## National Address: Florida Legal Dispute, Betr Enters Pennsylvania Market
Greetings from iGB’s National Address, where we examine the most significant North American sports wagering headlines of the week, and spotlight other intriguing developments we’ve discovered.
**National Address: A Retrospective of the Previous Week in North America**
**High Court Schedules Hearing for Florida Wagering Case**
The US High Court will convene on June 13th to deliberate on the case of West Flagler Associates, LLC v. Deb Haaland. This legal battle could alter the trajectory of authorized sports wagering in Florida. WFA submitted a petition for a writ of certiorari earlier this year. The crux of the case revolves around whether US Secretary of the Interior Haaland should authorize a 2021 accord between Florida and the Seminole Tribe to be “deemed approved.”
The agreement empowers the Seminoles to provide both physical and online wagering across Florida. Under the terms of the deal, any wager placed in Florida, as long as it’s channeled through tribal servers, would be deemed to have been placed on tribal land. This arrangement is unprecedented in the US. WFA asserts that the agreement contravenes the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, which governs gaming activities on tribal territories.
According to the High Court website, the outcomes of the meeting will be publicized on June 17th at 9:30 AM EST.
**Maine Retail Betting Remains Absent**
Betr, the sports wagering application established by a former ESPN personality, has secured market access in Pennsylvania. The enterprise is now awaiting regulatory clearance to launch its mobile sports wagering application in the state.
The Maine Gaming Oversight Agency (MGOA) reported that total wagers reached $239 million (£188 million/€221 million) in the initial six months of authorized digital gambling operations. DraftKings secured the largest portion at $197 million, while Caesars Sportsbook claimed $42 million. The state collected $2.5 million in taxes from these wagers.
Sports wagering commenced in November 2023, and under the new legislation, the state’s four native tribes are also permitted to conduct in-person betting. However, no physical sportsbooks have opened yet. According to the Maine News Center, State Senator Joe Baldacci stated that achieving this might necessitate modifications to the law. Baldacci, who represents the district encompassing Hollywood Casino, criticized the MGOA. The new law excludes existing retail casinos from sports wagering operations.
“There’s no comparison, there’s no other place where you find this kind of stagnation,” Baldacci remarked. “Some individuals believe it’s deliberate.”
Don’t anticipate North Carolina to legalize additional forms of gambling anytime soon.
House Speaker Tim Moore informed CBS 17 that gambling discussions in North Carolina will likely be put on hold this year. The reason? Because last year’s session left a sour taste. “I believe the discussion about casinos last year cast a shadow over the discussion about modernizing the lottery, such as video lottery terminals and similar things,” he said.
In 2023, Republicans accused Democrats of negotiating in secrecy, excluding Republicans and the public from the conversation. This could bring an end to current discussions about legalizing video lottery terminals. These machines could generate $1 billion in revenue for the state.
During the year 2023, the income from the VLT will be utilized to finance the cancellation of loans for students attending community colleges. These funds will also be allocated to the state’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
Betr has secured entry into the Pennsylvania market. PlayPennsylvania reported that Betr, a micro-betting platform, has gained access to the Pennsylvania market. The company has forged a partnership with Cordish Companies. Betr intends to provide digital sports betting services and introduce its online casino product in the state.
The platform has been introduced in Ohio and Virginia, and has obtained market access in Colorado, Indiana, and Kentucky. The company plans to roll out its V1 update platform in all four new states, as well as Ohio and Virginia. Betr is also in the process of applying for a sports betting license in Maryland.
A twister in Oklahoma resulted in the death of a horse and damage to a casino. A tornado struck Cherokee Casino Will Rogers Downs in Oklahoma, causing the death of one horse and injuries to others, as well as damage to the casino, according to Tulsa’s News Channel 8. The casino experienced power and water outages and sustained some damage to its exterior. There were 200 horses at the track, and 14 sustained “serious” injuries.
The property also features an RV park, which was damaged, but there were “no serious injuries.” Campers were evacuated and their belongings were scattered, but the park was evacuated before the tornado struck.
Additional news…
TheScore Bet and the Canadian Golf Association announced a multi-year extension of their partnership on Wednesday (May 29th).
TheScore Bet will play a significant role in Canadian golf competitions. They will be present at the RBC Canadian Open and the CPKC Women’s Open. TheScore Bet has already introduced innovative features like the Skyline Seats.
The Southeastern Conference is considering implementing injury reports for football matches. However, they are not enthusiastic about the NCAA’s proposal to prohibit wagering on collegiate athletes. The SEC commissioner, Greg Sankey, indicated that they are still deliberating on how to manage the influx of betting activities.
In Alberta, the province is streamlining the licensing process for businesses seeking to operate gambling ventures. A publication known as Canadian Gaming Business reported that the Alberta legislature has ceased the AGLC’s monopoly on gambling operations. The AGLC maintains a website called PlayAlberta, which facilitates betting, but the province is now aiming for a competitive market with multiple operators.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal has issued permits for the demolition of the Fantasy Island Volcano hotel. Construction workers have obtained permits for dust control, a necessary step prior to the commencement of demolition. The hotel and casino will remain operational until July 17th, after which Hard Rock will close it for renovations.
Multiple news outlets have reported that the Professional League Network has secured $2.2 million in funding from investors. Among the investors are Roger Ehrenberg, Chris Grove (a gambling investor), and Kevin Garnett, a renowned basketball player. The Professional League Network is a nascent company that enables individuals to wager on unconventional sports such as slap fighting.
IGT declared on Tuesday, the 28th of May, that they have prolonged their collaboration with the Rhode Island Lottery for a period of three years. The agreement will be in effect until the 1st of December, 2029. The enterprise will furnish mobile applications, self-service booths, and retail automation instruments.
Leading news on iGB:
The “Caitlin Clark effect” is expanding beyond the basketball court.
Missouri’s authorized sports wagering would be unsuccessful if a vote were conducted today.
GiG introduces a social lottery platform in the United States.
The Illinois legislative body transmitted a progressive tax proposal to the governor.
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