Category Archives: Sports Betting

Arizona, as youre probably aware, sports betting is now live in your state!

But theres a good chance you havent yet taken advantage of all the free money (and Cardinals gear) you can grab from sportsbooks and theres a lot of it.

Heres whats being offered for Thursday Night Football:

Check out the details on each offer below.

Bet now: Click here

Washington is favored by about a touchdown at home in Week 2, but why take any chances?

No matter what the result of your bet on Thursday Night Football is, youll get $200 from DraftKings with this insane promo. You dont even need to wait to see if your wager hits!

To take advantage:

Click here

Note: You can place a first-time wager of $1+ on any NFL Week 2 game to be rewarded instantly with $200 in additional free bets. This game is being used as an example.

If your original bet hits, you win that too!

Dont snooze on this no-brainer of a welcome offer. Head on over to DraftKings so you can boost your bankroll before the end of NFL Week 2!

Bet $1+, Win $200!

Bet now: Click here

The over/under for Thursdays primetime contest is sitting at 42 total points.

If my math is correct, that projected point total would amount to about six touchdowns between New York and Washington. And thanks to this promo from BetMGM, you can win $200 if either team finds the end zone just once!

To take advantage:

Click here

Note: You can place any first-time moneyline wager of $10+ and be rewarded with $200 in additional free bets if that team scores a TD. This game is being used as an example.

If your original bet hits, you win that too!

Dont snooze on this no-brainer of a welcome offer. Head on over to BetMGM so you can boost your bankroll before the end of NFL Week 2!

Bet $10, Win $200 on a TD!

*DC users must be within 2 blocks of Nationals Park to access the promo.

Bet now: Click here

Whats better than getting the weekend started early with a Giants-WFT Thursday Night Football matchup?

How about earning a free $200 while you watch?

To cash in:

Click here

Note: You can place a first-time wager of $100+ on any NFL moneyline, and youll be rewarded with $200 in additional free bets if your chosen team scores a TD.

Now that you can bet on sports in Arizona, this promo is the perfect way to get a head start! Head on over to Unibet before the season kicks off on Thursday!

Win $200 on a TD!

Bet now: Click here

You probably recognize the name thanks to its longstanding reputation in the casino industry, and now Caesars has made its move into the sports betting world as well.

To take advantage of their ridiculous welcome offer to Arizona bettors

Click here

Note: You can redeem the risk-free bet on any game this week. Giants-WFT is being used as an example. Your NFL jersey will come in the form of a $150 gift card to NFLshop.com.

If your bet wins, its time to celebrate. And if it loses, no worries! Youll be refunded the full amount in the form of free bets.

So what are you waiting for? Youve got nothing to lose and a whole lot to win!

Head over to Caesars today.

Get $5,000 risk-free and a new jersey!

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Arizona Online Sports Betting Promos for Giants vs. WFT: Collect $600+ on Thursday Night Football! - The Action Network

New Jersey regulators were virtually all alone in a brave new world back in late 2013 when the state allowed the launch of legal online casino sites.

Nevada had recently begun permitting online poker, but the ubiquity of brick-and-mortar casinos nearby for most of that states residents made it a niche product. Same for Delaware, which launched almost simultaneously with New Jersey but only via a state lottery-run platform.

New Jersey allowed multiple gaming companies to market their product in the state, leading to advertising oversight challenges.

State Division of Gaming Enforcement Director David Rebuck reminisced about those days Monday during a power lunch panel called The Dos and Donts of Advertising and iGaming. The discussion was sponsored by the GeoComply geolocation firm and the iDevelopment and Economic Association, a nonprofit association that seeks to grow online gambling in the U.S.

For the first two years of online gambling in New Jersey, I made my staff review and approve every promotional plan that was going to be offered to customers, Rebuck recalled. It was overwhelming.

We thought that after two years, wed at least have people understand what our expectations were on promotions, and we needed to move people off such direct oversight, Rebuck added. Now, instead of the proactive way, we react.

With nearly two dozen sports betting operators now active in New Jersey since the first mobile sportsbooks launched in mid-2018, Rebuck wonders if the newer industry is willing to self-police to a sufficient level, given the volume of aggressive advertising.

Do I have to go back to what I did in 2014 and 2015, and even into 2016, and say, Sorry, companies, no promotions unless it is first approved by the state of New Jersey? That would be a very challenging responsibility for the state, but if I am forced to youre gonna do it.

So how can operators avoid such a high level of state oversight? Rebuck offered some tips.

Dont allow your marketing staff to operate unchecked. They can get you in a lot of trouble, because they have different objectives and different views on how to do things.

We understand that there are business needs, and they want to attract people and they want to be creative, Rebuck added. But it is incumbent on the company to understand that, if they act unchecked, it will be checked but checked in a way you wont be happy with, and much different than the way it is today.

Rebuck referenced what he called the fantasy sports ad wars of 2015, when DraftKings and FanDuel battling for market share of the burgeoning daily fantasy sports industry figuratively wallpapered televised sporting events with commercials.

The backlash that occurred at that time, Rebuck said, should be kept in mind today by potentially overzealous sports betting operators.

If the industry does not step in and control itself, the government will step in and create standards that they may not want, Rebuck said.

Strict regulations that exist on tobacco and alcohol advertising, Rebuck said, could be a lesson to be learned for gaming companies in taking precautions to avoid promoting themselves to underage individuals or those in the at-risk gambling category.

As a regulator, something I deal with constantly is the accuracy of promotions, including billboards and mass mailings, where the message sometimes is hard to understand.

Heavy criticism of rampant gambling advertising in the United Kingdom is something to be noted by American companies, Rebuck said, although he added that the gambling culture across the pond is significantly different than here.

While groups opposed to gambling legalization might not raise an eyebrow within the industry, Rebuck recommended paying attention to others with valid concerns.

In the state of New Jersey, one of the strongest advocates supporting gaming [legalization] was Senator Ray Lesniak, Rebuck said of the now-retired Union County lawmaker. But when I hear from him, hes calling me about advertising, and an ad that he thinks might be inappropriate and that is from a person who is a huge advocate of allowing for legal online gambling in the U.S.

(When notified of Rebucks comment by njonlinegambling.com, Lesniak replied, Cool Ive expressed my concerns to him.)

The industry needs to pull themselves together and establish best practices, Rebuck advised. Id rather have them come to me, [saying] that These are what we believe are best practices.

You shouldnt be waiting for regulators to drive the bus on this, he added. You should be at the head of the table, doing the actions that need to be done with your vendors, with your contractors. Dont go on a race to the bottom try to do your best practices and race to the top.

Rebucks sentiments were backed by fellow panelist Daniel Hartman, the director of the Colorado Division of Gaming, where a similarly robust mobile sports betting competitive market is in place.

We are starting to get a little bit of feedback from legislators and from other folks who are saying, Theres too much [advertising], we really didnt expect this much,' Hartman said. They really do need to find a balance, because the last thing you want is to have advertising legislated.

Hartman added that it is important for operators to share information with third-party vendors about who is on self-exclusion lists for those who do not want to be lured back into gambling via targeted advertising to them. Another issue, he said, is advertising at college football stadiums, when so many in the crowd are under age 21.

The strong sentiments expressed this week by Rebuck are reminiscent of earlier days of legal gambling in the state.

In late 2018, Rebuck spoke at the Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas about a FanDuel error on its live odds late in a Broncos-Raiders game that led to an $82,000 easy money win for a sharp-eyed gambler at the Meadowlands Racetrack. FanDuel at first refused to pay, but it relented within days.

We had a very heart-to-heart discussion with FanDuel/Paddy Power/Betfair representatives that maybe we made a mistake, Rebuck said at the time. Maybe we approved internal controls, safeguards, to prevent this from happening that were not strong enough. After further heart-to-heart discussions on actions to be taken both with regard to the event itself and future actions, we came to a strong consensus. All patrons were paid in full.

Rebuck said the incident, while a hiccup for his agency, at least established the rules of engagement for the future.

One thing we did do is we ended forever the European understanding that we have this safe haven for mistakes they make, Rebuck said. In the U.S., our laws are different. We offer protections that are stronger for customers and consumers.

There is no safe haven for companies that make mistakes, whether negligence or gross negligence and there [are] consequences to that, so youd better be better at what youre doing, re-look at your internal controls, reduce your risk.

Photo: Shutterstock

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NJ Regulator Lays Down The Law With Sports Betting Operators About Their Advertising - NJ Online Gambling

NS. Petersburg, Florida During this NFL season, Florida sports fans may finally get the chance to legally bet on their favorite team. That may mean a big plunge in the states new income, but legal hurdles can get in the way.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the Super Bowl at home, the Tampa Bay Lightning won the Stanley Cup in a row, and the Tampa Bay Rays won the trip to the World Series.

Professional sports teams have nicknamed our area Champa Bay.

People are already sports betting

Sports fans like Rob Coronado are profiting from betting on their home team.

Coronado told us while watching a baseball game last afternoon at the Fergs Sports Bar in St. Petersburg.

He is far from the only one secretly betting on sports.

When we asked Rob Stammy about it, he admitted that all his friends had bet on sports.

Why do people have to go behind the scenes or all these apps to access it? Stammy asked. Therefore, legalizing betting on sports makes things easier for all of us sports enthusiasts.

Florida Senator Jeff Brandes last year sponsored a law calling for legalized sports betting, allowing the state to ultimately share some of its profits.

People are already sports betting. They have been sports betting in Florida for years. Again, we generally all have the opposite view. In contrast to todays situation, theyre just creating a legal path to do that, Brandes said.

However, Senator Brandess law, which would put sports gambling under the control of the Florida lottery, was not passed.

Compact could pay state $ 6 billion by 2030

Instead, Governor Ron DeSantis announced in April that he had reached a provisional 30-year compact with the Seminole Indian tribe that runs the Hard Rock Casino.

The transaction included offering face-to-face and online sports betting.

Related: Governor Desantis signs new game compact with Seminole

Under the agreement, the Seminoles will pay Florida up to $ 6 billion from sports betting revenue by 2030. Thats $ 277 per Florida resident.

The agreement was approved by the state legislature and was not opposed by the US Interior Ministry, which regulates Indian games.

But not everyone, including Senator Brandes, endorsed the deal.

Basically, we monopolize the Seminoles to provide sports gambling to Florida. I voted against that monopoly. I dont think thats the right way. We I think we should open it up so that the market can decide where people want to bet and not have to go through one channel, which is a Florida tribe, Brandes said. ..

Proceedings filed and referendum required

Compact is currently being challenged in federal court by two commercial gaming businesses in South Florida, stating that Compact is harmful to their business and violates the law.

The proceedings state that mobile sports betting should not have been consensually granted.

Unlike the legal fiction created by the 2021 Compact and Enforcement Act, bets are placed on both the bettor and where the casino is located, the complaint said.

It can be interpreted that sports betting can only be done on tribal property, Brandes said.

Related: Florida could become the most populous state offering mobile sports betting if lawmakers approve new rules

The state has filed a motion to dismiss, but the judge has not yet ruled it.

Other companies, including DraftKings and FanDuel, are seeking to participate in Floridas sports betting action by sponsoring a voting initiative that opens sports betting to other companies.

If it appears on the ballot next year, the expansion must be approved with a 60 percent vote.

ABC Action News was planning an interview with Hard Rock CEO Jim Allen, who helped create the Seminole Compact, but his spokesman later canceled it because he was too busy to speak.

The Seminoles have recently advertised on Florida television stations, including ABC Action News, to promote the benefits of the agreement.

People are already gambling. Would you like to make money with it? Said Mark Ferguson, owner of the Ferguson Sports Bar.

Ferguson says he doesnt care who is behind him and believes that legal sports betting is good for both Florida and business.

People want to watch 6 or 7 games at a time, and when you have 90 TVs, were the perfect place for it, he said.

If the proceedings are dismissed, sports betting may be allowed as early as next month.

If brought to court, the issue may not be resolved until next year.

If you have a story that you would like I-Team to investigate, please email us at the following address: adam@abcactionnews.com

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Florida sports betting clears hurdles and faces others - Floridanewstimes.com

The US sports betting industry can put a slow July behind it now as Illinois sports betting figures rolled in last week.

Illinois is the last state to report its July sports betting figures, dropping to $369.1 million in handle during the month, according to an Illinois Gaming Board report. That number is down 22.5% from Junes $476.5 million.

Illinois sports betting will likely start to rebound in Augustas bettors prepared for the NFL season. July was the states slowest month since September 2020, when Illinois recorded $305.2 million in handle.

In July, Illinois sportsbooks generated $37.3 million in revenue, good for a 10.1% hold.

Revenue was down nearly 23% from Junes $48.2 million.

The state collected $5.6 million in taxes.

DraftKings led the market with $122.7 million in handle, with FanDuel close behind at $118.5 million. BetRivers continues to be a distant third, drawing $68 million, including $9.3 million in retail bets.

FanDuel kept its revenue lead, generating $15.5 million.

The states in-person registration requirement is set to expire once the IGB awards the first online-only license in the state. That application period ends Dec. 3 and could welcome new operators to the state, like BetMGM, and could result in a significant handle bump.

With not much else underway for most of July, MLB ruled the roost during the month. Illinois bettors wagered $124 million on baseball, or 33.6% of the months bets.

The Chicago White Sox have the state preparing for a playoff run, while the month saw the Chicago Cubs trade away a core of players that brought the city a historicWorld Series title in 2016.

The lack of a robust sports schedule is why July is often the worst month for the US sportsbooks.

Illinois posted the third-highest July handle in the US sports betting landscape, behind New Jersey and Nevada. Every legal US sports betting market saw a dip in handle during the month, with the monthly national handle dropping23.9%.

Revenue did not fair much better nationwide, dropping20.5%. However, hold across US markets was 9.5%, the highest since October 2019.

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Illinois Sports Betting Slides To Low Point In July Revenue Report - Legal Sports Report

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) More than half of the United States now offers legal sports betting, just three years after it was allowed by the U.S. Supreme Court.

When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Dallas Cowboys kick off the NFL season Thursday night, gamblers in 26 states plus the District of Columbia are expected be able to wager on it legally, according to the American Gaming Association, with as many as five additional states offering such bets before the season ends in February with the Super Bowl.

Thats up from 18 states with legal sports betting at the start of last years football season. And some of the biggest markets in the U.S., including California and Florida, are moving toward legalization, with New York planning to adopt mobile sports betting at some point.

The explosive growth of the industry comes as more and more companies join the fray, making it more challenging to gain and hold onto market share and profits.

And it is making things worse for some people with gambling problems, as the industry is coming up with new ways to bet on sports, including live micro-betting on the outcome of things like the next possession in a football game.

Theres no question this will be a huge year, and it will be a record, said Eric Hession, co-president of Caesars Digital, whose parent company bought the William Hill brand this year and renamed it Caesars Sportsbook.

Jerry Arnold, a supervisor at the FanDuel sportsbook at the Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford, New Jersey, just outside New York City, said one trend is clear.

A lot of people having a lot more money, he said. Theyre getting unemployment or stimulus checks and they want to double or triple their money. They say that all the time: I just got a check and Im going to make it double.

FanDuel is the official odds provider for The Associated Press.

More than 45 million Americans say they plan to bet on the NFL season this year, according to the American Gaming Association, the casino industrys national trade group. Thats an increase of 36% from last year.

Sean Williams, who is from New London, Connecticut, but now lives in New Jersey, was at the Meadowlands recently to bet $1,000 on the New England Patriots to win the Super Bowl. He won a sports bet three years ago and has been coming back ever since.

I came here and won a thousand, so Im gonna keep flipping those tickets til I get a million, he said. Thats my goal. Play with their money. Confidence! I came here to win.

Mobile betting accounts for more than 80% of sports betting revenue, much of it occurring live as games are underway.

The NFL, which along with other professional leagues once strenuously fought against the legalization of sports betting, now allows seven sports betting companies to advertise during games, and teams in various sports have inked deals with companies to become official sports betting partners, including deals announced Wednesday involving the Baltimore Ravens and the New York Jets.

Media companies continue to tie the knot with gambling firms, seeking synergies among gamblers who want to bet but also read and watch as much as they can about sports. Sports Illustrated has launched a sportsbook and the Wall Street Journal reports that ESPN is considering a $3 billion deal to license its brand to one or more sportsbooks. Even sports merchandise retailer Fanatics plans to launch a sports betting app.

The ever-increasing competition is making it more difficult to win or hold onto a piece of the pie for sports betting companies.

Market share will be harder and harder to retain over time as more entrants come in, said Matt Prevost, chief revenue officer for BetMGM. But more states have come online in the last 12 months and are (new) markets for us.

