Latest Gambling News Headlines June 18, 2023

Written by:
Ean Lamb
Published on:
Jun/18/2023

NFL Gambling Policy May Not Apply to NFL Free Agents

(June 19, 2023) - Mike Florio of Pro Football Weekly continues to analyze what he refers to as a "clunky, ineffective" NFL gambling policy that has resulted in some players being suspended for a few weeks and others suspended indefinitely.

And now he poses the question: Does the NFL’s gambling policy apply only to players currently under contract with teams, or does it also apply to free agents?

If it doesn’t apply to free agents, players not under contract aren’t bound by it. Most importantly, free agents would be allowed to bet on NFL games and NFL events.

Here is what the NFL had to say about the issue after the question was posed to them:

“The policy applies to NFL Players, which the union defines as players that are under an NFL Player contract or are seeking employment as an NFL Player (i.e., have signed a contract in the past and are currently trying to find a new contract or are undrafted free agents who go to a tryout),” Chief NFL Spokesman Brian McCarthy said via email.

But that is NOT what the policy actually says, as Florio points out.

The gambling policy expressly applies to “NFL Personnel.” That term is defined by the gambling policy as follows: “Unless otherwise limited, this Policy applies to all full-time and part-time personnel including League office employees, club employees, players, owners, coaches, athletic trainers, game officials, security personnel, game-day stadium personnel and other staff, consultants, and temporary contract workers.”

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Chris Christie is Stealing Some of the Thunder of Late, But What About His Latest Odds?

(June 18, 2023) - Outside of front runner and former US President Donald Trump, who we can all agree pretty much sucks up all the oxygen in the room, among the GOP candidates for President, nobody has been more discussed than the one time Governor of New Jersey, Chris Christie over the past two weeks.   This isn't exactly registering among the odds however.

Current Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (also known as Ron DEESantis) has lost a tremendous amount of ground in recent months, perhaps a result of his "War on Wokeness" and an unwinnable battle with the beloved Disney brand.

The bleeding appears to have stopped where DeSantis is concerned, at least where the oddsmakers are concerned.  He's now at +215 to win the Republican nomination compared to Trump at -200.  That's a four point cushion of the former President but DeSantis remains in striking distance.

Christie currently has the 8th shortest odds at 50-1 to secure the GOP nomination.  The likes of Tim Scott, Nikki Hailey and Mike Pence are listed at half the price (in the 22-1 to 26-1 range).

While Christie's number hasn't changed over the course of this past week, he has moved from 75-1 to 50-1 since announcing his run.

The former New Jersey Governor was instrumental in getting a lawsuit to legalize sports betting heard - and passed - by the US Supreme Court.  Since prior prohibition was overturned, more than half the states have benefited from taxes generated by the new industry and, to that end, Christie can take some of the credit.  Whether he wishes to capitalize on this accomplish remains to be seen. 

DraftKings Fights With Fanatics Over PointsBet

(June 17, 2023) - Just weeks after newcomer to the world of regulated sports betting announced its desire to purchase the assets of Australian owned PointsBet, DraftKings has come along with a counteroffer. 

They will pay $195 million, all-cash for PointsBet’s U.S. assets.  Fanatics initially claimed its deal was worth $225 million.  The deal has since been valued closer to $150 million.

Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin tells CNBC after the announcement that he’s highly skeptical of the deal, which he views as DraftKings attempting to slow Fanatics down.

“We are skeptical of the DraftKings proposal which seems like a desperate move to slow down Fanatics and PointsBet from completing the deal as the purchase price and other financial commitments will total more than $500 million — so they are using the majority of their projected year-end cash just to try to block us.”

Others in the industry expressed skepticism.

Brendan Bussmann, B2 Global managing partner, told Gaming Today, had this to say:

"Today’s offer by DK screams of going to the block to keep competition out of the market and overpaying for a potential M&A activity. While the tech may add a little to the DK offering, someone is going to have to convince me this is more than just trying to limit competition in the market.”

“While we continue to focus on operating more efficiently and driving substantial organic revenue growth in the United States, we will also look to prudently capitalize on compelling opportunities at attractive valuations, as is the case with PointsBet’s U.S. business,” said DraftKings CEO Jason Robins in a statement. “We believe DraftKings is uniquely positioned to submit this superior proposal due to our scale and corresponding ability to generate meaningful synergies from the acquisition.”

Neither deal seems to make a whole lot of sense as PointsBet is said to be hemorrhaging money and they hold somewhere in the neighborhood of 5 percent market share in the US regulated market.

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- Frank Doyle, Gambling911.com

Gambling News

Washington Post: Bookies at the Baccarat Table

The Washington Post Thursday afternoon featured a blockbuster report on how Dodgers phenom Shohei Ohtani's ex-interpreter's bookie took part in casino sponsored golf tournaments and was even paired with high stakes gambler Charles Barkley.

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