Category Archives: Sports Betting

A years-long wait for legalized sports betting in Kansas is over, after Gov. Laura Kelly signedlegislation Thursday allowing for bettors to wager on their favorite team.

"Legalizing sports betting will bring more revenue to our state and grow our economy,"Kelly said in a statement. "This is another mechanism that casinos, restaurants, and other entertainment venues can now utilize to attract Kansans to their establishments."

A framework for betting could be up and running in the state by the end of the year, though legal uncertainty about part of the bill's provisions could pose a speedbump. A Wichita area casino filed a lawsuit against the state the same day the bill was signed.

While the system could possibly be set up in time for the NFL and college football seasons, it's more likely to be in place in January 2023. That would mean those hoping to bet on their favorite area football team, such as the Kansas City Chiefs or Kansas State Wildcats or Kansas Jayhawks, might have to wait for postseason games.

"I was excited to pass sports wagering in Kansas, its something that Kansans are already doing, and it will bring additional tax revenue to our state to help with our needs," saidSen. Rob Olson, R-Olathe, in a news release from the governor's office. "My constituents have pushed for this legislation for years, and now, the next time we have a significant sporting event in our state, Kansans will be able to bet on their hometown team."

Under the law, SB 84, the Kansas Lottery would have until Jan. 1, 2023, to create a regulatory environment for sports betting.

The exact length of time needed to prepare is unknown, including how long it would take for casinos to roll out their partnerships with sports betting applications. It is expected, however, that bettors would be able to begin wagering by spring of next year.

Under the bill,casinos can partner with online betting platforms, as well as up to 50 retailers, such as a restaurant or gas station, to offer in-person betting. The Kansas Speedway, Sporting Kansas City and the state's federally recognized tribes could also offer betting.

The state will take a flat 10% cut of all bets, regardless of whether they are placed online or in person.

A majority of revenue would be funneled to the "Attracting Professional Sports to Kansas Fund," an apparent attempt to capitalize on recent rumors that the Kansas City Chiefs would entertain moving their stadium across the border from Missouri.

"We have heard from our constituents for years about the need for a sports wagering program here in Kansas, both for the value it will bring to their lives and for the revenues it will generate for our state," said Sen. Oletha Faust-Goudeau, D-Wichita. "Im proud to have contributed to this package that will do just that and revitalize my community by creating jobs in Wichita."

More: After years of waiting, Kansas lawmakers vote to legalize sports betting, attempt to lure KC Chiefs

One speed bump, however, is a lawsuit over a provision included in the bill that allows for historical horse racing at the Wichita Greyhound Park. That would not necessarily stopsports betting from occurring, though the exact impact is unclear.

The Kansas Star Casino in Mulvane, one county south of Wichita, was expected to arguehistorical horse racing violates the contract created when the state legalized casino betting in 2007.

Within hours of Kelly signing the sports betting law, the casino filed a lawsuit in Shawnee County District Court, the Associated Press reported. While casino operator Boyd Gaming is supportive of legalized sports betting, it is seeking a $25 million penalty for the alleged breach of contract.

There is debateover whether historical horse racing is tantamount to pari-mutuel betting, a different class of gaming that would be allowable under the Kansas Expanded Lottery Act.

Attorney General Derek Schmidt said in an interview last month that his office has been tracking the matter. Schmidt's office previously said a more expansive effort to allow for slots at the greyhound park would violate gaming contracts.

"We're mindful of that bill was passed," Schmidt said. "We're taking a look at it to see what role if any, we need to play and because I don't know what that might look like, I probably don't need to talk much more about it until we've assessed it."

Andrew Bahl is a senior statehouse reporter for the Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached at abahl@gannett.com or by phone at 443-979-6100.

