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Rhode Island sports betting handle declines in FY23

Rhode Island’s sports betting handle for the 2023 financial year declined year-on-year despite consumers spending more than $500.0m.

Handle for the 12 months to 30 June hit $509.5m, down 1.5% from $517.2m in the previous year.

Players spent $331.9m betting online, up 14.3% but retail across the Twin River and Tiverton casinos fell 21.7% to $177.6m. Twin River took $115.3m in bets and Tiverton $62.3m.

However, total revenue for the year reached $50.9m, up 28.2% from 2022’s $39.7m. Players won $458.6m from sports betting.

Read the full story on iGB North America

August 2, 2023

PlayUp accused of falsifying documents as Mintas case expands scope

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Former PlayUp US CEO Laila Mintas’ updated suit against the troubled gaming operator and its global CEO Daniel Simic accuses the business of falsifying documents, as the legal action expands in scope to the Australian parent company.

The updated suit, which is seeking approximately $100m in damages, details previously unheard allegations including PlayUp falsifying the dates on Australian government paperwork.

Mintas also alleges PlayUp manufactured and manipulated other documents submitted in response to discovery requests and accuses the operator of improper conduct throughout the legal action. There is also the allegation of PlayUp running a “concerted campaign” to ruin the former executive’s reputation.

Simic accused of falsifying of documents

In the third amended counterclaim – the latest filing from the Mintas camp in the legal fight – PlayUp and Simic are accused of making “egregious discovery abuses such as the falsification of corporate documents”.

the suit alleges play..

August 2, 2023

Caesars Digital becomes EBITDA positive in Q2

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Caesars Entertainment has posted the first quarter of positive adjusted EBITDA for its digital business since rebranding to Caesars Sportsbook in the summer of 2021.

The group launched its new-look sportsbook app in August 2021, following its acquisition of William Hill earlier in that year. Caesars acquired William Hill for £2.90bn (€3.37bn/$3.71bn) in April 2021 after a deal was agreed in September 2020.

In the months and years that followed, Caesars Sportsbook was rolled out across a total of 20 of states. However, despite this extended reach, EBITDA did not turn positive until the second quarter of this year.

EBITDA from Caesars Digital in Q2 reached $19.0m. In May this year, Caesars set a digital EBITDA target of $500.0m within the next two years.

Eric Hession, president of Caesars Sports and Online Gaming, welcomed the landmark. He highlighted the growth of both online sports betting and casino.

“Our performance this quarter continues to demonstrate the effectiveness of our ..

August 1, 2023

Bet-at-home H1 cost-cutting pushes earnings despite revenue decline

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German-facing sports betting and igaming operator Bet-at-home.com announced the business’ cost-cutting measures has tripled the company’s EBITDA, despite an overall decline in revenue.

Bet-at-home’s gross gambling revenue stood at €24.2m in H1 2023. This was a 9.3% fall from the €26.7m the business achieved in the same period the previous year.

The FL Entertainment-owned company said this resulted from regulatory developments in Germany. It represents the operator’s largest single source of revenue.

In particular, Bet-at-home highlighted the impact of the monthly betting limits Germany implemented from 1 July 2022.

These limits – which were implemented as part of the country’s Fourth State Treaty on Gambling – include a €1 per spin stake limit for online slots.

The operator also highlighted a weaker than expected development of the online gaming segment. This is a trend it also blamed on enhanced regulation from the previous year.

Impact of strict cost-cutting

However, during H..

August 1, 2023

New Hampshire sports betting revenue hits $81.0m in FY23

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Sports wagering revenue in New Hampshire increased 57.0% year-on-year during the state’s 2023 financial year, while handle also edged up.

Gross gaming revenue for the 12 months to the end of June 2023 amounted to $81.0m, up from $51.6m in the previous year.

Of this total, $69.1m came from online betting, an increase of 57.1%. Retail betting revenue also jumped 56.6% year-on-year to $11.9m.

