Welcome to iGB’s State of the Union, a look at the biggest North American sports betting stories we’ve covered over the week and briefs on others we found interesting.
Don’t bet on betting on Delta just yet
DraftKings and Delta Airlines 8 January announced a partnership that could eventually allow bettors to use the sportsbook app while on a flight. But View from the Wing writes that in-flight betting is against US law. The deal could be worth up $1.3 billion if it becomes legal to bet on US flights.
According to View from the Wing, in-flight gambling isn’t new. For “32 years, however, it was legal for foreign airlines flying to and from the US,” according to the publication. Airlines like Singapore Air, Swissair and RyanAir have all dabbled in it, but none had a gambling program that stuck.
Announced at a CES presentation at the Sphere in Las Vegas, the announcement seems bigger than the actual deal. For now, there’s a partnership, but no betting, though View from the Wing suggests that consumers might see some sort of situation that will allow for SkyMiles members to earn points from betting.
Or, from Casino Reports, “Delta and DraftKings could petition a former casino owner — fella by the name of Donald Trump — to lean on some lawmakers to see about permitting in-flight gambling.”
Judge denies TRO in California tribal case
A California State Superior Court judge 8 January denied a motion for a temporary restraining order and show-case request for a group of seven tribes. The request was the latest move in the case filed by the tribes against the state’s card rooms.
Though Judge Lauri A. Damrell declined to order the card rooms to suspend offering certain games, she did not deny the request from the tribes for the card rooms to provide video surveillance of the games in question in the lawsuit. Instead, she gave the parties until today to agree on a way to provide such video footage. An informal discovery hearing will also be held today.
Late last year, the California state legislature and the governor, Gavin Newsom, approved a bill giving the tribes one shot to sue card rooms. At issue is the the legality of how the card rooms offer their table games. California’s tribes have exclusivity for house-banked gambling. Card rooms have traditionally offered player-banked games but, beginning in 2007, started using player-dealers, also known as third-party providers of proposition player services (TPPPS). The tribes say this violates their exclusivity.
Because they are sovereign nations, tribes cannot sue other entities in the U.S. But SB 549 gives them one chance and would allow the courts to settle the lingering issue. The tribes had until 1 April to file, but did so 2 January. Seven of the biggest tribes in the state filed the suit against every card room in California.
The judge also acknowledged that the case will be cumbersome – seven tribes are suing all 87 card rooms in the state. She directed counsel for both sides to determine the best way to meet and move forward to avoid a “waste of judicial resources.”
Trudeau resignation bad for Canadian wagering bills
Justin Trudeau’s decision to step down as Canadian prime minister isn’t good news for proponents of bills that would toughen up advertising guidelines. As part of his resignation announcement, Trudeau is recommending ending the current parliament session. That means bills that have not yet received royal ascent would die.
Canadian lawmakers have spent significant time discussing how to revamp current advertising guidelines and slow the tide of gambling-related ads on TV. The Canadian public has complained since digital wagering went live in Ontario in April 2022 about the rash of ads. Regulators in Ontario have tightened their ad guidelines to eliminate the use of celebrities, but have not addressed the frequency of gambling ads.
According to Covers, Trudeau’s resignation will stop any progress on S269, an advertising framework bill that passed the senate in November. It will also stymie S268, a second private-member bill that would allow Canada’s Indian Country offer brick-and-mortar sports betting on reservations.
Sportsbooks pay MD $46.6m for first half of FY25
Maryland Gaming and Lottery (MGL) today (10 January) released fiscal numbers for the first half of FY 2025 and December. Sportsbooks contributed $46.6 million (£38.15 million/€45.5 million) in tax revenue between July-December 2024, including $6.5 million in December. Since digital sports betting went live in December 2021, operators have paid the state $135 million.
In December, handle hit $637.3 million and hold was 7.2%. Of note, the retail sportsbook at Long Shot’s in Frederick reopened during the month with Caesar’s as its partner. Previously partnered with BetFred, which pulled out of the US, the sportsbook was closed from 9 June-21 December.
Maryland currently has 11 live digital wagering platforms and 13 brick-and-mortar sportsbooks.
Circa to pay out more than $20 million
Circa Sports announced 6 January that it will pay out a record $14.2 million to its eight Circa Survivor winners and a record $20.3 million across all of its season-long football contests. In the Survivor contest, eight participants went 20-0 for the 2024-25 season, and each winner will bank $1.73 million. Entering Week 18, there were 18 entries still in play, but 10 lost picking Atlanta and Green Bay. This is the first time in Circa Survivor history where multiple entries have lost in the final week of the season.
In the Circa Million VI contest, Team BP won $1 million. The entrant was in second place entering Week 18, but went 2-2-1 to finish the season with 62 points, winning the contest by ½ a point.
In other news …
Nebraska senator Tom Brandt yesterday (9 January) filed a bill that would allow for betting on the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Under current law, this is banned.
Penn Entertainment today (10 January) launched its free-standing Hollywood Casino online gaming platform in Michigan. Consumers can now log onto the Hollywood Casino app through the ESPN Bet platform or use their ESPN Bet credentials on the Hollywood Casino app.
Caesars launched its first live-dealer studio in Pennsylvania 8 January. The studio, located in Philadelphia, is available to those playing on Caesars Palace Online Casino, Horseshoe Online Casino, and Caesars Sportsbook & Casino. The studio has five blackjack tables, one baccarat table and one roulette table.
FanDuel 6 January announced that it is now the sports betting partner for TGL presented by SoFi, the new, prime time team golf league backed by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy’s TMRW Sports. FanDuel will sponsor TGL’s intermission segment between its Triples and Singles sessions.
Worth the read …
Scott Sibella has surrendered his Nevada gambling licence and likely won’t work in the industry again after being sentenced in federal court and by Nevada regulators. John L. Smith of the Nevada Independent takes a look past the punishment to explain some of what Sibella shared with authorities and what it could mean for others who allowed illegal bookmakers to bet. Read the full story here.
ICYMI on iGB
Kentucky lawmaker files bill to legalise brick-and-mortar casinos
Industry calls lopsided Minnesota hearing a ‘media stunt’
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