Originally posted here:

Sports wagering is now law in Kansas. Here's when you could start betting on games. - The Topeka Capital-Journal

Its information overload everywhere, and theres not time enough to sleep and eat and stay fully apprised of whats happening on this crazy blue dot of ours (two out of three aint bad). Heres the weekend Sports Handle item, Get a Grip, recapping the weeks topU.S. sports bettingstories, highlighting some fresh news, and rounding up key stories.

Shockers, Surprises, And Ho-Hums: Celebrating Four Years Post-PASPA

Its Official: Kansas Governor Makes Sports Betting Law

Kentucky Derby Winner Rich Strike Wont Run In Preakness Stakes

Derby Jockey Leon Takes Forced Vacation After Historic Win

TVG Service Interruptions On Kentucky Derby Day Business As Usual For Horse Racing

Fixed Odds Arrive At Monmouth Park

Sportsbooks Seeing Heavy Action On NBA, NHL Favorites Moneylines

Buffalo Bills Remain Super Bowl Favorites After NFL Schedule Release

Genius Touts Strong Customer Acquisition Metrics, Even As Q1 Losses Swell

Its Your Sportsbook Operator On Line One

Colorado Problem Gambling Funding Clears Legislature, Draws Pointed Criticism

Gambless Brings Responsible Gambling Into The App Age

Chicago Aldermen Discuss, Question Casino Process As Decision Draws Near

We Dont Want Your Casino, Chicagoans Tell Ballys At Town Hall Meeting

Sportsbook Launch Roundup: Midwestern States Enhance Retail Offerings

April Sports Betting Handle In Indiana Dips Below $400 Million

Circa Sports To Enter Illinois Via New American Place In Waukegan

Illinois Posts Record $971 Million Sports Betting Handle For March

California Tribes Wont Try For Mobile Proposal On 2022 Ballot

First Sports Bets In Maine Still More Than A Year Away

Judge In PlayUp vs. Mintas Dispute Scolds Both Sides To Put Aside Their Rancor

In the same week that a tribal group led by the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians announced it would pull back and try to qualify its ballot initiative for 2024 rather than 2022, backers of the two initiatives poised to be on the ballot announced additional support.

The political committee running the California Solutions for Homelessness and Mental Health Act proposal on Wednesday released a list of 21 organizations tied to homelessness, mental health, housing, local government, seniors, and businesses insupport of a digital sports betting measure. According to the press release, should the measure pass, the proposal will funnel hundreds of millions of dollars per year to help tackle Californias homelessness problems. The initiative is backed by seven potential sports betting operators, including BetMGM, DraftKings, and FanDuel, and the political committee submitted 1.6 million signatures to the Secretary of State for verification last week.

Our organization strongly supports the initiative, said Miguel Perez, Executive Director of the Kings Tulare Homeless Alliance. Homelessness is at a crisis point across this state. This provides a safe and responsible path to legalizing online sports betting and generating hundreds of millions of dollars each year that will help local leaders fight homelessness. California cant afford not to act.

One day later, a tribal group backed by the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians, the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, and the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians released its own updated list of proponents backing the tribal-only, retail-only initiative that has qualified for the ballot. The list includes tribes, civic groups, public safety groups, faith-based organizations, and homelessness advocates in opposition to the so-called Corporate Online Gambling Proposition.

The Corporate Online Gambling Proposition was written for the sole benefit of out-of-state gambling corporations, Pat Fong Kushida, president and CEO of the California Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce, said in a press release. This measure would give online gambling corporations near total control over the sports wagering market, effectively hijacking any local economic benefits for our small businesses, while sending 90% of profits from sports gambling out of state and even out of country.

During the companys 2022 first-quarter earnings call on Tuesday, Wynn Resorts CEO Craig Billings reaffirmed the companys commitment to its online gambling division in light of media speculation on a potential sale.

The speculation intensified in January when the New York Post reported that Wynn Resorts placed Wynn Interactive up for sale at $500 million, a steep discount from the $3 billion valuation it received in 2021. Earlier this week, Sports Handle reported that Wynn Resorts opted to hold on to the online division, citing comments from multiple sources.

