Happy Monday, everyone. Sports betting news is in the mainstream with the NFL back in full swing and multiple states preparing for launches.
The LSR Podcast discussed many of last week’s big stories and touched on the potential issues facing gambling advertising in the US.
Make sure to follow @LSPReport on Twitter for the latest industry updates.
Top sports betting news: CT could launch this week
The first legal sports bets in Connecticut could be made at Mohegan Sun as early as this week.
The state’s updated compact with the Mohegan Indians was published in the Federal Register last week, making it effective. A spokesperson for Gov. Ned Lamont said it would take about a week to get the necessary approvals for retail betting following the compact’s publication.
The updated compact for the Mashantucket Pequot Indians is still pending publication.
Online launch scheduled
Meanwhile, the state’s three online sportsbooks have an official launch date: Oct. 7. DraftKings Sportsbook, FanDuel Sportsbook and Rush Street Interactive‘s SugarHouse-branded sportsbook will all launch simultaneously.
It is not just residents of the Nutmeg State waiting for those online CT sportsbooks to launch. Residents of New York and Massachusetts will also lean on the legal books for their NFL betting this season.
Gov. Charlie Baker put a little extra heat on the legislature to legalize MA sports betting last week. Meanwhile, online NY sportsbooks are expected to launch during the NFL Playoffs.
Will PA rebound from summer slowdown?
Last August, Pennsylvania sportsbooks reported a then-record $365 million in handle. Handle more than doubled from the prior month since August marked the return of full-time sports following COVID shutdowns.
This August does not include that kind of momentum as states try to rebound from a July where every US sports betting jurisdiction saw handle fall from the prior month. PA sportsbooks reported just $304.4 million bet this July, the lowest monthly total since that record-breaking August.
Combined August handle from the 10 jurisdictions to report so far is up 10.4%. Sports betting revenue, however, is down 9.6%. Michigan sportsbooks reported a slight uptick in handle last week.
The US saw handle fall 23.8% in July compared to June with revenue down 19.9%.
Last week’s top stories: Arizona off to hot start
The launch of online AZ sportsbooks the same day the NFL kicked off helped the state place top five in transactions for the weekend.
Arizona accounted for 6.1 million geolocation pings between launch and 4 pm local time Sunday, according to GeoComply. The state ranked fourth with 10% of all legal online US transactions.
Elsewhere, a lawsuit looking to halt the market is ongoing.
Louisiana sports betting launching in October
Online Louisiana sportsbooks could be up and running by Oct. 1, according to a USA Today Network interview with Louisiana Gaming Control Board Chairman Ronnie Johns.
The Louisiana State Police had eight sports betting applications as of last Thursday.
Elsewhere, Caesars made another splash in Louisiana and is now the official sportsbook partner of LSU. The state was already an important one for Caesars Sportsbook with three casinos in the state and the Superdome naming rights.
Other top sports betting news
- Applications for Maryland sportsbooks are now available for the 17 establishments named in the enabling legislation. That includes casinos, stadiums and two electronic bingo facilities.
- LSR looked at why it matters that Facebook now offers free prediction games with the launch of Facebook Fantasy Games.
- NJ Division of Gaming Enforcement Director David Rebuck warned sportsbooks about letting marketing departments operate unchecked.
- The lawsuit to stop the launch of sports betting in Florida continued last week with expected filings.