Competition is fierce, added Johnny Avello, head of sportsbook for DraftKings. Theres a lot of players in the game now.

Said David Schwartz, a gambling historian with UNLV: The cost of entry is going up as it becomes harder to displaced established entities, which have first-mover advantage as well as the benefits of strategic partnerships. But, if the product is good, bettors will respond to it.

Jay Kornegay, vice president of the Westgate SuperBook in Las Vegas, said the coronavirus pandemic still figures prominently into the sports betting equation this year, particularly as the highly contagious delta variant surges.

A lot of people still dont want to travel and be in crowds, and sports betting from their couch is very attractive to them, he said. You can bet 10 bucks and be entertained for three hours.

There are those who bet much more than that. Earlier this year, a study by the National Council on Problem Gambling found an increase in problematic gambling, particularly among young online sports bettors.

This spike in problems related to gambling reflects both the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the effects of the massive increases in sports betting and online gambling availability in more than half the country, accessibility through mobile devices and widespread advertising, said Keith Whyte, the groups executive director.

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Follow Wayne Parry at http://twitter.com/WayneParryAC

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This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Keith Whytes name and to show he is the groups executive director, not president.

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Half of US offers legal sports betting as NFL season begins - Associated Press

By now, Arizona sports fans have seen the billboards all over the Valley. The ads keeppopping up on social media and inTV commercials while watching sports.

The sportsbook operators are here, and they've struck deals with area pro sports teams and Native American tribes since Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey signed the amended tribal-state gaming compact and sports betting legislation into law in April.

As of Aug. 28, players can register as bettorson their preferred sports betting app, and there are plenty of promotionsthose sports books are offering first-time registrants. On Sept. 9, all state-regulated sports betting is scheduled to become legal online and in person.

The new gaming laws allow for up to 20 Arizona sports betting sites, which gives fans options.

At present,10 betting licenses for tribal casinos and 10 for professional sports teams have been awarded. Among those teams that have forged partnerships with sports books, the Phoenix Suns have linked up with FanDuel, the Arizona Cardinals with BetMGM, the Diamondbacks with Caesar's Sportsbook, the Mercury with Bally's andTPC Scottsdale/PGA Tour with DraftKings.

"I know from experience that the Arizona patrons do drive to Vegas to make a bet, and now they won't have to do that any longer," saidJohnny Avello, director of Race and Sportsbook Operations for DraftKings. "I tell you what's going to make Arizona different then Nevada for instance. It's that you don't have to go into a bricks-and-mortar location to sign up. You can remotely download the app and fund it and you're off and running."

The Arizona Coyotes have yet to announce a partnership but are finalizing their sports betting details. The Arizona Rattlers were granted a mobile sportsbook license and have announced a partnership, but soccer's Phoenix Rising FC was not.

The Suns and more recently the Diamondbacks have already released renderings of what their onsite sportsbooks will look like on the property of Footprint Center and Chase Field.

"Operators, they're trying to get you in the front door, and so they've got the pre-registration offers, they're trying to hit the ground and trying to gobble up as much of the market share as they can,"said Christopher Boan, Arizona analyst and sports betting writerfor BetArizona.com.

"The whole vision for this is it's going to be mobile sportsbooks, and then retail sportsbooks, and then you have daily fantasy sports and you can do whichever ones you want to play with the most," Boan said.

Boan has learned thatthe state of Arizona can expect upwards of $30 to $35 million in taxable revenue from the legalization of sports bettingby fiscal year 2024, and more than $200 million in economic impact.

"Sports betting is a lot more socially accepted nowthan it was even five, 10 years ago," said William Labanowski, CEO of WagerLab, an outfitthatprovides an app formore social and casual betting among friends. "A lot of polling is showing that people are just, especially the younger generation, sports betting is just another form of entertainment. On top of that, a lot of these bodies like the NCAA, the NFL, are just seeing the opportunity in sports betting."

Arizona, with its many professional teams, major college sports and high-profile sporting events, is a new market ripe for sports book operators offering so many wagers.

Once a fan downloads his or her app of choice, the next step is to pick a sporting event, pick an individual or team and check the odds and bettinglines.

Also, fans mustmake sure to have funded the account so as to be able to place bets. Each app shows users how to do so, aswell as how to collect payouts.

Next comes decidinghow much money to wager and factor in the odds. For example, if $50 is placed on the Cardinals to win and they are listed as three-point underdogs, the bettor gets whatever payout the odds stipulate at the time the bet is placed if the Cardinals either win or cover the point spread.

If the opponentwins by three, the bet isa called a "push" and money is returned to the better. The money is lost if the opponent wins by more than three points.

Labanowski said that odds and spreads and moneylines can be daunting to the new bettor, but that it's all easy to pick up.

FAQ: Sports betting in Arizona begins. Here's what gamblers should know

Long road: Through 5 years, 22 tribes and 90 lawmakers, how sports betting became reality in Arizona

There are many different kinds of bets so a player has to make certain he or she knows what type of bet is being placed, whether it be to win or lose based on the spread, the total points (or runs or goals, etc.) scored in the game or even prop bets, which are more detailed.

"It's like a Coke, Pepsi, Dr. Pepper situation, whichever one they want to go with. It's called odds shopping," Boan said. "You download all three of the big ones. You get whatever the best odds are for what you want to bet on. A lot of people are just going to go with the one they like best."

Many people want convenience in placing bets, while some prefer the live sportsbook scene with comfortable seats, TV screens and an atmosphere far different from the comforts of home.

"A lot of people don't want to have to go to a casino to obviously go and place a bet on a game. They want to be able to sit down on the couch, open up their phone and just place their bets," Labanowskisaid.