Wynn Interactive, which contains WynnBET, the companys online sports betting division, is struggling to gain market share in New York. For the week ending May 1, WynnBET reported an online sports wagering handle of $2.4 million, far below market leader FanDuel Sportsbook, which handled $135.6 million in sports bets.

Despite a more prudent approach to ad spending, Wynn Interactive reported operating losses of -$105 million, nearly doubling the total from the previous years quarter. At the same time, the companys EBITDA burn rate improved amid declines in marketing expenses, according to Wynn CFO Julie Cameron-Doe. Wynn closed on Wednesday at $58.85 a share, down 4.8% on the session.

Matt Rybaltowski

On Monday, BetMGM announced a new partnership with the Houston Astros, seemingly laying groundwork should lawmakers there legalize sports betting. Texas is currently surrounded by legal wagering states, but the state legislature in 2021 declined to seriously consider any gambling bills, and wont meet again until 2023.

A permanent BetMGM outfield wall sign and rotational promotional messaging behind home plate are included in the deal, according to a press release. The partnership includes special betting promotions for BetMGM customers in Louisiana. Astros fans will also be given opportunities to take part in VIP experiences, including throwing out the first pitch and on-field access.

In other deals this week, the Los Angeles Sparks partnered with LegalZoom, a legal, compliance, and tax solutions platform, and Texas A&M partnered with Logo Brands for branded tailgate and outdoor lifestyle products.

Daily fantasy sports provider Underdog Sports, which has plans to move into the sports betting space, announced that Stacie Stern, formerly with FanDuel, has joined the company as vice president of government affairs and partnerships. Underdog is funded in part by Mark Cuban, Kevin Durant, Trae Young, Odell Beckham Jr., and a host of other sports and entertainment personalities.

Underdog is the most exciting and innovative company in the space and has a great shot to be a market leader in the coming years and I cant wait to play a meaningful role in the growth, Stern said in a press release.

In other corporate news, U.S. Intergrity on Wednesday announced the hiring of former Bloomberg engineer Ricky Wong as Chief Technology Officer.

According to the American Gaming Association, commercial gaming revenue across the U.S. set a first-quarter record at $14.31 billion in the Q1 2022, including $5.31 billion in gaming revenue in March, the highest revenue month in history for the industry. First-quarter revenue increased 29% year over year. For a look at the growth, click here for the AGAs State of the States report.

The AGA also said sports betting and iGaming set records for growth. Four years post-PASPA, legal sports bettings success is proving what weve known all along: American consumers are eager to wager within the protections of the regulated market, AGA President Bill Miller said.

During its monthly meeting on Thursday, the Washington State Gambling Commission unanimously voted to send the Chehalis Tribes amended compact to Gov. Jay Inslee for approval. Should the governor and the U.S. Department of the Interior give the amended compact the green light, the tribe which operates the Lucky Eagle Casino in rural Rochester will become the 20th in the state with the ability to offer sports wagering.

Additionally, the amended compact will allow for higher betting limits in certain table-game areas, and will increase the percentage of profits that the tribe contributes to charities and problem gambling services.

Mike Seely

BLAME THE MOB? Bodies found in Lake Mead renew interest in organized crime. [AP]

MINNESOTA MOVEMENT: House approves sports betting bill, but at odds with Senate. [Star-Tribune]

DOOMSDAY? Jan. 9, 2022 was almost a black swan event for sportsbooks. [ESPN]

FLORIDA GAMING COMMISSION: Gov. Ron DeSantis appoints five to new entity. [FloridaPolitics]

PAYSAFE MOVES INTO EUROPE: Payment platforms partners with PlayTech in Europe. [BusinessWire]

WEVE GOT NEXT: Quarter4 adds WNBA to sophisticated A.I. prediction platform. [Yahoo]

INFLATION? NOT HERE: DraftKings CEO Jason Robins says wagering not affected by rising costs. [Yahoo]