In terms of handle, players wagered a total of $883.7m on sports during the 2023 financial year. This was 2.6% higher than the previous year when $861.1m was bet.

Read the full story on iGB North America

July 31, 2023

Bolivian tennis official suspended for 12 years over corruption

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The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has suspended Bolivian tennis official Percy Flores for 12 years over a series of corruption charges.

Flores, who was also fined $15,000 (£11,673/€13,609) by the ITIA, was ruled to have breached the Tennis Anti-Corruption Programme (TACP).

Some 31 breaches were noted between November 2021 and October 2022. These included routine manipulation of scores for betting purposes by entering the wrong score into the umpire’s handheld device.

Flores, a white badge umpire, did not contest the charges and had his suspension backdated to 8 December 2022. The ITIA also reduced this by three years due to mitigating circumstances, including early admission of charges.

As such, the suspension will run until 7 December 2034. Flores cannot officiate at or attend any event authorised by tennis’ governing bodies.

Corruption breaches

In terms of the specific breaches, ITIA noted several sections of both the 2021 and 2022 editions of the TACP.

Featur..

July 31, 2023

Sports betting decline hits Michigan igaming revenue in June

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Reduced sports betting activity in Michigan in June led to a month-on-month drop in overall online gambling revenue for the state.

Combined gross igaming and sports betting receipts in Michigan amounted to $169.3m. This was down 8.9% from $185.5m in May this year, representing the third consecutive month of decline in the state.

However, the total was some 23.7% ahead of $136.9m in June 2022.

Online casino gaming gross receipts amounted to $151.0m, a year-on-year climb of 24.2% and marginally ahead of May. Gross sports betting receipts also increased 18.8% from June 2022 to $18.3m, but this was 48.0% lower than $35.2m in May.

Read the full story on iGB North America

July 28, 2023

Illinois approves Hard Rock Casino sportsbook

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The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) has approved the launch of a new sportsbook at the Hard Rock Casino in Rockford.

The authority granted 815 Entertainment – doing business as Hard Rock Casino Rockford – a sports wagering operator licence. Seminole Hard Rock Digital was also approved as a sports wagering management service provider.

The casino “must comply with IGB rules before offering in-person and online wagering”, the regulator said. It is understood that the casino is hoping to begin offering sports betting within the next two months.

Read the full story on iGB North America

July 27, 2023

Philippoussis sanctioned for breaching tennis betting rules

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Australian tennis coach Mark Philippoussis is being sanctioned after breaching the sport’s betting sponsorship rules.

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) is fining Philippoussis $10,000 and handing him a suspended ban of four months.

He broke the rules by receiving payment for providing a voiceover to promotional content for a gaming operator.

Suspended ban

The ITIA said that the suspension will not come into force unless there is a further breach of the rules. The regulations are set out in the ITIA’s Tennis Anti-Corruption Programme.

The ITIA is an independent body established by the sport’s international governing bodies. The body focuses on safeguarding the integrity of professional tennis worldwide.

The former top-10 player on the men’s ATP tour did not contest the charge and cooperated fully.

“Covered person”

As an accredited coach, Philippoussis is considered a “covered person” under the rules. This means they are subject to the sport’s regulations around re..

June 16, 2023

BHA will not be “coerced” into televised debate

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The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has said that it will not be “coerced” by animal rights group Animal Rising's promise to halt protest action during the summer if the BHA partakes in a televised debate about the “morals of horseracing”.

Animal Rising made the claim earlier today (16 June) at a press conference. Julie Harrington, CEO of the BHA, said that the association will not be forced to conduct “any activity by threats of protest”.

“At a press conference today, Animal Rising said they will cease their protest activity this summer if British racing agrees to take part in a public debate about “the morals of horseracing,” Harrington said. “We will never allow British horseracing to be coerced into any activity by threats of protests.”

Harrington said that Animal Rising’s protests at the 2023 Epsom Derby – which the BHA hailed as “reckless and dangerous” last week – shows that their public declarations are not trustworthy.

“Animal Rising have shown by their reckless a..

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