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This is your sports betting industry news for Saturday June 19, 2021.
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Massachusetts
Mass. slow approach has sent sports wagers out-of-state, supporters claim
While Massachusetts lawmakers have been slow-walking proposals to legalize sports betting over the last three years, the revenue and jobs that it could have provided has passed Massachusetts by, advocates told legislators.
There are more than 20 sports betting bills filed in the legislature. Those need to be whittled down into one omnibus bill.
Massachusetts’ legislative session runs through the end of the year and, as such, there is no rush to meet a particular deadline.
Ontario
Canada sports betting deadline looms
Debate at the third and last reading stage for Bill C-218, the Safe and Regulated Sports Betting Act, began on Thursday but wasn't completed, leaving the legislation hanging until at least Monday.
The chamber has yet to give approval. The bill needs that final legislative approval before it can receive Royal Assent and become law.
The legislation would end the longstanding ban on single-game betting in the Canadian province. Sports betting is only legal in parlay form (requiring multiple connected bets to win in order for a wager to win).
There is opposition that continues to hold up passage.
"When we bring single-event betting into Canada, we will have a problem with match-fixing," Ontario Sen. Vernon White said during Thursday’s debate. "Every other country does, so why would we be different?"
Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board reported on Thursday that the total sports-wagering handle for Pennsylvania in May was approximately $447.5 million, down around 7% from April.
Revenue ticked up around 4% month-on-month to $37 million with a hold rate of 8.4%.
Washington DC
Sports betting brings a stunningly low amount of money to DC
A tax revenue windfall from legalized sports betting has yet to become reality in D.C. following promises by the D.C. Council of tens of millions of dollars in new tax revenue back in 2018.
DC sports betting became a reality this past year, but so too was a worldwide pandemic, one that shut the nation's capital down.
In the meantime, neighboring states that newly legalized sports wagering are doing gangbusters. Maryland and Virginia each are seeing big numbers.
Lottery officials confirmed that from Oct. 1, 2020 through Sept. 30, 2021, D.C. has “right around $230,000 in revenues,” said Craig Lindsey, the interim Chief Operating Officer of the D.C. Lottery.
This fiscal year has been difficult for us because of the COVID restrictions and we’re looking forward to next fiscal year being able to significantly increase that, once we get retail-based sports wagering operational,” said Ridgely Bennett, the D.C. Lottery’s general counsel.
Bennett argued that, once more tourists and federal employees started flowing into the capital, the GambetDC would see an increase in use. Also, individuals will be able to bet with cash as soon as retail sports gambling outfits begin to open up.
He added that more people were willing to stand in line at William Hill’s betting windows at Capital One Arena, or use its app within two blocks of there, because William Hill is an established brand — and GambetDC is not.
- Chris Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher
