## North American Sports Betting News Summary: Casino and Sportsbook Penalties, SI Departs Michigan
Greetings from iGB’s State of the Union, where we review the key developments in North American sports betting this week and briefly highlight other news we deem noteworthy.
**Pennsylvania and Massachusetts Impose Fines**
On May 22nd, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board levied a $125,000 (98,089 GBP/115,156 EUR) penalty against Wind Creek Bethlehem Casino for permitting minors to enter the casino on 10 separate occasions. Regulators indicated in a statement that the incidents transpired over a 20-month period and involved 11 individuals.
The subsequent day, on May 23rd, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission fined FanDuel Sportsbook $10,000 for enabling wagers to be placed on Boston College teams. A patron placed a $50 futures bet on the Eagles’ bowl game against SMU on December 5th, 2023. FanDuel detected the wager the following day and nullified it. In most instances, Massachusetts prohibits betting on in-state collegiate teams.
**SI to Depart Michigan by Year’s End**
According to PlayMichigan, SI Sportsbook in Michigan will be withdrawing from the state by the end of the year. The SI Sportsbook platform is now under the ownership of Evoke and was the least successful online betting operator in Michigan during the first quarter of 2024.
Furthermore, its sports wagering earnings were the lowest during the same time frame. SI Sportsbook debuted in September 2022 in collaboration with Island Resort and Casino.
Hard Rock Sportsbook appears poised to take over SI Sportsbook. Earlier this year, Evoke (formerly known as 888 Holdings) acquired 888’s American assets. The Michigan Gaming Control Board will need to assess and authorize the new operator.
SI Sportsbook is one of two operators departing the state in 2024. WynnBet is gradually winding down its operations and withdrawing from numerous states. Caesars Sportsbook purchased WynnBet’s license earlier this year. Digital platforms in Michigan must collaborate with one of Detroit’s three commercial casinos or a tribal casino. SI Sportsbook partnered with the Hannahville Indian Community in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
Additional credit?
Two proposed bills in the Rhode Island legislature would permit Bally’s to extend $100,000 in credit at its casino. The Senate bill is backed by Speaker Dominick Ruggerio, who crafted the state’s legal sports betting legislation.
The Providence Journal reports that Bally’s is raising credit limits to stay competitive. Neighboring Massachusetts has no cap on the amount of credit customers can obtain. And the two tribal casinos in Connecticut can set their own credit limits.
Nevada: Did you place a wager? Keep your ticket.
This Thursday (May 23rd), the Nevada Gaming Control Board turned down a suggestion that would have permitted bettors to cash out their wagers early by selling their tickets. PropSwap, which operates in other states but not Nevada, proposed the idea. The NGCB decided that PropSwap’s business model was unlawful, in part because Nevada doesn’t issue licenses for such enterprises. The proposal included creating a licensing category.
Dave & Busters in Illinois Might Face a Vote
On Wednesday (May 22nd), a bill in Illinois that would have prohibited Dave & Busters from “promoting” gambling was included in a horse racing bill. The amended bill, HB 394, was approved by the Rules and Gambling Committee on Thursday (May 23rd) and is now being considered by the House. The provision would prevent the entertainment center from providing customers the chance to bet against one another. Dave & Busters is proposing this type of betting through its loyalty app, which has raised concerns in several states. Illinois is the first state to propose legislation on the matter.
The Illinois legislative session was scheduled to end today, but it will be extended into the weekend due to the failure to pass a budget bill, which includes gambling tax increases.
Large Payout
On Thursday (May 23rd), Circa Sports declared that it would pay out $16 million in prizes for its Circa Million VI and Survivor NFL contests. The Survivor contest will offer a $10 million guaranteed prize, while the Million VI will offer a $6 million guaranteed prize.
Local sign-ups commence today (May 24th) and are accessible at any Circa Sports Nevada site until September 7th at 2:00 PM (local time).
The competitions are commission-free and will feature smaller tournaments throughout the year. The Survivor competition necessitates bettors to pick one victor each week, outright, and the same team cannot be chosen twice. The Million VI competition necessitates five point spread forecasts each week. Both tournaments have a $1,000 entry fee, and participants can submit multiple entries.
Worth a glance
Are sportsbooks targeting African Americans? The Toledo Blade’s James Truem delves into the matter, discovering that opinions are divided.
Other news…
Beth Bresnahan, former executive director of the Massachusetts Lottery and the District of Columbia Lottery and Charitable Games Office, was appointed Chief Communications and Brand Officer for SciGames on Monday (May 21st). She previously served as the company’s Vice President of Strategic Communications.
BetMGM declared on Thursday (May 23rd) that it is now the official odds provider for the Associated Press. BetMGM odds will appear in the AP’s daily sports odds data and other sports coverage.
The Maryland Lottery approved Betr’s initial license application on Thursday (May 23rd). Betr is currently operational in Ohio and Virginia, with no announced launch date yet. The company withdrew from the Massachusetts market earlier this year.
Essential reads on iGB
Will Illinois raise its tax rate? We’ll find out over the weekend.
The leading Western entity dispatched a response to the national administration concerning the highest judicial body of the nation.
The Massachusetts official eliminated the Gaming Commission.
FanDuel’s peak thirty days of operation in Washington, D.C. exhibited a nearly ninefold improvement over GambetDC’s performance during the equivalent timeframe the previous year.
DraftKings and Jackpocket are uniting.
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