The Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) has released its March 2024 revenue report, revealing a notable surge in revenue for the month. The combined taxable revenue from the state’s four casinos amounted to over $94.7 million, marking a significant 13.4% increase from February 2024’s gaming revenue of $83.5 million.

Moreover, there’s a modest 1.4% annual rise in revenue compared to the previous year. It’s worth noting that this revenue encompasses earnings from both slots and table games and excludes in-person sports betting, as online casinos are not yet legalized in Ohio.

While Ohio has yet to legalize online casinos, recent discussions among lawmakers suggest a potential shift in this landscape. Lawmakers have convened to deliberate on the feasibility of legalizing online casinos, citing the state’s interest in this burgeoning sector and the thriving markets already established in neighboring states like Michigan, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

Monthly Revenue Surge Across Ohio Casinos

The OCCC’s March 2024 revenue report indicates across-the-board monthly revenue increases for all four casinos. Of the total taxable revenue of $94.7 million, slot revenue contributed $69.0 million, with table games bringing in $25.7 million. Notably, Hollywood Columbus demonstrated the most substantial monthly progress, with a revenue of $25.6 million, reflecting a robust 13.3% monthly growth. Other casinos also saw notable increases in revenue compared to the previous month:

• Jack Cleveland Casino: $24.5 million in revenue, a 13.3% monthly rise
• Hollywood Toledo: $22.5 million in revenue, a 16.8% monthly increase
• Hard Rock Cincinnati: $22.2 million in revenue, up by 10.5% from February

Annual Revenue Trends

Examining the year-over-year performance, there are varied trends among the casinos. Hollywood Toledo and Hollywood Columbus both reported annual rises, with increases of 8.2% and 5.1%, respectively. Jack Cleveland Casino saw a marginal annual increase of 0.4%. However, Hard Rock Cincinnati experienced a notable annual decline of nearly 7.5%, the only casino to do so in March. This contrasts with February, where Jack Cleveland Casino had shown a year-over-year decline.

Recent discussions among Ohio lawmakers have revolved around the possibility of legalizing online casinos. The Study Commission on the Future of Gaming in Ohio, in its initial meetings, has delved into the topic, with upcoming sessions slated to address various aspects, including iLottery, racinos/charitable gaming, sports betting, and daily fantasy sports. Proponents argue that regulating online casinos could aid in addressing issues related to problem gambling while potentially generating significant tax revenue for the state. Estimates suggest that Ohio could generate between $205 million and $410 million annually in new tax revenue if online casinos were legalized.

The success and revenue generated by neighboring states like Michigan and Pennsylvania, where online casinos are thriving, serve as compelling examples for Ohio lawmakers. With these states raking in substantial tax revenues from iGaming, the pressure mounts for Ohio to consider legalizing online casinos, possibly in the near future or by 2025.

Source: “Ohio Casino Control Commission. “Monthly Revenue Report: March 2024.” [pdf]

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Relax Gaming, known both for its third-party aggregation solutions and its own in-house games, has launched a new foray into the Italian online casino market, teaming up with Octavian Lab.

Octavian Lab develops comprehensive 360-degree solutions for the iGaming industry and creates products, protocols and integrated solutions for the Italian market, and other jurisdictions. Through this tie-up, Relax Gaming will have direct access to Eurobet, one of the leading sportsbooks and casinos in the country.

In turn, Eurobet’s players will be able to explore the full variety of Relax Gaming titles, including Money Train, Wild Chapo 2, and Marching Legions, among others.

Resonating with Players All Across Italy

Commenting on this new opportunity, Octavian Lab CEO Emanuele Nocentelli said that his company was proud to bring one of the industry’s highest-quality games to the library of Eurobet.

Nocentelli further said that Octavian Lab’s Gaming and Aggregation platforms made it certain that Relax’s games would reach players across the entire market and resonate with local audiences all across Italy.

Relax Gaming Director of Italy Gianluca Crimaldi was similarly pleased with this opportunity, arguing that Italy remains a key market for the company which has been expanding rapidly across Europe and beyond.

“We are delighted to partner with the talented team at Octavian Lab who are helping ensure our games reach Italian players via the country’s top operators,” Crimaldi said. Relax Gaming has recently appointed a new CEO in the face of Martin Stålros who took over the position in April.