LAWSUIT: A day after legalizing sports betting, state of Kansas sued by Boyd Gaming over dogs. [AP]

NCAA ON NIL: College association trying to find ways to legislate name, image, and likeness. [SI]

Matt Rybaltowski contributed to this report

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Get A Grip: The Week In Sports Betting - Sports Handle

Fans have gotten a taste of Florida sports betting and now the wait is on for when it will return. Sports betting in Florida rolled out in April 2021 through a compact between the state and the Seminole Tribe, one of the tribes that oversees Indian Gaming in the state. Florida online sports betting launched in November 2021, but was quickly met with concerns from the Seminoles and challenged by local groups for violating the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. The tribe pushed for the compact to be appealed and Florida internet sportsbooks had to pause operations. As of May 2022, Florida sports books can not return until all lawsuits and appeals are finalized. Despite the stalemate, some sportsbooks are still confident that measures can be voted on to bring Florida sports betting back for good. Seminole-run in-person casino gambling, such as card games and slot machines, and pari-mutuel horse racing are current legal forms of gambling in Florida.

If Florida online sports betting sites can get the green light again, Floridians will be able to take advantage of many Florida sportsbook sign-up offers and online sportsbook promotion codes. If you need a refresher on Florida online sports betting terminology in the meantime, here is a sports betting glossary from our friends at SportsLine.

When Florida online sports betting returns, there are multiple ways sports fans in the Sunshine State can wager on their favorite sports teams and leagues. Here are some examples:

Outright: This is a popular type of bet in sports like golf. With an outright bet, the bettor picks which golfer will win an entire tournament.

Prop bet: A prop bet is a wager on something other than which golfer will win a specific tournament. You can bet on how many points a basketball player will have in a game. In baseball, you can bet on whether a batter will hit a home run or how many strikeouts a pitcher will have.

Handle: The handle is the total amount of money taken in by a sports book for a particular event and it includes every type of wager.

If you're looking for the best values on the board in Florida or elsewhere, be sure to check out SportsLine, which specializes in Vegas picks, DFS advice and season-long fantasy sports projections.

An industry leader, SportsLine.com provides advanced computer modeling, expert picks, news and analysis of all the biggest events in sports. It can help you identify in which games you'll have the biggest statistical advantage. Plus, you'll get access to a team of over 40 experts.

SportsLine provides betting advice across the four major professional sports, college sports, golf, tennis, soccer, combat sports, horse racing, auto racing and more. It's a proven resource to sports bettors around the world. You can sign up here to enjoy all of the sports betting and fantasy sports advice that SportsLine has to offer. Then, use your knowledge to crush Florida online sports betting when it becomes legal again.

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Sports betting in Florida: Has it been legalized, how to bet online, where to find picks, best promos - CBS Sports

[NOTE: An earlier version of this post incorrectly stated California has certified the second sports betting initiative discussed herein. We have since updated the post to reflect that the second initiative merely secured enough signatures to qualify for the ballot and will officially be certified once the signatures are verified by the California Secretary of State]

On May 3, 2022, the backers of a second sports betting initiative announced they have secured the requisite number of signatures to qualify for the November 2022 ballot in California. As we reported in September 2021, the state previously certified an initiative proposed by 18 of the states federally-recognized Indian Tribes, which would allow for legalized retail, but not online, sports betting at the states tribal casinos and licensed racetracks (the Tribal Initiative). Two other initiatives were proposed one by a group of California cities (the Cities Initiative) and another by a group of leading commercial online betting platform operators (the Operator Initiative). But only one the Operator Initiative secured the requisite number of signatures by the April 26 deadline. Assuming the signatures are verified by the California Secretary of State on or before June 30, the Operator Initiative will be certified (i.e., listed on the ballot).

