MSG Begins Sphere Excavation at the Venetian
The Madison Square Garden Company has begun work on the MSG Sphere (l.) at the Venetian. This 500-foot diameter theater will provide cutting edge experiences in augmented reality. It has a 2021 completion date.
West Virginia Legalizes iGaming
By this time next year, West Virginia will be “almost heaven” for online gamblers.
Heads of NBA, Marshall University Sports Differ on Sports Betting Risk
Adam Silver (l.), the head of the National Basketball Association, and the leader of one prominent college are at odds over risk and risk prevention presented by legalized sports betting.
ESPN Debuts Daily Wager
ESPN has debuted Daily Wager, the network’s first-ever show related to gambling, and according to program contributor Anita Marks, more gambling shows are likely to follow.
Connecticut Considers Sports Betting
A proposal that would legalize sports betting at Connecticut casinos and OTB locations—like Winners at the Hartford airport (l.)—has little chance of passage. The two state gaming tribes have threatened to end their payments to the state if the bill passes, even though they would also get the opportunity to accept sports bets.
Fantasy Sports Measure On Nebraska Agenda
A bill that would legalize, tax and regulate daily fantasy sports was introduced in Nebraska. Its sponsor, state Senator Carol Blood, said DFS is a game of skill, not chance. No other gambling measure has been introduced this session, including sports betting legislation, although neighboring Iowa is moving ahead with it.
MLB, Royals, Cardinals Support Missouri Measure
Testifying before a Missouri House committee, officials from Major League Baseball, the Kansas City Royals and St. Louis Cardinals (l.) said they support a bill allowing betting on college and professional sports. The bill would pay a royalty fee of three-quarters of 1 percent of revenue on professional sports wagers to the sports’ governing bodies, such as MLB.
DraftKings Lobbies for Massachusetts Sports Betting
DraftKings made a visit to the office of a powerful Massachusetts lawmaker to highlight its support for mobile sports betting in the Bay State. A representative of the daily fantasy sports provider visited Rep. Ann-Margaret Ferrante (l.), chairwoman of the committee that will pass any sports betting measure with a football helmet signed by supporters of such a bill
Sports Betting Bill Advances in New Hampshire
A lopsided yes vote in the New Hampshire House approved of a sports wagering bill that would allow betting on mobile platforms and in some brick and mortar locations. The bill now will be taken up by the Senate.
Tennessee Considers Mobile-Only Sports Betting
Tennessee state Rep. Rick Staples’ sports betting bill, HB 1, has undergone several changes, including allowing only mobile sports wagering instead of that plus 50 sports books throughout the state. Other changes would raise the sports betting tax rate from 10 percent to 20 percent and allow 10 licenses at $750,000 each.
Cuomo: No Casinos in NYC
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (l.) has made it clear he will not be rushed into any proposal for downstate casinos before the expiration of a moratorium on them until 2023. He dealt a further blow to MGM and Genting by stating he will not support downstate licenses for existing racinos. He’s also not a fan of mobile sports betting, which could be a blow to the profitability of the wager.
Indiana Approves Majestic Star Sale, Eyes Sports Betting
Spectacle Entertainment and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Rod Ratcliff (l.) officially owns the two Majestic Star casinos in Gary, Indiana, following the state gaming commission’s approval. Spectacle wants to move one license to a new $300 million – $400 million land-based facility in Gary and the other to Terre Haute., which depends upon a massive gaming bill in the state legislature to pass.