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Kansas is one of the latest states to launch legal sports betting, expanding the industry’s presence across the United States. A year later, the Sunflower State’s wagering industry continues to grow, as shown by the increased interest in the vertical.

The continued growth of sports betting resulted in a monthly handle of $219.3 million in September. This figure is notably 36.6% higher than the one recorded during the sports betting market’s opening month, September 2022. For reference, that month saw the state’s sportsbooks collect $160.5 million in bets.

September’s results also signify the recovery of the local market, following the subpar August results. In August, Kansas’ sports betting operators recorded a handle of $94.4 million, 132.3% lower than September 2023’s results.

This rebound is to be expected, of course, considering the return of the NFL and the multiple new wagering opportunities awaiting players.

Kansas Exceeded Its Previous Record

The record-breaking September 2023 results also exceeded the ones recorded in March this year when the state’s sports punters wagered a total of $206.3 million.

September’s handle of $219.3 million translated into revenue of $8.1 million, far exceeding the results recorded in August 2023 and September 2022 when the industry recorded revenues of $1.3 million and $4.8 million, respectively.

Taking a closer look at the September 2023 figures makes it clear that betting online continues to be Kansans’ preferred way to wager. For reference, an overwhelming $201.1 million of the total bets were placed online. Only $18.2 million of the total wagers were placed with traditional sportsbooks.

Reflecting the Kansans sports betting enthusiasts’ preference for online wagering, the online vertical accounted for $7.6 million of the monthly revenue in the state. Retail sportsbooks, meanwhile, reported revenue of $459,336.

DraftKings continues to be the preferred online sportsbook of local bettors. The American sports betting giant and its local partner, Boot Hill Casino, accounted for $97.2 million of the handle and $3.3 million of the revenue. FanDuel and BetMGM followed next with revenues of $3 million and $814,000 respectively.

Earlier this month, Matt Schwartz, Kansas Lottery’s finance director, said that the industry has so far seen Kansan bettors wager $1.85 billion, contributing $7 million to state revenue.

June, on the other hand, was a record-low month for the Sunflower State, because of a variety of setbacks.

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The company’s latest partnership comes from Slovakia where the supplier has teamed up with local brand Kajot and has now deployed its portfolio of top-performing games. This tie-up is exclusively signed with the operator, giving it the opportunity to quickly differentiate its offer and position itself strongly in the market.

Commenting on this business opportunity, CT Interactive head of business development EMEA Milena Tsankarska said that the supplier was very happy to bring its top-notch slot games once again to a brand-new operator with an established reputation.

Games such as Cherry Crown, 20 Star Party, and Coffee Magic, among many others, will all make players happier. Tsankarska spoke highly of Kajot’s geographical reach as well, arguing that more content link-up would follow from there on out.

“This partnership with such a renowned gaming operator will help us increase our visibility in the European iGaming scene,” she concluded, noting that Kajot is a brand with more than 27 years of operating experience in Europe.

Kajot head of online casino Stanislav Šebest was similarly excited to see the CT Interactive products arrive on the market and give local players the best possible chance to engage and enjoy with its players better. The goal, said Šebest, is to ensure that the casino is able to reach a wider audience and engage with it meaningfully.

CT Interactive is a fairly new entry into the Slovakian iGaming market, obtaining its license in 2022. However, there has been a very strong reception and uptake of the company’s games in that geography, said CT Interactive head of CRM Silvia Hristova.

CT Interactive has been relentlessly expanding its content footprint, having recently teamed up with Sbbet.me in Montenegro and ELITBET in Bulgaria. The supplier offers more than 100 quality games that are designed to elevate the consumer experience. In the meantime, the company has been driving steady forays into new markets, including Italy, which is one of the most tightly regulated ones, as well as Georgia.

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This makes the 25^th consecutive month in which Nevada collected more than $1 billion from its gaming operations. Yet, there has been a slowdown, as casino revenue declined on an annual basis, the Nevada Gaming Control Board confirmed in an update on Tuesday.

Nevada’s Market Continues to Surpass $1B Revenue

The results in March 2022 were $1.35 billion, slightly higher than the present-day results. Even July 2021 did better than March 2023 when the Silver State recorded $1.35 billion. However, the results in the coming months would be skewed, predicts the control board’s senior economic analyst Michael Lawton.