If approved by voters in November, the Operator Initiative would amend the states constitution to (i) give the states tribes the right to offer online and retail sports betting and (ii) permit the Tribes to contract with commercial sportsbook operators to conduct online betting operations on the tribes behalf. The initiative would cap operators share of net online betting revenue at 40% and would limit the term of any agreement between a tribe and operator to seven years.

Article II of the California state constitution provides that to the extent two or more ballot measures approved at the same time conflict, the measure with the most votes shall prevail. The operators insist their initiative complements the Tribal Initiative, as it merely adds an online component to the retail betting framework set forth in the Tribal Initiative. They insist further that because the Tribal Initiative doesnt specifically prohibit online sports betting, the measures do not conflict.

Proponents of the Tribal Initiative reject the notion the two measures are complementary, insisting the intent behind the Tribal Initiative is to limit sports betting exclusively to in-person wagers. Because the Operator Initiative permits online wagering, they maintain, the measures are irreconcilably different.

If both measures receive 50% or more approval from voters in November, it will likely be up to a California court to decide whether and to what extent the measures can co-exist.

We will continue to monitor the situation in California and provide further details upon any new developments.

[View source.]

Read more from the original source:

Second Sports Betting Initiative Qualifies for 2022 Ballot in California - JD Supra

Many Californians are looking ahead to November because a bill to legalize California online sports betting is about to be voted on. California has Indian gaming casinos and horse tracks for in-person betting, but the new bill could mean California sports betting could become a reality. If California mobile sports betting gets the green light, sports fans in the Golden State will get to wager on all of their favorite sports teams, leagues and games from the comfort of their own homes. That means using California online sportsbook sign-offers and other California sports betting promotions to win big.

Before California sports books get the go-ahead, new bettors should be familiar with common online sportsbook terminology. Here is a sports betting glossary from our friends at SportsLine.

There are several ways you can make sports wagers both online and in retail sportsbooks and plenty of bet types you'll want to familiarize yourself with.

Over-under: This betting method is perfect for when you think a game or match will have a very high or very low score, like in pro basketball. Sportsbooks will set a total number of points expected for a game and then bettors decide which side of that number the combined scores will land on. So, if the over-under for a basketball game between two California pro basketball teams is 200, you can bet on whether the total of the two scores will be more or less than 200.

Outright: This is a popular kind of bet in sports like pro golf. With an outright bet, the bettor picks which athlete or driver will win an entire tournament or race.

Parlay: Parlays are wagers that are combined with other wagers to multiply the payout. If you put together a three-leg parlay, all three bets you've strung together must win for the overall parlay to pay. A three-leg parlay could involve picking three teams to win. If they all win, your bet wins too.

Prop bet: A prop bet is a wager on something other than which horse is going to win a specific event. You can bet on how many points a basketball player will have in a game. In baseball, you can bet on how many strikeouts a pitcher will have.

Handle: The handle is the total amount of money taken in by a sports book for a particular event and it includes every type of wager.

If you're looking for the best values on the board in California or elsewhere, be sure to check out SportsLine, which specializes in Vegas picks, DFS advice and season-long fantasy sports projections.

An industry leader, SportsLine.com provides advanced computer modeling, expert picks, news and analysis of all the biggest events in sports. It can help you identify in which games you'll have the biggest statistical advantage. Plus, you'll get access to a team of over 40 experts.

SportsLine provides betting advice across the four major professional sports, college sports, golf, tennis, soccer, combat sports, horse racing, auto racing and more. It's a proven resource to sports bettors around the world. You can sign up here to enjoy all of the sports betting and fantasy sports advice that SportsLine has to offer. Then, use your knowledge to crush California online sports betting when it's a reality.

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Sports betting in California: When it will be legalized, how to bet online, where to find picks, best promos - CBS Sports

At the end of April, the Massachusetts Senate passed a sports betting bill via a voice vote. Having faced criticism around the lack of transparency in voice votes, which dont show the public how individual lawmakers would vote, Senate President Karen Spilka told Boston Public Radio Friday that she would have voted yes had the vote been a roll call.

