Apple has announced the release of Apple Sports, a standalone free app for iPhone users with a passion for sports.  

The app, which has been designed for enhanced speed and simplicity, will enable quick access to a selection of real-time scores, statistics, and more through customized experiences and a premium user-friendly interface.  

The app can be currently downloaded in the US, Canada, and the United Kingdom with support for English, French, and Spanish users where available. It is available for all iPhone models running iOS 17.2 or later.

Giving Sports Fans “What They Want”

According to Apple’s senior vice president of services, Eddy Cue, the new app was developed with the purpose of offering sports fans “what they want—an app that delivers incredibly fast access to scores and stats.” 

Users will get the chance to stay updated with their preferred leagues and teams and consult scores from the NHL, NBA, MLS, and several important soccer leagues like Premier League, Bundesliga, LaLiga, Ligue 1, Serie A, or Liga MX. 

Men’s and women’s college basketball scores and stats are also covered. The company stated it would add data from the MLB, WNBA, NCAA football, NFL, and NWSL in their upcoming seasons.

At the moment, the sports app does not cover golf, tennis, or the Olympics, but the content is expected to be updated with more leagues in the future. 

Customizable Scoreboards

The Apple Sports app will offer odds with the help of a partnership inked between Apple and DraftKings.

Last week, DraftKings announced it expanded its reach with a $750 million acquisition of Jackpocket.

Sports aficionados will be given a quick and easy way to remain up-to-date with the content they are interested in while being allowed to customize their scoreboards on the app with tournaments, leagues, and teams. 

Navigating between different scores and upcoming events and games, and exploring lineup details, play-by-play information, live betting odds, and team statistics will all be possible with the help of the new app.

Users will also be able to tap to go to the Apple TV app and watch live games via Apple and connected streaming apps.

The Apple Sports app can also seamlessly synchronize with users’ favorites chosen via the My Sports experience. The list includes Apple News and the Apple TV app.

Whether the giant is this way getting ready to tap the lucrative sports betting market, remains to be seen. For the time being, the app does not allow users to bet on the app or be redirected to a sportsbook. 

Apple has also announced users will be able to turn off live betting odds whenever necessary. 

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Gambling giant BetMGM has announced the opening of a new sportsbook in downtown Cincinnati. BetMGM Sportsbook at The Banks is now ready to welcome its first guests.

Previously located at the Great American Ball Park, the sportsbook has now been moved to its permanent spot. The property boasts a 350-square-foot video wall and 42 TV screens, allowing sports fans to never miss a beat.

In addition to that, BetMGM Sportsbook at The Banks has 3 in-person wagering windows, 14 self-service wagering kiosks, over 200 seats and an exclusive lounge for VIP patrons. The lounge has a private bar, high-definition screens and comfortable seats, turning betting into a truly luxurious experience.

The property is ready to welcome sports fans every day of the week.

The Sportsbook Will Add to the Vibrancy of Downtown Cincinnati

BetMGM’s chief revenue officer, Matt Prevost, said that the launch of the new sportsbook is an “integral part” of delivering the BetMGM experience to the Buckeyes. He revealed that his team was considering this property even before BetMGM’s official launch in Ohio.

We are thrilled to see this vision become a reality marking our next big next step in growing our relationship with the city of Cincinnati and the Reds.

Matt Prevost, CRO, BetMGM

For reference, BetMGM is currently serving as the official sports betting partner of the Cincinnati Reds. Because of that, Doug Healy, the franchise’s official chief financial officer, praised the launch of the BetMGM Sportsbook at The Banks.

Moving the BetMGM Sportsbook to The Banks places this best-in-class operator into the heart of our city’s sports and entertainment district. The popularity of the BetMGM brand will help draw patrons to The Banks and add to the vibrancy of our downtown.

Doug Healy, CFO, Cincinnati Reds

The sportsbook was also welcomed by The Banks’ marketing director and property manager, Tracy Schwegmann. She said that the betting venue would be a great addition to The Banks, helping it remain an attractive entertainment destination.

With the Bengals season starting and the Reds making a push to playoffs, The Banks continues to be the #1 entertainment destination in Cincinnati.

Tracy Schwegmann, marketing director & property manager, The Banks

Earlier this month, BetMGM also enhanced its betting app, just in time for the highly-anticipated National Football League season.

