The Louisiana Gaming Control Board has reported an impressive $52.7 million in gross sports betting revenue for January. The figure reflects the aggressive marketing efforts of the Pelican State’s ten mobile sportsbooks, which actively courted and engaged the public. Increased spending also reflected positively on the state’s budget, bolstering community-focused initiatives.

Louisiana Remains an Attractive Market for Operators

Ten sportsbooks represent Louisiana’s sports betting sector, including well-known names like BetMGM, Caesars, FanDuel, DraftKings, PointsBet, Betway, and ESPN Bet. The state’s wagering scene remains dynamic, evidenced by Bet365 and ClutchBet’s recent entries in this jurisdiction as they attempt to disrupt the status quo and secure a sustainable market share. 

According to state regulations, digital operators in Louisiana have a promotional spend limit of $5 million per calendar year, encouraging companies to spend strategically to capitalize on high-profile events or bolster retention during slower months. January witnessed a record-high spending spree, with $13.8 million in promotional credits and bonuses, surpassing the previous record set in January 2022.

The Louisiana Gaming Control Board (LGCB), the state’s gambling regulator, closely monitors ongoing trends to ensure operators remain accountable and do not violate marketing rules. This comprehensive data also enables Louisiana authorities to adapt to industry developments, ensuring adequate customer protection and social accountability.

January Set the Stage for a Successful Year

Louisiana’s year-over-year handle saw a remarkable 22.7% surge, reaching $346.3 million, making it the third-largest total in Louisiana State history. Although 8.1% lower than the record set in December 2023, the figures indicate a robust and thriving sports betting market in the state. The online sector retained its dominance, recording a handle of $317.8 million, while retail sportsbooks collected $28.5 million.

January had remarkable revenue holds, with a 15.2% win rate. This result marked the sixth time in 25 months of mobile betting that the win rate exceeded 15%, more than double the industry standard of 7%. The high win rate and the significant promotional spend made the state eligible to tax approximately 74% of the gross revenue, collecting almost $39 million.

The report indicates a robust start to the year for Louisiana’s sports betting operators, showcasing the significant growth and potential of the market. Extra funds will bolster the state’s education programs and help finance gambling harm prevention initiatives. Despite the slight slowdown in January, next month’s results should more than compensate, bolstered by the traditional Super Bowl surge.

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Amid the buzz surrounding the upcoming Super Bowl, speculation has been rife regarding whether pop sensation Taylor Swift will grace the event to support her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, and the Kansas City Chiefs. However, despite the anticipation among fans, US sportsbooks are refraining from taking bets on the possibility of Swift’s appearance, reported the Associated Press.

Why US Sportsbooks Avoid Non-Game Betting Unlike Offshore Operators

While offshore sportsbooks like BetUS in Costa Rica and potentially those in Ontario, Canada, might entertain such wagers, the situation is different within the United States. Betting laws in the US vary from state to state, and the prevailing norm restricts wagering to on-field events. 

Although some states permit unconventional bets like predicting the color of the Gatorade showered on the winning coach, even these options are off-limits in Las Vegas, renowned for its stringent regulations on sports betting.

The reluctance to accept bets on non-game occurrences is grounded in a desire for objectivity. According to John Ewing, a public relations manager at BetMGM, the preference is for bets to have clear outcomes without room for interpretation. 

This sentiment is also echoed by Adam Pullen, assistant trading director at Caesars Sportsbook, who acknowledges the industry’s progress but suggests that certain types of bets, including those related to celebrity appearances like Swift’s, might still face regulatory hurdles.

Taylor Swift’s Impact on NFL Betting Trends

Swift’s relationship with Kelce has been a notable subplot throughout the NFL season, with the singer attending several Chiefs games, including their triumph in the AFC championship game. 

However, conflicting schedules due to Swift’s performance commitments in Japan during Super Bowl weekend have fueled speculation about her attendance in Las Vegas.

Back in October when Taylor Swift’s relationship with NFL star Travis Kelce was still only a rumor it sparked a surge in betting activity, particularly on Kelce’s performance, with bets doubling since the dating rumors emerged. Kelce became the most wagered-on NFL player for anytime touchdown bets during a recent game, reflecting Swift’s significant influence on the market. 

Despite the natural inclination for fans to wager on such high-profile appearances, the consensus among industry insiders is to prioritize bets linked directly to on-field action. This approach aligns with regulators’ concerns about maintaining the integrity and clarity of betting outcomes.

While the absence of betting options on Swift’s potential Super Bowl appearance may disappoint some enthusiasts, it underscores the ongoing evolution and regulation of the sports betting landscape in the United States. 

As anticipation builds for the showdown between the Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers, fans will have to content themselves with traditional betting options centered on the game itself.

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Maine, which is one of the latest states to launch sports betting, has published data about the industry’s performance in November. As it turns out, local players wagered almost $37.5 million during the first month of sports betting in the state.