Spilka committed Friday that the final vote will be a roll call.

It's no secret, I am not a fan of gambling, Spilka said, referencing her vote against a casino law in 2010. I would have voted yes on this particular bill based on [these] very strong pieces of consumer protection.

Spilka pointed to parts of the bill that would require 9% of revenue going to addiction treatment resources, prohibitions on credit card use for betting and limits on advertising as conditions that led to her support.

The House also approved a version of the sports betting bill in April. Next, the House and Senate will reconcile any differences before a final vote differences that perhaps most notably include whether college sports betting will be legalized.

The Senate President also discussed the Senates $50 million budget plan released Tuesday, which includes funding for early education, childcare, opioid addiction treatment, mental health care, higher education scholarships and more. The budget also allocates $2 million towards reproductive health care and rights.

She hinted that there is more to come on protecting abortions in the commonwealth, following the leaked Supreme Court draft decision that would overturn Roe v. Wade that was first reported by POLITICO.

We are looking at language, working with reproduction advocates, working with the attorney general as to what more we need to do, she said. We're looking at other legislative options. Again, this is all very early, but I anticipate that we will do more as well.

The Senate will start debating the budget on May 24.

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Spilka says she 'would have voted yes' had sports betting bill gone to roll call - GBH News

JEFFERSON CITY The General Assembly enters the final week of its annual session with a laundry list of legislative wishes, but it remains to be seen how many will get across the finish line.

Last week, lawmakers passed a $49 billion annual budget, fulfilling their constitutional obligation mere hours before the deadline to get the bills to Gov. Mike Parson's desk. There aren't constitutional requirements to pass any other legislation, but the Republican majorities are aiming to regardless after an election-year session that has been dominated by inter-party disagreements.

With the clock ticking down, the number of bills sent to Parson this year could be smaller but those that do pass are more likely to contain key priorities.

"This has been a painful path on certain days and weeks," said Senate Majority Leader Caleb Rowden, a Columbia Republican, last week. "We will presumably pass fewer actual bills this year.I would assume those bills will be larger and we'll get more of these smaller things done."

If the GOP can avoid halting progress and keep members satisfied, the lead Senate Democrat said, there's still the potential for significant legislative movement.

"It's very much like playing against Michael Jordan in the fourth quarter," said Minority Leader John Rizzo of Independence. "You know what's coming, you just got to hope he misses it. We'll see how it goes."

Here are a few issues that could see debate and possible action in the final five days of the 2022 regular session.

Redrawing Missouri's congressional map is in part what spurred so much disagreement and a lack of action early on in the session. But state lawmakers seem determined to make one last run at redistricting, under the threat of several lawsuits seeking court intervention and with the knowledge that the Show-Me State is the last in the U.S. to pass a map.

A new proposal passed out of a House committee last week would likely retain the current partisan alignment in Congress six Republican-favored districts and two Democrat-favored districts. Its most drastic changes come in the 2nd district in suburban St. Louis, where regional lawmakers have pushed hard for certain communities and counties to be included or excluded. It also splits each of the city of Columbia in mid-Missouri and Webster County in southwest Missouri between two districts.

Republicans are also seeking to pass a litany of changes to how elections are run, ahead of voters heading to the polls this fall.

The proposal with the most momentum is House Bill 1878, which requires photo ID to vote and allows for two weeks of early voting, among other measures. It was debated and finalized by the Senate last week; it needs a final vote in the chamber, after which the House can request a conference to negotiate a compromise or accept the Senate's version of the 82-page bill.

Several proposals to make it more difficult for voters to put a measure on the ballot through the initiative petition reform process have made it through the House but have seen little action in the Senate. Rowden told reporters last week it still wasn't off the table.

Legalized sports betting could also see a last minute compromise and push after previous attempts to pass bills on the subject ran into resistance.