For the most part, expect a lot of straight bets on outcomes of games from Arizona customers in the early going, starting Sept. 9, as it will take time fornew users to become familiar with the process.

"We welcome competition. We know those other players do a good job, but wefeel we're the best because we have the best app. It's easy to use," DraftKings' Avello said. "We have more content. There's more things for you to wager on, and we feel our customer service is second to none."

Get in touch with Jose Romero at Jose.Romero@gannett.com. Findhim on Twitter at @RomeroJoseM.

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Here's an overview and guide to sports betting as it becomes legal in Arizona - The Arizona Republic

Revenue from legalized sports betting in D.C. has fallen short of expectations, in part because gamblers dont have a lot of options when it comes to placing those bets, according to a Sept. 9 report by the Office of the District of Columbia Auditor.

Revenue from legalized sports betting in D.C. has fallen short of expectations, in part because gamblers dont have a lot of options when it comes to placing those bets, according to a Sept. 9 report by the Office of the District of Columbia Auditor (ODCA).

ODCA found that sports gambling in D.C. is largely confined to the citys GambetDC mobile app. At the time of the audit, the only physical location to place bets was the privately owned William Hill Sportsbook at Capital One Arena, though bettors can also place wagers within two blocks of the arena through the William Hill mobile app.

After sports betting was legalized in May 2019, city officials predicted a tax windfall of tens of millions of dollars.

But between May 2020 and March 2021, when ODCA conducted its audit, the GambetDC app generated just over $440,000 in sports wagering revenue for the city. Meanwhile, the William Hill Sportsbook, despite only being present in one location, netted the city $1.38 million in tax revenue.

The main take-away, according to ODCA, is that the District should build more physical sports betting locations to boost revenue.

GambetDC is run by the Office of Lottery and Gaming (OLG), which is both the regulator and sole operator of sports wagering in D.C.

In its regulator role, OLG grants licenses to private sports betting operators. Up until recently, William Hill was the only licensed operator in the city. The audit recommends that OLG grant additional licenses while also expanding its own retail presence beyond the digital realm, which would likely increase revenue and benefit the city.

ODCA also blamed the disappointing revenues on the pandemic, which not only canceled major sporting events, but also deprived the city of commuters and tourists.

This in turn decreased the number of potential betters, as wagers can only be placed via GambetDC within the Districts boundaries, the report said.

In its response to the report, OLG also blamed the pandemic for its lackluster performance but said it has implemented significant enhancements to the sports betting landscape, many of which align with the reports recommendations.

That includes creating a stronger retail presence, which OLG said was always the plan but was sidelined by pandemic-related health restrictions.

In July 2021, OLG launched self-service kiosks that allow sports bettors to gamble at small businesses such as Bens Next Door, Lous City Bar, Takoma Station Tavern and Dirty Water, with plans to expand the kiosks to other establishments.

OLG also said it is granting additional licenses to privately run operators, including BetMGM, which now operates around Nationals Park. FanDuel also has an application pending to open a sportsbook at Audi Field.

But OLG claims that issuing too many licenses doesnt make fiscal sense, because the costs of regulating private sportsbooks exceeds the licensing fees that the agency gets from those sportsbooks. The District collects 10% of gross gaming revenue from private operators, although that money goes straight to the city, not to OLG.

The agency said it has collected just over $2 million in licensing fees since 2020 but has spent about $3.6 million to regulate the industry.

OLG said it uses the revenue from GambetDC to make up for the shortfall, which is why the citys payout is much less than what many had expected. During the audit period, GambetDC generated $5.5 million in gross gaming revenue (the money left over after payouts to winners), but only $440,000 of that ultimately went to the city.

OLG has also come under fire for its arrangement with Intralot, the company that won a no-bid contract in 2019 to be the sole provider of the citys GambetDC app.

Under the arrangement, Intralot gets 42.5% of GambetDCs gross gaming revenue. Thats actually less than what Intralot gets from other states it works with, including New Hampshire and Rhode Island, but the District also pays Intralot other direct operating costs such as marketing and advertising.

The audit suggests OLG renegotiate those terms so that it doesnt have to pay those costs; OLG said it is reviewing the contract.

The agency has also been criticized for not aggressively incentivizing wagers to lure bettors and for various technical glitches with its app, which rates a dismal 1.6 out of 5 stars on Apples app store.

OLG said it is taking steps to improve its app, adding features such as:

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Revenue from legalized sports betting in DC produces more bust than boom - WTOP

A recent journey up the mid-Atlantic seaboard where sports betting operations are already running provided a wealth of options for Massachusetts to consider. The main takeaway is that while placing a winning sports bet remains both an art and a science mastered by few, the act of placing a sports bet could not be much simpler.

Thanks to technology that can pinpoint your location within the boundaries of a state with legal sports betting, you can just as easily place a bet on your smartphone or laptop as you can by stepping into a brick-and-mortar sports book. Whether it was from a phone at a Washington, D.C., ramen shop, on a train moving through Pennsylvania, on the George Washington Bridge, or dealing in-person with tellers in a D.C. sports arena or the swamps of New Jersey, this reporter never lacked for options.

The starting point

Given its innovative setup, Washington was the best place to start. Our nations capital legalized sports betting in May of 2019; the D.C. Lottery oversees the operation and has its own online app that covers the district, except in four niches for the citys pro sports teams.

The teams have done, or expect to do, deals with gaming companies to conduct betting on sports with their app or at a sports book within a two-block perimeter of their venues. Capital One Arena (NBAs Wizards, NHLs Capitals) has a deal with Caesars-William Hill for both online betting and an actual sports book.

As of last month, bets can be placed in and outside Nationals Park (MLBs Nationals) with the BetMGM app, with a BetMGM sports book located just outside the ballpark expected to open later this year.