Lawton explains that the past 13 months saw an incredible increase in overall results, partly because the pent-up demand during the pandemic finally found an outlet. This initial frenzy though has now subsided, meaning that the coming months will continue to post “weaker” results, when in fact they would just be a normalization of the gaming revenue.

The decline the Nevada Gaming Control Board spoke of in its latest update is small on the face of it. The Strip’s results contracted by 2.9% to $724.6 million. Interestingly, high-end baccarat is the key culprit here, with revenue from this segment falling by a whopping 50% to just $63.2 million.

Sports betting earnings across the state, though, reached $43.9 million, which was a 19% gain compared to March 2022. Naturally, mobile betting accounted for the bulk of that – 64%. However, Nevada is still a place where a lot of bets are placed in-person and at land-based venues, which is what makes the Silver State an outlier.

March Madness and Betting Drive Strong Results

Most other states that have mobile betting see people mostly use mobile apps, with mobile betting activity accounting for nearly 90% or more of the total amount placed as wagers. Commenting on the state’s results, Wells Fargo analyst Daniel Polizer suggested that despite the “slowdown” March was a solid month for Las Vegas and the Silver State in general.

The growing pains Nevada is experiencing are attributable to what Lawton said – a boom following the pandemic with the markets finally correcting themselves. It’s all in line with expectations. Slots were once again the top performer in March with $906.4 million generated from the vertical.

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Core pricing itself tends to be relatively straightforward as the market has matured over the course of the NCAA season where all 68 teams entering the bracket will have clocked up over 30 games. This is a decent sample size when you consider the NFL regular season is just 17 games! Coaching tendencies are known, and line-ups and rotations are settled but of course, everyone loves the underdog story and the big upsets when variance comes to play. Last year, it was St. Peter’s that became the giant killer after their unexpected run and undoubtedly, we’ll see other low seeds progress in 2023 to capture the public’s imagination once again.

Q: Do you expect March Madness to match, or even exceed, the betting activity we saw in last month’s Super Bowl?

The Super Bowl was a huge success for Amelco as we notched up a record handle. As a platform provider and trading floor, we are benefitting from new product rollouts, new integrations, and market access in a number of new states compared to the previous year. We expect that promising business to carry over into March Madness with this iteration of the big tournament set to be far and away our biggest yet.

Q: Will the expected high volumes be a driver for more States to encourage legalised sports betting?

We enter the 2023 tournament as a licenced platform provider in 17 states with eyes set on further expansion in the year ahead. Our sportsbook partners operate across a wide variety of regulated states, competing with the ‘big boys’ in mass markets such as Colorado, Michigan and New Jersey through to a more localised landscape in the likes of Arkansas and Wyoming. There hasn’t been an optimised ‘one size fits all’ approach from a regulator yet. Those states who are nearing legalisation, but have sat on the sidelines so far, will have observed the sizeable tax benefits and varying degrees of success that the existing models from other states have provided. This has to have an underlying appeal that should see more states become legalised as we move further into 2023 and beyond.

Q: As mobile betting grows in popularity, can we expect that to become the pre-eminent method of sports betting in the US for the foreseeable future?

Online mobile growth is far exceeding that of the land-based model. However, there is room and merit for both to grow side-by-side. We have seen impressive retail numbers at launch for Fanatics at FedEx Field whilst our more traditional casino and hotel-based business continues to boom. At Amelco, we pride ourselves on developing both mediums at a fast pace to keep up with the latest industry demands and requirements. In-person wagering and enjoying the company of others will always trump sitting alone betting on an app while taking in marquee events and tournaments. We saw record retail numbers during the soccer World Cup and the Super Bowl and we now expect that to continue into March Madness.

Q: With both the Super Bowl and March Madness in a small time period, how can sports bettors remain engaged in the lull period after these events?

There is no shortage of action after March Madness concludes. The NBA and NHL playoffs get underway at the conclusion of tournament play in the NCAA, whilst we have tennis and golf Majors to look forward to as well. In soccer, there looks set to be an exciting end to the EPL, Champions League and other major leagues globally in May and June and the MLB season will have also ramped up. Away from the sporting field, there are one-off events such as the NFL draft that continue to grow in popularity from a wagering perspective year-on-year. Traditionally, the summer months are seen as downtime for operators and bettors alike but we’re optimistic about capturing and maintaining business during this period with competitive and diverse offerings across multiple sports.