The latest proposal came in the Senate at almost 1 a.m. last week, as Republican Sen. Denny Hoskins of Warrensburg proposed new language legalizing sports betting but excluding language on video lottery terminals, which have proved to be controversial among other Republicans. It imposed a 15 percent tax on wagers, allowed for parlay bets and included $5 million for measures relating to gambling addiction.

Sports betting in Missouri: House approves bill legalizing betting on college, pro teams

Hoskins said that latest language had been discussed with professional sports teams in the state as well as lobbyists with the casino and gaming industries, but eventually withdrew the language. But as a priority for some of the state's biggest teams and a potential generator of big revenue, its proponents will aim to pass some form of sports betting legalization if possible.

Republicans have also indicated that two bills targeting social safety net programs could be priorities in the final days.

House Bill 1860 would allow Missouri to reduce how long unemployment benefits would be available depending on the current statewide unemployment rate, going as low as eight weeks.

House Joint Resolution 117 would ask voters whether or not MO HealthNet, Missouri's Medicaid program, could be subject to appropriation by state lawmakers. The measure could potentially lead to the General Assembly stripping out funding for parts of the expansion population, which is funded in this year's budget but was not in last year's budget due to many Republicans' opposition to expansion.

Both bills still needto make it through Senate debate and potential amendments before being voted on by the chamber and seeking final approval from the House.

A number of other pieces of legislation could see a final push this week:

Galen Bacharier covers Missouri politics & government for the News-Leader. Contact him at gbacharier@news-leader.com,(573) 219-7440 or on Twitter @galenbacharier.

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Missouri bills from sports betting to redistricting still on the table - News-Leader

Phase one of US sports betting is over without ESPN deeply involved.

Earnings calls no longer focus on growth-at-all-costs and market share. Instead, execs talk of cutting marketing spend and the path to profitability.

In other words, the initial land grab is subsiding. But what does that mean for those who never participated in it?

Industry investor David VanEgmond asked on social media.Has ESPN missed the party? Indeed, ESPN did not cash in massively as a media outlet or as an operator.

The company may have inked advertising deals with DraftKings and Caesars Sportsbook but it did not secure the big exclusive ad deal like NBC or CBS, VanEgmond said.

The company did try. It was looking for at least $3 billion over several years to license the ESPN brand to a sportsbook partner, according to a WSJ report last year.

Partners balked at that price tag. And now market leaders have established their brand and share.

As VanEgmond put it:

FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM and Caesars own ~80% national market share and dont need to do a deal with ESPN at all costs for brand awareness. Plus DKNG and CZR did small deals with ESPN already. Why break the bank now?

It feels like the big payday was missed even if the market is still early days, VanEgmond added.

Parent company Disney held its Q2 earnings call on Wednesday, and for the first time in several quarters there was no talk of sports betting.

The marketing opportunity is perhaps gone, given now-falling ad spend from the industry. But that closing door opens up another, specifically the chance to run a sportsbook under the ESPN brand.

ESPN has said multiple times it is willing to go down that road,as long as it has a partner with industry expertise.From that perspective, ESPN might have benefited from waiting rather than missing out.

For one, the competitive environment is now much less intense. Some operators have dropped out of the sector entirely. WynnBet and Caesars cut marketing dramatically, while other companies are turning their focus to profitability rather than growth at all costs.

This is an opportunity, said industry consultant Alun Bowden. The space is less crowded. People made mistakes but you dont have to repeat their mistakes.

It is also shortsighted to assume the US sports betting market is settled in perpetuity with FanDuel and DraftKings atop the pile.

As Bowden put it in his recent newsletter:

The way things are is just the way things are. It is no more a guide to the future than the run out of red and black on the roulette table.

The growth of BetMGM over the last year is just one example of how quickly things can change. Further afield,Sky Bet rose to prominence in the UK well after the market matured.