Audi Field (MLSs D.C. United) is completing a deal with FanDuel for both a sports book and mobile app. St. Elizabeths East Entertainment and Sports Arena (WNBAs Mystics, G Leagues Capital City Go-Go) has yet to ink any licenses.

Capital One Arena is next to the National Portrait Gallery and Chinatown. Like TD Garden, it hosts two pro teams and concerts on non-game days in non-pandemic years and is atop a train stop.

The big difference, for now, is that within Capital Ones walls sits the first sports book inside a US sports arena or stadium.

The space encompasses nearly 20,000 square feet over two floors, with a spiral staircase into the middle. Theres a bar with a standard sports bar feel to it on the first floor. Upstairs theres more seating space, conference rooms, a restaurant with food designed by a Michelin-rated chef, plus another bar and more betting kiosks, with the doors to the arena concourse.

The Caesars-William Hill sports book runs the betting operation, which includes an app that can be used within a couple of blocks of the building.

The landlord is the arenas owner, Monumental Sports & Entertainment, which also owns the Wizards, Capitals, Mystics, Go-Go, e-sports properties, and broadcasting outlets. Monumental drove the pioneering deal with Caesars-William Hill, but Monumental never touches the betting money. It derives its revenue from rent, food and beverage, media and sponsorship deals, and ticket sales.

With the sports book open 365 days a year, Monumental is trying to make it a destination on dark days for the arena.

NFL Sundays are going to be phenomenal, hopefully, if well be able to flex games into our arena and maybe broadcast games inside on the jumbo boards so people can sit and watch, said Jim Van Stone, Monumentals president of business operations and chief commerce officer, who also envisions drawing patrons to enjoy brunch from arena seats for Premier League soccer games.

This is a flagship operation. Weve had teams from the NBA and NHL come and visit, and their reaction is, first, that they see this is a game-changing experience. Then they want to see if they can get it legalized in their own home markets.

State by state on the train

Just four stops from Capital Ones subway stop is the Navy Yard-Ballpark stop. Its hard to miss; its the one where nearly every square inch of every pillar and wall in the station is emblazoned with BetMGMs black-and-gold ads.

A BetMGM sports book built within a parking garage adjacent to the Nationals stadium is coming soon, say company officials. MLB rules do not currently allow sports books within stadium property, but if you seat yourself in a ramen joint, or just lean against a wall near the ballpark, you can bet with your phone.

Registration for the BetMGM app, the first tethered to an MLB team, requires, like all other sports-betting apps, divulging a lot of personal data: birth date, address, proof of age, and last four digits of your Social Security number. Verification takes half a minute, tops. The last step is transferring funds from your credit card, bank, PayPal, or similar account into the apps account, an even more frictionless act.

Then, you can explore the apps extensive list of straight bets, parlays, prop bets, or futures bets, decide what youre going to bet and how much and then wait it out wherever youd like.

A New York-bound train out of Washington passes through five states with legal sports betting.

First is Maryland, which legalized it in May after voters approved a 2020 referendum. Its not up and running yet, but when it is as soon as this fall, its going to be a big deal. Sixty online licenses will be granted, with the Orioles, Ravens, and Washington Football Team each getting licenses at their stadiums, plus six casinos, eight horse racing tracks, and a couple of bingo halls.

Delaware is next. Notable for being the first state to legalize sports betting after a 2018 Supreme Court ruling gave states not named Nevada the ability to have sports gambling, Delaware so far allows only single-game bets at its three casinos and parlay bets at its lottery outlets. Curiously, online betting isnt on the table for the foreseeable future.

It doesnt take long to pass through Delaware and enter Pennsylvania, an up-and-comer in legal sports betting. The bulk of its $8.1 billion in total money wagered has come in the one year since it allowed mobile sports betting.

Before hopping aboard the train, I had picked Fox Bet, one of the half-dozen online sports books often called a skin in industry parlance approved for use in Pennsylvania. When I attempted to place my bets before crossing the Pennsylvania border, a message of apology flashed. The app did not object to me loading $50 onto it via a PayPal transfer before I reached the border.

About 30 seconds after my Google Maps app showed me I was in Pennsylvania rail space, I successfully placed three bets.

Although I could have, I didnt bet from the train when it entered New Jersey. Instead, with a Yankees-Red Sox series beginning, I chose FanDuel Sportsbook at Meadowlands Racing in East Rutherford as the place to be for the game.

New Jersey hot spot

Less than a 10-mile drive from the Lincoln Tunnel entrance in Manhattan, its the closest New Jersey sports book to New York City. Including the FanDuel app its tethered to, Meadowlands dominates the states retail sports-betting landscape, accounting for nearly 60 percent of the revenue.

FanDuel estimates that one of four visitors to East Rutherford lives in New York, so I thought the game would draw a sizable and rowdy crowd of Red Sox-hating fans in their Derek Jeter pinstripes, the same kind of crowd youd see in the streets and stands at Yankee Stadium.

My assumption was way off-base. All night, there was an average of 30-40 people in the sports book, and while the Yankees-Red Sox game drew prime real estate on an array of 55 TV screens, attention was scattered and rooting strictly bet-related Rays-Indians, Padres-Marlins, Braves-Phillies, didnt matter.

With its black walls and towering 45-foot black ceilings, 34 betting windows, 55 self-service kiosks, a VIP area for those who wish to make $500 minimum bets with a private teller, and a sizable squad of sullen security and other staff keeping an eye over everyone, the place has the feel of a Dr. Evil lair.