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Americas Cardroom, a US-themed online poker site, will celebrate International Women’s Day with a special charity tournament. As announced by the company, it will donate funds raised during the event to the United Breast Cancer Foundation.

Poker enthusiasts can join Americas Cardroom in celebration of the occasion and compete for a $10K guaranteed prize pool. The tournament has an entry fee of $55, making it accessible for players of all skill levels.

In addition, Americas Cardroom has decided to make the event even more appealing by providing entrants with an additional $55 tourney ticket. Players can use this second ticket to enter any future $55 tournament hosted by the company.

Americas Cardroom added that the prize pool will be paid out to players. The company will, meanwhile, match the total prize pool and will donate it to the United Breast Cancer Foundation.

A Twitch Live Chat Will Boost Engagement

Katie Lindsay and Ebony Kenney, Americas Cardroom team pros, and Nikki Lomo and Caitlin Comesky, prominent poker celebrities, will bolster engagement during the tournament by hosting a live chat on Twitch.

In addition to discussing the ongoing event and the latest developments, the women will also speak about the importance of raising awareness of the dangers of breast cancer and how important is for women to conduct self-exams at home.

Kenney noted that this wouldn’t be the first time the poker company has organized a tournament for Women’s Day. Last year’s event, she said, was a resounding success. Because of that, Kenney is excited to be a part of the celebrations once again. She said that there is nothing that beats playing poker with friends while supporting a good cause.

Playing poker with some badass friends of mine while also supporting a good cause?! Yes, sign me up! I am honored to be a part of the positive and intentional movement happening for women in poker.

Ebony Kenney

Lindsey added that she still fondly remembers the last time Americas Cardroom teamed up with the United Breast Cancer Foundation.

It was so wonderful working with the United Breast Cancer Foundation for our last charity event and I’m super excited to be able to do it again with another great group of women.

Katie Lindsay

Nikki Lomo and Caitlin Comesky also released statements on the upcoming tournament, saying that they feel honored to be part of the initiative and join so many talented and inspiring women.

In February, Americas Cardroom ran two satellite events, providing four full poker vacation packages for a Super High Roller Series in Vietnam this March.

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Sports betting and gaming operator BetMGM announced that its marketing and advertising campaigns will feature responsible gaming messages starting from March 1.

Responsible Gaming Messaging

The brand co-owned by MGM Resorts and Entain will align with the Problem Gambling Awareness Month initiative by introducing responsible gaming messages within its mobile app and across all advertising channels.

“As the legalized sports betting and online gaming industry continues to expand, it is vital that we not only equip players with tools and resources for how to play in a responsible and safe manner but that we also make a significant commitment to showcasing responsible gaming in our advertising,” commented BetMGM’s CEO Adam Greenblatt.

Developed in partnership with GameSense, responsible gaming messages will appear on physical billboards, prints and on-property signage within BetMGM Sportsbooks in the US and Canada, as well as on television, radio and BetMGM’s digital and social platforms.

GameSense’s integration with BetMGM’s digital platforms allows the gaming operator to provide its customers with spending limit tools, information about the basic rules of gambling and access to highly trained GameSense Advisors, essentially guaranteeing the same experience GameSense ensures for them at MGM Resorts properties nationwide.

Moving in the Right Direction

The president and CEO of MGM Resorts, Bill Hornbuckle, and the CEO of Entain, Jette Nygaard-Andersen, also commented on the announcement, highlighting the importance of responsible gaming for both the industry and its consumers.

“With the continued growth of sports betting and iGaming, it’s imperative that our industry remain committed to supporting the best interests of our guests and customers,” said Hornbuckle, commending BetMGM for their commitment to responsible gaming.

“Technology is the key enabler in providing a safety net for our customers [and] building these tools with GameSense into the BetMGM platform is the best way forward,” said Nygaard-Andersen, reiterating Entain’s commitment to providing the safest gambling platforms.

The launch of responsible gaming messaging represents a significant step forward for BetMGM and the gambling industry in the US as it continues to grow but it is just the beginning of a process that requires continuous efforts to progress and evidence to step on, underscoring the essential role of research to tackling problem gambling.

To support research-based evidence and ensure the highest level of protection for players across the country, BetMGM partnered with the International Center for Responsible Gaming (ICRG) in November and provided a $180,000 grant to support the organization’s objective of educating people about the threat posed by problem gambling, the role of gambling advertising and best responsible gaming practices.

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