Sky Bet didnt really become a serious player until something like 2010, said FanDuel founder Nigel Eccles. And ESPN is much more dominant than Sky Sports was in the UK.

The comparison is helpful because ESPN has many of the attributes that made Sky Bet a success, starting with a massive customer acquisition funnel via TV and digital assets.

An ESPN Super 6-style game would be very successful, Im sure, Bowden said.

Some 5.5 million people have played the free-to-play game at Fox Sports for instance.

Perhaps the bigger question then is ESPNs partner. Who is going to bring the technology and operational expertise to pair with the ESPN brand and customer base?

Bet365 is one tantalizing option, given the quality of the product and relative lack of brand awareness in the US.

Thats the only one that makes sense to me, Eccles said. They would need to figure out market access but I suspect that gets easier as a lot of the tier-two operators start to bail sooner or later.

PointsBet is another interesting potential technology partner, with the companys betting app ranking third in Eilers & Krecjicks recent app review, behind only FanDuel and DraftKings.

Alternatively, Bowden suggests one of the current market leaders could opt for a dual-brand strategy with ESPNBet alongside BetMGM, for example.

The exact details remain to be seen, but the opportunity is clear. ESPN is still evaluating various options in the space, LSR understands.

As for missing the boat? Well, as Bowden put it: The boat has barely left the dock.

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Analysis: Has ESPN Missed The US Sports Betting Boat? - Legal Sports Report

Obfuscation of player injuries during Stanley Cup Playoffs has hardened over the years into a quaint and often comical traditionDAVID BERDING/USA TODAY SPORTS

The NHLs "concealing approach to injury disclosure has made it an outlier" among sports leagues "full-throated efforts to profit from legalized sports betting," according to Adam Kilgore of the WASHINGTON POST. The obfuscation of player injuries during the Stanley Cup Playoffs has "hardened over the years into a quaint and often comical tradition." While other leagues maintain "strict rules about disclosing injuries and punish noncompliant teams," NHL coaches still "discuss injuries in only the vaguest terms, and the league has no mechanism that compels teams to reveal specifics." Even in an "age of widespread gambling, from which it reaps financial benefits," the NHL has "stuck with its approach." But the "dearth of transparency" means the fans whom the NHL has "tacitly or explicitly encouraged to gamble on its games often operate without the most fundamental knowledge: Whos playing?" Kilgore: "More disquieting, it allows for the possibility that some bettors or bookmakers could gain access to information the public does not have, skewing the market in the favor of insiders." The NHL has "ventured into new territory with betting," as the league and its franchises have "formed partnerships with a passel of online sportsbooks." However, the league has "no plans to adjust how it permits teams to withhold injuries from the public." The NFLs "comprehensive injury-disclosure policy" was adopted with the aim of "creating a level playing field for bettors, although some NFL coaches remain deliberately vague." In a "rapidly evolving climate," though, some sportsbook operators "expect that to change" (WASHINGTON POST, 5/10).

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NHL approach to injury disclosure conflicting with sports betting growth - Sports Business Journal

A series opener between the Boston Red Sox (13-21) and Houston Astros (23-12) is scheduled for Monday at 7:10 PM ET, at Fenway Park.

The Red Sox are a home favorite (-122) versus the Astros (+103). The matchup on the mound for this contest is set with the Boston Red Sox looking to Garrett Whitlock (1-1), and Jake Odorizzi (3-2) getting the nod for the Houston Astros.

The Astros earned an 8-0 victory against the Nationals yesterday. Chas McCormick (1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI) led the way offensively, while Justin Verlander got the win on the mound after going five innings without giving up an earned run on two hits, while striking out five.

Here is everything you need to prepare for Mondays Red Sox vs. Astros matchup.

Major League Baseball odds courtesy of Tipico Sportsbook. Odds updated Sunday at 8:04 PM ET. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub.

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Boston Red Sox vs. Houston Astros odds, tips and betting trends | May 16 - USA TODAY Sportsbook Wire