The relatively sedate crowd and low-key atmosphere were a reminder of why teams like the Red Sox, Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Revolution want any Massachusetts sports betting legislation to afford them the opportunity to build a sports book in or near their stadium/arena. Proximity to the action, especially for casual bettors who may not have a ticket but would still try to get near the games, seems as if it will draw a crowd that would drive a lot of business to a retail sports book.

Casinos and racetracks would prefer that not to happen.

Mobile betting has been central to New Jerseys rise to becoming the leading sports-betting market in the country. More than 90 percent of every dollar wagered in New Jersey is bet over a phone (more than 20 skins are available), spurring New Jerseys leap over Nevada.

Since New Jersey launched sports betting three years ago and through the end of June, more than $17.3 billion has been wagered, more than a quarter of the $64.7 billion wagered nationwide since the Supreme Court ruling.

New Jerseys success is largely responsible for the quickening momentum in New York to complete an online sports-betting operation as soon as possible. Combined with Pennsylvanias online growth, the New York online betting market should begin to deflate New Jerseys numbers, but until then, New Yorkers can and do drive or take a train to New Jersey to wager.

Another option is to walk into New Jersey via the George Washington Bridge, which is pretty easy after taking the A train to 175th Street on the west side of Manhattan.

There is no New York/New Jersey border marked on the pedestrian path that stretches 212 feet above the Hudson River. My FanDuel and Google Maps apps initially disagreed when I was in New Jersey, but they eventually worked it out and I received permission to bet about 5 yards from the midpoint, where the massive suspension cables dip to their lowest point

The wisdom of betting on sports from any bridge is debatable.

Except in Massachusetts, where that debate cant be had at all.

Michael Silverman can be reached at michael.silverman@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter: @MikeSilvermanBB.

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What I learned from visiting states that have sports betting up and running - The Boston Globe

Al Michaels no longer has to subtly refer to the point spread if a game comes down to the wire on NBCs Sunday Night Football.

Now he can refer to it directly without worrying about drawing a comment from NFL officials in New York.

Three years after the Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act and allowed states to legalize sports betting, the NFL has embraced gambling as part of the landscape.

Nowhere will that be more apparent than during pregame shows, the occasional mention during games and commercials as the point spread is no longer a taboo subject.

Were in a brave new world of sorts. Ive always had fun by being the guy who could play a little bit of the rascal role because the perception of the fan was that the league didnt want any references to gambling, Michaels said.

So what I would do through the years is I would come in the back door, sometimes I would come in the side door, and now I guess theyre allowing me to come in the front door, which is not as much fun as doing it subtly.

It also brings a smile to the face of Brent Musburger, who did prediction segments with the late Jimmy The Greek Snyder on CBS The NFL Today for 12 years. Musburger left ESPN in 2017 to help launch the Vegas Stats & Information Network.

I guess I am a little bit surprised at how quickly the leagues transition from being completely anti-gambling, at least publicly, to being now complete partners with the entire operation, he said.

Much like discussions of analytics and Next Gen Stats, gambling topics during pregame shows or even games will be in moderation.

Christopher Halpin, the NFLs Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy and Growth Officer, said networks can reference betting lines in pregame shows, but only to help contextualize game analysis or a broader storyline. There can also be limited displays of lines during pregame in graphics and the bottom scoreboard updates.

The NFL was the last of the four major U.S. professional sports leagues to partner with sportsbooks even though it commands the most interest and dollars.

According to Play USA, estimates are nearly $12 billion will be wagered this season on NFL games at legal sportsbooks.

The league has also partnered with seven sportsbooks, including Caesars Entertainment, which has a partnership with ESPN, NBC partner PointsBet and FOX Bet.

DraftKings, FanDuel, MGM and WynnBet are also among those who can advertise during games and other league media platforms.

The biggest change viewers will see is during commercials. NBC, CBS, FOX, and ESPN will be allowed to make up to six spots available for sportsbooks during each game one during pregame, one per quarter, and one at halftime.

Halpin said there is a limit because the league doesnt want to see games oversaturated with legal sportsbook ads as they saw six years ago with daily fantasy sports games.

Marc Ganis, the co-founder of Chicago-based consulting group Sportscorp, projects sportsbooks will join automobile companies, fast food, beer, and soft drinks among the large advertising spenders.

The people watching the games make up the market, a very targeted market, that the sports gambling companies need to recruit. So this becomes just a cost of customer acquisition, Ganis said.

FOX, NBC, and ESPN have all experimented with gambling-oriented features the past couple of seasons. FOX and NBC have run free-to-play prediction games offering cash prizes, while ESPN had a gambling spin during one of its MegaCast presentations of a playoff game last season.

ESPN Daily Wager host Doug Kezirian said the betting aspect on last years MegaCast shows that the NFL has come a long way in a short amount of time in changing its stance.

So far, 31 states and the District of Columbia have approved sports gambling. Arizona is on track to be the 24th state to accept bets when their approved sportsbooks plan to go live on Thursday.

I give them a lot of credit, how open-minded theyd been and how progressive theyve been in just a short time window, he said. So in three years, theyve gone from something thats, you know, against the law, embraced it understood it, kept an open mind about it.

Of all the networks, CBS remains an outlier as it has not partnered with a sportsbook. CBS Sports chairman Sean McManus said gambling information will not be a part of game broadcasts for various reasons.

Were trying to thread the needle with respect to how much gambling information that we should put in our studio shows. What is useful to the gambler but not obtrusive to the non-gambler. And I think thats a delicate balance right now, he said. When we think its appropriate, and it makes the telecast more enjoyable and more informative for our viewing audience, we will add more information when we think thats important.

Not everyone is happy, though, with the leagues new relationship with sportsbooks. During an NBC Sports conference call last week, Hall of Fame coach Tony Dungy said that the NFL shouldnt be in a position where it promotes gambling, especially among young people.

