc. (OTCQB:SING).

Source: networknewswire.com

Gambling in the USA

Nebraska’s First Permanent Casino to Open in May in Columbus

Published

5 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Niji Narayan

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Nebraska’s first full-fledged, newly built and state-sanctioned gambling casino is slated to open in Columbus next month, marking a milestone in the state’s rollout of casino gambling.

The Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission last Friday approved a target opening date of May 13 for Harrah’s Columbus.

“This is a big deal,” commission Chairman Dennis Lee said.

The state’s three other casinos are open, but in temporary facilities. According to construction schedules, all should be open by early next year.

“We’re definitely excited to open the first permanent casino in the state,” said Don Ostert, Harrah’s Columbus general manager.

The 17,000-square-foot casino floor will feature 400 slot machines and 11 live table games, including roulette and craps, Ostert said. It will feature a Brew Brothers restaurant and will offer Caesar’s sportsbook and racebook, Ostert said.

For racing fans, the complex will feature the state’s only 1-mile horse track, though racing isn’t scheduled to begin until August 16. By June, officials hope to have some horses out on the track to test the new surface.

Ostert said officials hope to draw customers from Norfolk and Grand Island, but also from Omaha and Lincoln.

Columbus Mayor James Bulkley said that, from the city’s standpoint, “we are very excited to see it get started and become part of the community.”

The developers incorporated some Columbus history into the casino, he said.

“The location where it is used to be called Wishbones, and it was a venue for years for entertainment, and so people recognize that name, and they have kept that name for the sports bar,” he said.

He expects the casino will draw from Omaha. Although driving to Columbus from downtown Omaha might take close to an hour and a half, the drive from west Omaha is more like an hour, he said.

“I can hit Elkhorn in a short hour today, which is now western Omaha,” he said.

In a few months, Omahans won’t have to leave town to visit a brand-new casino.

At Horsemen’s Park in Omaha, Warhorse Gaming officials are aiming to open their new casino in early August. It will open with 900 gaming positions, including table games and a Sweetwater Cafe.

Gambling in the USA

Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – April 15-21

Published

3 days ago

April 22, 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

Caesars Entertainment announced that the Caesars Sportsbook Mississippi app is accepting mobile sports bets at Harrah’s Gulf Coast in Biloxi, Mississippi. Sports fans 21 and older who are interested in wagering on sports via mobile devices can download the Caesars Sportsbook Mississippi app to register and deposit statewide but must be physically present on-property at Harrah’s Gulf Coast to wager.

The Office of Lottery and Gaming (OLG) has announced that FanDuel’s sports betting app and website has officially launched. This development will introduce FanDuel’s sports wagering platform to District residents and visitors, completely replacing the current GambetDC sports betting app and website.

eCOGRA has been officially authorised by the Secretaria De Prêmios e Apostas (SPA) to operate as a certifying entity for betting systems, live gaming studios and online games in Brazil. This announcement marks a significant milestone as eCOGRA continues to extend its international offering of iGaming testing, inspection and certification (TIC) services in regulated markets across the globe.

Jennifer Shatley, a recognised expert in the field and a highly sought speaker and advisor, has joined the Responsible Online Gaming Association (ROGA) as Executive Director. Shatley has had 25+ years worth of experience, working closely with the treatment community, academics, researchers, government bodies, state councils and gaming industry representatives to promote responsible gaming.

Odditt, a leading provider of innovative sports betting data, tools and analytics, has appointed Elaine Milardo as its new Chief Technology Officer (CTO). With over 25 years of experience in the data industry and key roles at DraftKings and Vistaprint, Elaine brings a wealth of expertise to Odditt’s growing team.

Partnerships

Trustly, the global leader in Open Banking Payments, and Light & Wonder, the leading cross-platform global games company, are bringing cashless, in-person deposits to casino floors with Light & Wonder’s cashless solution, RAPIDPLAY. Building on Trustly’s success with guaranteed payments in online sports betting and iGaming, Trustly will deliver the same seamless, quick and secure online payment experience to the physical casino floor.

Fintech company Sightline has entered into an exclusive partnership with compliance and anti-fraud technology solutions leader GeoComply to bolster the security and efficiency of digital transactions within the regulated gaming industry. Sightline will integrate GeoComply’s cutting-edge IDComply identity verification solution as well as GeoComply’s compliance-grade geolocation tools across its comprehensive suite of digital payment solutions for land-based casinos and online gaming operators.

BetMGM has announced a partnership with GameCode, a distinguished iGaming company focused on the North American market. The partnership includes the launch of Boom Boom Boom, HammerCash, Gold Gold Gold and Super3 series which are now live at BetMGM in Michigan and New Jersey through direct integration. BetMGM plans to offer GameCode’s full portfolio of games in all jurisdictions where the operator’s iGaming platform is live pending regulatory approvals.

SCCG Management has announced a joint venture investment with Numb3rs, an innovative all-in-one payment solution provider built for gaming operators. The partnership aims to transform the gaming sector by integrating Numb3rs’ proprietary tech stack, ECRYPT, into the marketplace, thereby offering a comprehensive suite of payment processing solutions.

Gambling in the USA

Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – April 8-14

Published

1 week ago

April 15, 2024

Niji Narayan

Reading Time: 2 minutes

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.