In other news, BetMGM recently formed a partnership with Play’n GO in Virginia, helping the provider expand its US reach.

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Rollbit, an online operator that claims to be “crypto’s most innovative casino,” addressed its community’s concerns regarding its license status. The company vowed to continue maintaining transparency regarding the matter.

Rollbit noted that its license is currently in its annual renewal period. The company pointed out that this is a completely standard procedure for all Curaçao-based platforms.

The company added that it is maintaining active communication with its licensor about the renewal. Rollbit also told its users that it will provide more news as soon as possible. While regulatory affairs tend to be an internal process, the company promised to keep its fans updated.

Since Rollbit’s inception, we’ve undergone the same renewal process each year, which ensures that we maintain the standards expected of a licensed casino.

Rollbit statement

As promised, the company did share an update later, saying that its licensor had suggested some changes related to its NFT and crypto offering.

This Is Not an Anomaly

The company also addressed its NFT and Crypto Futures products. It noted that these have never been covered by its casino license. However, Rollbit reminded readers that this has always been the case and that this has always been noted in its site’s footer.

Despite that, the team has not received anything that would suggest that its business is problematic. Rollbit reassured fans that its diligent legal team is always working hard to ensure the legitimacy of its activities.

Rollbit furthermore added that this is not the first time concerns have been raised during a renewal period. The company said that the gaming and crypto industries can benefit a lot from constructive criticism. However, Rollbit advised users to do more research before voicing their concerns.

Rollbit also said that it has implemented minor UI changes based on its licensor’s recommendations. However, nothing else has changed, the company emphasized. It noted that its operations continue to run smoothly, “with fully covered balances and no issues with deposits or withdrawals.”

Rollbit concluded:

Our team continues to build. We can’t wait to share what we’ve been working on.

Rollbit statement

Rollbit’s statement comes in the wake of customer concerns that saw many traders sell the platform’s RLB token. This reactionary approach caused RLB trading prices to sharply decline.

According to data from CoinMarketCap and CoinGecko, a single RLB equals $0.015 USD as of the time of this writing.

The price of RLB tokens has been declining since mid-March when the tokens’ price fluctuated between 0.32 and 0.39.

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Gambling advertising is causing serious concern for fans of the Australian Football League (AFL), the findings of the annual AFL Fans Association survey revealed.

Concerned about Their Children

The survey conducted among almost 3,000 respondents and reported by The Age revealed that 47% of them believe gambling advertising is the most cause of concern, leaving historically top-ranked umpiring issues and rule changes second and raising more questions about the need for further regulation in the sector.

According to the survey findings, “in addition to the recognized issues of problem gamblers destroying families, there is concern about the normalization and grooming of children as future gamblers due to the sheer volume of gambling advertising” that is bombarding them while watching football.

According to 79% of the respondents, gambling advertising should be banned from grounds, 76% would support a ban from broadcasting, and 62% believe that the AFL should not receive any revenue from gambling advertising.

“Whilst there is some recognition of the need for responsible gambling and fans’ right to gamble on AFL if they wish, there is a clear consensus that the volume of gambling advertising is morally inappropriate and should be banned given the social and family impacts,” the survey stated.

AFL against Further Regulation

Against the idea of further restrictions, the AFL issued a statement reiterating the benefits of its wagering partnership in terms of implementing robust integrity measures and its ability to invest back into the game.

An AFL spokesman also outlined that the league “has strict restrictions surrounding the times that gambling advertising is permitted and have reduced the amount of wagering branding and signage at grounds, [while] players, coaches and officials are not permitted to encourage, induce, advertise or promote betting” on events administered by the league.

AFL’s current sponsorship deal with Sportsbet is worth between AU$12 million ($8.1 million) and AU$13 million ($8.7 million) a year of which 28% is paid to the players. The deal also allows AFL’s partner to use player image rights for promotional purposes.

Devising a ‘Planned Approach’

AFL Fans Association’s president Ron Issko believes that if the league, its various stakeholders, fans and broadcasters sit together, they will be able to devise “a planned approach” how “to reduce the ads over a period of time” initially and eventually eliminate them,” suggesting there will be ways to compensate the AFL for the lost revenue.

The survey comes during the ongoing inquiry into online gambling harm led by Labor MP Peta Murphy and is likely to add fuel to the need for further regulation in the sector while major sports bodies, including the AFL and NRL, are strongly opposing the possibility of new restrictions.

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