Pennsylvania Lottery adds keno, plans virtual sports betting, new app
The Pennsylvania Lottery has released keno as its first remote game, available at hundreds of retailers across the state. The lottery plans to roll out virtual sports betting and an iLottery app in the coming months.
New Jersey Surrenders to Leagues on Sports Betting Bill
The New Jersey legislature has considered a bill to set regulations for legalized sports betting should the state be successful in its Supreme Court challenge to PASPA.
Legal DFS Starts in Pennsylvania; Continues in Massachusetts
Pennsylvania’s daily fantasy sports regulations have gone into effect and six DFS operators are now taking licensed play in the state. The six companies applied to the state for DFS licensing and are now paying taxes on revenue. And Bay State legislators are poised to include revenues from daily fantasy sports in the state budget. This would require making the law that legalizes DFS permanent.
One Size Sports Betting Doesn’t Fit All
As the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on lifting the federal sports betting ban draws closer, states are busily considering legislation to address the issue. The bills differ from state to state and frequently from other measures within the same state. Some states’ bills include major leagues’ 1 percent integrity fee while others reject it outright. And time is running out for most states.
Penn National Gaming Partners With Lightning Box
Penn Interactive Ventures, a subsidiary of Penn National Gaming has announced a partnership with slots developer Lightning Box. The deal will bring new titles to PNG’s portfolio of online social casino games.
Report: Discussions Underway to Include eSports in 2024 Olympics
Leopold Chung, secretary general of the International eSports Federation, has disclosed that his group is in “deep in talks” with organizers of the 2024 Paris Olympics about including eSports as a demonstration event at the games. The International Olympic Committee recognized eSports as a competitive sports activity in November. In another story, the second annual Casino eSports Conference will be held in September at the Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas.
MLB, NBA May Be Trying to Cut Investment in DFS
A report on ESPN says Major League Baseball and the NBA are trying to exit their investment in daily fantasy sports sites DraftKings and FanDuel, but would still maintain partnerships with the sites. The report said the leagues are in discussions with the two DFS firms.
70 Bids Received for Italian iGaming 75
Italy’s casino regulator ADM recently received 70 applications to operate online gaming. A variety of bids were submitted.
China Bans Online Poker Apps on Social Media
China appears to be cracking down on online poker by declaring that the game will no longer be recognized as a competitive sport and banning promotion of online poker games on social media. According to local media, the ban will require all apps offering any form of social poker game to be shut down and removed from app stores by June.
Wynn Wars Escalate
Elaine Wynn is suing Wynn Resorts to force the board of directors to postpone its upcoming annual meeting and reopen its membership to new nominations. At the same time, a shareholder advisory group backed the contention of Elaine Wynn that a “close friend” of former chairman Steve Wynn should be rejected for board re-election. And the name “Wynn” has been stripped from the huge casino tower rising across the Mystic River from Boston, replaced by Encore Boston Harbor.
Atlantic City’s Ocean Resort Reveals New Strategy
The developers of Atlantic City’s Ocean Resort casino have outlined a strategy for the property, which is in stark contrast to the failed policies of the property’s former management as the Revel casino. Developer Bruce Deifik said officials have listened closely to patron’s criticisms of Revel and are striving to create a better customer experience, which will include a complete redesign of the previously confusing casino floor (l.).
Lifting Sports Betting Ban Could Help Horseracing
Advocates for the precarious horseracing industry are convinced that the legalization of the unrelated activity sports betting could benefit them. They envision racetracks offering both forms of wagering and cross marketing to increase their customer base.