Its a great game. I know people gamble. I know its legal. I dont want to see the NFL promoting it, he said. I understand times change, but again, for me, its just a personal opinion.

Viewers looking for gambling-centric information will find it on other shows besides the noon pregame shows. ESPN and FS1 have daily gambling shows and are also increasing their digital content. VSIN, which started with five hours a day of live shows in 2017, has jumped to 21 hours this season.

Even staunch gambling supporters know that distributing gambling information remains a delicate balance and that the approach of a steady rollout makes the most sense.

Theres still a big percentage of the population that will never put a bet down, and you dont want to tick that crowd off. But you cant put your head in the sand and pretend that there arent billions of dollars at stake based on the outcomes of these games, so its a tricky balance, said VSIN co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Brian Musburger.

I still think that the primary broadcast feeds will remain relatively pure to the sport. You dont need to overdo it with sports betting. There are other ways for that audience to be served.

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Follow Joe Reedy at https://twitter.com/joereedy

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More AP NFL coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL

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Gambling wave coming to NFL TV screens, but in moderation - Associated Press

In its first national ad campaign, FanDuel promises to Make Every Moment More.

Caesars commercials promise bettors will be treated like royalty.

DraftKings new ads proudly state that its now an official sports betting partner of the NFL while prominently featuring the leagues shield logo.

Here comes the deluge.

With the NFL kicking off Thursday, sports books are poised to spend up to $1 billion in advertising this year, say experts.

The coming ad blitz is welcome news for media companies, which lost billions during the pandemic-driven sports shutdown. Especially when some traditional marketers like movie studios and auto makers are still holding back.

Look for reach, frequency and overall spending to far eclipse 2015 when the newly launched FanDuel and DraftKings seemed to buy up every commercial slot on sports TV.

FanDuel wants to become the next iconic sports brand in America, said Andrew Sneyd, senior vice president of brand marketing, in an interview with Front Office Sports.

Bottom line: The old stigma surrounding sports betting is gone, Sneyd said. The categorys gone mainstream.

For the first time ever, sports books will be able to buy commercial time during NFL games. With second quarter revenue growing 159% to $906 million, FanDuels being welcomed with open arms by TV, radio, and digital media companies hungry for advertising revenue.

We recognize that we are spending when many others are forced not to or choosing to pull back, Sneyd said. Weve become an important part of partnering with regional sports networks and others.

Chris Holdren, co-president of Caesars Digital, confirmed Caesars Sportsbook is also planning wide-reaching branding push for the new NFL season.

As the official casino partner and an exclusive sports betting partner of the NFL, complimented by a full roster of partnerships with individual NFL teams and having the naming rights to the Caesars Superdome, all anchored by a national advertising campaign and new promotions for Caesars Sportsbook, Caesars will have strong visibility with NFL fans this fall, Holdren said in a statement.

In a deal worth a combined $1 billion, the NFL announced FanDuel, Caesars and DraftKings as its first official sports books in April. Last month, the league added FOX Bet, MGM, PointsBet, and WynnBet as approved sportsbook operators. The leagues official TV partners CBS, NBC, Fox, and ESPN are able to sell up to six gambling-driven spots per game telecast to those seven brands.

FanDuel, Caesars, and DraftKings spent a combined $314.6 million on advertising last year vs. only $84 million in 2019, according to Kantar Media. With live sports returning in full this year, the three spent a combined $109 million in the first quarter of 2021 vs. $18 million during the same period last year.

The increasing legalization of sports betting across the U.S. has created a perfect storm of opportunity for sports betting operators, say sports marketing experts. You aint seen nothing yet, said sports marketing expert Bob Dorfman.

Dorfman predicts sports betting companies will spend between $500 million and $1 billion on football this year.

The ultra-competitive category could turn into the next Cola Wars or Beer Wars, added media consultant Brad Adgate. He expects these companies to spend over $300 million on ads in the fourth quarter alone.

Its no wonder the NFL got a big spike in rights fees that the networks were willing to pay, said Adgate.

While other companies are struggling, betting operators have the money and theyre willing to hire the best.

FanDuels first national brand campaign was created by Wieden+Kennedy: the advertising agency behind Nikes famous Just Do It campaign. FanDuel hired superstar golfer Jordan Spieth to star in its main anthem spot.

Besides three national ads, FanDuel will also air five sportsbooks-focused spots featuring the NFL logo in 10 states where it currently offers mobile sports betting: New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Colorado, Virginia, Tennessee, and West Virginia.

Said Sneyd: Theres a great opportunity for this to be the galvanizer of how were able to bring our product, and every moment that matters to life, to FanDuel overall.

With most of the legal brakes gone, sports bettors could drop more than $20 billion on single-game NFL/college wagering, according to PlayUSA, which tracks legal sports betting. That breaks down into $12 billion for the NFL and $8 billion for college football.

A record 45.2 million Americans are expected to bet on the upcoming NFL season, according to The American Gaming Association. Thats up 36% from last year.

Dan Lovinger, executive vice president of ad sales for NBC Sports Group, said most of the seven operators have talked about buying ad time on Sunday Night Football, the most-watched show in prime time for 10 years running.

Were seeing significant demand theres no doubt about it, reminiscent to when the fantasy category opened up, Lovinger said on a press call. I think when youre starting a business and trying to establish your brand you are going to look for the highest-rated, broadest reach property as possible. Theres no better place to go than Sunday Night Football.

With the league finally allowing betting commercials in and around its games, operators can now advertise directly to their target audience.

No one is going to be shy, Sneyd said.

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Sports Betting Operators To Spend Up To $1 Billion On Football Ads - Front Office Sports