According to the Maine Gambling Control Unit, part of the state’s Department of Public Safety, this figure signifies a smooth and frictionless launch of the vertical, highlighting the enthusiasm of local players.

According to Milt Champion, the Gambling Control Unit’s director, the authority received just a few complaints. In addition, the state’s hotline for problem players did not record a spike in calls, implying a strong yet healthy market.

Champion said that “everybody is behaving,” which he described as a good sign.

Maine’s Sports Betting Market Is Very Promising

Maine’s online sports betting market is controlled by the state’s indigenous tribes, notably the Penobscot, Passamaquoddy, Micmac, and Maliseet nations. The tribes are provided with exclusive rights to operate mobile betting apps, as long as they provide 10% of their revenue to federal taxes. The online betting market is open to customers aged 21 or older.

Tribes launched their own sportsbooks in partnership with existing commercial operators. The Passamaquoddy tribe selected DraftKings as its partner, while the other three tribes picked Caesars Sportsbook.

Despite partnering with only one of the tribes, DraftKings’ sportsbook dominated the mobile and online sports betting market. In November, the four tribes received roughly $2.3 million, providing $468,000 in taxes to the state. The rest of the gross receipts went to the vendors.

The favorable results became clear back during the opening weekend of Maine’s market when DraftKings netted over $3.4 million in profits. During the opening weekend, DraftKings paid out $2.57 million in winnings to its players, as well as $82,000 in taxes.

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Esports betting solutions specialist Oddin.gg has rolled out eCricket for fans of the sport. The new product is designed to appeal to fans across the United Kingdom, Australia, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and beyond.

The eCricket simulator is a ready-made solution that leverages Oddin’s understanding of betting and technology. As a result, sportsbooks can integrate it into their platforms to provide fans with non-stop betting experiences. The esports nature of the solution allows operators to keep fans engaged with 24/7 fast-paced content and betting markets.

The simulator is tailored to the needs in markets where cricket is popular but Oddin hopes to go beyond that and reach a global cricket fanbase of 2.5 billion fans.

Oddin.gg’s eCricket solution features 400 matches per month and can be scaled up to 1,200 matches. Matches run for less than 20 minutes, providing fast-paced action for cricket aficionados. In addition, the eCricket events sport high integrity standards, ensuring a fair and transparent betting experience.

Oddin.gg demonstrated its eCricket simulator during the SiGMA Asia event. The product quickly attracted the interest of attendees, highlighting its promising nature.

Sportsbooks are already integrating eCricket into their portfolio, allowing them to engage their fans with non-stop action and fill the gaps between professional sporting events. Oddin’s iFrame clients can easily and seamlessly roll out the new product.

Oddin.gg Is Looking Forward to Providing Exhilarating Experiences to Fans

Oddin.gg’s co-founder and chief executive officer, Vlastimil Venclík, expressed his team’s excitement about the introduction of the innovative eCricket product to the betting community. He said that the eCricket simulator has been developed by cricket fans for cricket fans and will offer an exhilarating betting experience.

Venclík added that the new product is reliable and reflects Oddin’s commitment to fair betting.

Our commitment to integrity ensures that users can place their bets with complete confidence. Our product will be available 24/7 to cover all time zones, and our tournament style with fast-paced games is designed to keep the bettors thrilled.

Vlastimil Venclík, co-founder & CEO, Oddin.gg

Oddin.gg continues to be a trusted partner when it comes to esports betting. This is further underscored by the company’s recent deals with operators all over the world. For example, the company recently agreed to power Olimpbet with esports betting in Kazakhstan. Earlier this year, the provider also formed a partnership with Lion Gaming.

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Australia has slammed some of its biggest sportsbooks over their alleged tendency to restrict winning players’ activity. Amid an ongoing inquiry into the impacts of online gambling, some sportsbooks admitted to limiting transactions and deposits in certain cases.

The inquiry was launched last year as Australia seeks to better understand iGaming and how it affects problem gamblers. The inquiry’s main goal is to determine whether the current regulations are sufficient to protect Australian players from harm.

Sportsbet Restricts Players Who Have an Advantage

As reported by Inside Asian Gaming, Barni Evans, the chief executive officer of Sportsbet, addressed the matter in a tense discussion with committee chair Peta Murphy.

Evans listed a few reasons why Sportsbet may ban a customer or set limits to their transactions. For example, the sportsbook will always intervene if it determines that a player is betting on behalf of other individuals. In addition, customers who are using “privileged information” to gain an edge will also be subjected to interventions.

Evans added that customers on a cooling period between setting deposit limits will not be allowed to make transactions. If such people are betting into highly illiquid volatile markets, Sportsbet will reduce the stake they can make. Finally, if a customer exhibits signs of gambling harm, Sportsbet will once again intervene.

Murphy then asked directly whether Sportsbet would limit players who are winning consistently. Evans admitted that while Sportsbet is not opposed to “mathematically gifted customers,” it seeks to look after the majority of its customers and will restrict players who are using privileged information.

Evans, however, claimed that Sportsbet would never limit the activity of players who are not using privileged information.

Entain Sometimes Imposes Restrictions on Some Customers

The inquiry also questioned Steven Lang, Entain’s director of regulatory strategy and safer gambling. He said that when customers are betting on an Australian racing event, his company cannot apply any restrictions. However, when it comes to other events, Entain may impose some restrictions “on a small number of customers.”

Lang confirmed that this does happen from time to time.

Despite what Evans claimed, Nick Minchin, chair of Responsible Wagering Australia, said it still seems that some customers have been blocked simply because they were winning too often. Even if this is the case, he added that this does not seem to be a standard practice that has been adopted by all companies.

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Operators in the Bay State can rest easy after the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) voted 5-0 to waive some of the restrictions regarding affiliate agreements. The regulator carefully weighed the pros and cons of maintaining the current ban and decided that CPA and revenue-sharing models should exist within its jurisdiction, allowing for proper oversight.  

Affiliates Remain a Highly Contentious Matter

The MGC first announced its intention to tackle revenue-sharing agreements in February. Current regulations in the Bay State prohibit all sports wagering operators from compensating third parties based on the volume of clients, wagers, or the outcome of specific bets. Such restrictions rule out the traditional affiliate models many operators depend on for marketing and promotions.

After a thorough review, the Commission agreed to hold talks with operators and affected parties to determine its future course of action. The regulator announced it would hold its final vote on 23 March. However, the date is almost two weeks later than the official launch of online sportsbooks in the state, so it would substantially hamper operators who depend on affiliates for much of their onboarding process.

The Regulator Is Working on a Permanent Solution

According to the latest updates, the MGC has conceded to a temporary waiver of CPA and revenue-sharing restrictions until 14 April. A unanimous vote decided that the stopgap measure would provide sufficient time to implement better safe gambling rules while allowing a smooth and problem-free online sports betting launch.

Despite the regulator’s willingness to tackle the matter, it is unlikely to make the waiver permanent without implementing additional safe gaming and compliance requirements. Several commissioners were cautious regarding the compromise, but most agreed that the MGC should take the initiative and impose a framework focusing on player safety.

Someone is going to fill the space…and we should be regulating this.

MGC Commissioner Jordan Maynard

The Commission has already taken measures to reign in affiliates with a new regulation classifying them in the same category as vendors, requiring them to register with the regulator. The MGC is also considering requiring them to apply for a vendor license or potentially introducing other regulations to prevent market saturation.

Affiliate marketing for operators remains a sensitive subject. MGC chairperson Cathy Judd-Stein noted that revenue sharing inherently contradicted the organization’s responsible gaming efforts. However, the Commission seems to agree that the practice is a necessary evil and is doing everything to ensure safe and reasonable implementation. With the 10 March online sports betting launch closing in, the Massachusetts regulator will undoubtedly face many other similar challenges.

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In general, the current trend shows that sports betting continues to be the pastime of choice of millions of Americans. The sports betting industry has exploded with new states legalizing wagering on sports each year.

Despite the generally favorable state of affairs, the growth trend is by no means universal or without its exception. In Washington DC, for example, sportsbooks opened 2023 with suboptimal performances as revenues from sports betting dipped.

As reported, sports betting companies experienced slight declines in both handle and revenue. Operators’ performances were weaker than the ones recorded during the previous month and lagged behind those recorded during the same period last year.

Sports Betting Took a Dip

Figures reported by iGaming Business show that overall player spending sat at $18.5 million. This represents a barely noticeable 0.5% year-on-year decline from January 2022 when DC players wagered a total of $18.6 million. The figure also amounts to a month-on-month decline of 1.1% from December last year when the DC sportsbooks took $18.7 million in handle.

While the DC sports betting industry experienced but a slight decline in player spending, revenues from the vertical plummeted. The reported numbers show that gross gaming revenue from the sports betting sector was mere $1.5 million. This figure translates into a YOY decrease of 25% and a MOM decline of a whopping 37.5%.

For reference, Washington DC sports betting recorded revenues of $2.0 million in January 2022 and $2.7 million in December 2022.

It is possible that the decline is attributable to the seasonality of elite sporting events, considering that the FIFA World Cup took place a month earlier.

Companies Performed Suboptimally

iGaming Business also reported figures about sports betting operators’ individual performances. It turns out that Gambet, a sports betting entity operated by the DC Lottery and powered by Intralot, was the best performer. The company reported $8.8 million in sports betting handle, which resulted in revenue of $862,723.

Caesars Entertainment was the second-best company in terms of revenue with $371,851. The gambling juggernaut also reported sports betting handle of $6.4 million. Next up was FanDuel, which saw players spend $1.6 million in wagers, resulting in revenue of $236,139 for the company.

Meanwhile, Grand Central Bar reported $41,679 in revenue from a handle of $401,724. Cloakbook, on the other hand, recorded a handle of $10,524 resulting in just $2,812 in revenue.

BetMGM failed to record positive revenue and instead lost $20,763.

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