Every Friday, Covers takes a look back at the week that was in the sports betting industry. With a collection of sports betting news and notes, we intend to cover all the bases.
Daily Fantasy Sports, Poker Against International Players Argued in Ontario Court
Our very own senior industry news analyst Geoff Zochodne attended hearings in Toronto court this week on whether daily fantasy sports (DFS) and poker games against players outside of Canada will return to Ontario.
The Court of Appeal is reserving its decision for a future date, but here's a sampling of this week's developments:
Day 1: Ontario Argues Daily Fantasy Sports, Poker with Foreign Players Would Be Legal
Day 2: Canadian Lotteries Push Back on Ontario's Plan for DFS, Poker with Global Liquidity
Day 3: Ontario Court Reserves Decision on DFS, Poker with International Players
PrizePicks Ranked 8th on Deloitte’s Fastest-Growing Companies List
Speaking of DFS, PrizePicks – the largest provider of daily fantasy sports in North America – has been included on the 2024 Deloitte Technology Fast 500™, ranking eighth with a growth of 16,119%.
The 2024 Deloitte Technology Fast 500 is a prestigious list of the 500 fastest-growing North American companies within technology, media, telecommunications, fintech, and energy tech. This is PrizePick’s third successive year of placing on this list.
“Innovation, transformation, and disruption of the status quo are at the forefront for this year’s Technology Fast 500 list, and there’s no better way to celebrate 30 years of program history,” said Deloitte & Touche LLP partner Christie Simons.
Innovation is something that PrizePicks’ co-founder and CEO Adam Wexler has previously emphasized.
“It’s only through new ideas that we will move the industry forward,” he said in 2023.
Previous fast-growing and innovative winners of the Technology Fast 500 awards have included companies such as Google, eBay, and Tesla. All winners were selected based on their fiscal year revenue growth percentage between 2020 and 2023.
BetMGM Integrates Rewards Points Into Single Account
BetMGM has announced that players’ BetMGM Rewards Points (BRPs) are now combined into a single digital wallet. Players’ BRPs will now travel with them across all single-account markets. Players can earn BRPs and tier credits by playing at BetMGM Casino, BetMGM Poker, and BetMGM Sportsbook.
“We are committed to streamlining the loyalty experience for our players so they can enjoy the rewards they earn wherever they are in the U.S.,” said BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt. “The BetMGM Rewards Program showcases our key differentiators – omnichannel play, the iconic hospitality and MGM Resorts International’s entertainment, and partnerships including our alliance with Marriott Bonvoy. With every bet at the sportsbook and spin of the slot you are earning rewards that can be used online or in-person.”
Earlier this year, BetMGM launched a new feature for its Nevada sports betting app, allowing players to access their accounts and funds nationwide through a single digital wallet.
“We’re proud to lead the charge in Nevada with a single account and wallet that simplifies and elevates the betting experience,” said Greenblatt.
BetMGM operates in 29 markets across North America.
Hard Rock Bet and Play’n GO Launch 'Hard Rock Pork N Roll' in N.J.
Hard Rock Bet announced the launch of its sixth custom-created online casino title this year, "Hard Rock Pork N Roll." The company partnered with iGaming software developer Play’n GO to create the spin-off of its popular "Piggy Blitz" game. "Hard Rock Pork N Roll" is available to players at the Hard Rock Bet Online Casino, which is exclusively available in New Jersey.
?? The wait is over! Hard Rock Pork N Roll is now LIVE exclusively with Hard Rock Bet! ??
— Play'n GO (@ThePlayngo) November 27, 2024
Let's roll! ?? https://t.co/eU5NF8Jgi6 ?#PlaynGO #HardRockPorkNRoll #HardRockBet pic.twitter.com/9b7xb2AltW
“Our ‘Only at Hard Rock’ section continues to grow with another exclusive, bespoke experience and the addition of Hard Rock Pork N Roll – an immersive title that seamlessly weaves signature Hard Rock elements into the gameplay,” said Grant Williams, SVP of casino at Hard Rock Digital, Grant Williams.
Hard Rock Bet has a rating of 4.9 stars in the iOS App Store and 4.8 stars in the Google Play Store.
Virginia's Hard Rock Bristol Reports Strong Opening Weekend
The permanent Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Bristol opened in Virginia on Nov. 14, replacing the temporary venue that opened in July 2022 as the state’s first casino. The site reported a successful opening weekend with around 58,000 visitors, achieving a 99% occupancy rate.
"We didn’t open the property early because we couldn’t open the full experience. Making the decision to delay the opening and have everything at once was the right decision, just based on guest feedback,” Hard Rock Bristol President Allie Evangelista said to the Bristol Herald Courier.
The casino paid out more than $7.3 million in jackpots during the weekend, and this figure has since surpassed $12 million.
"Our jackpot payouts obviously correlate to the number of people in the building and how well everybody is perceiving the property. So much play generates more payouts,” Evangelista said.
The 620,000-square-foot destination resort features a 90,000-square-foot gaming floor offering 1,500 slot machines, 50 table games, and a sportsbook. It also houses three restaurants, four bars, and the Hard Rock Live entertainment venue, which hosted country music star Blake Shelton on opening night.
The Virginia Lottery recently reported the state’s sports betting figures for October, revealing that the retail books in VA casinos collected $232,925 in revenue from a $3.9 million handle. Caesars Virginia, located in Virginia, will open next month as the state’s newest gaming destination.
Indiana Mayor Discusses Potential New Casino
Steve McMichael, the mayor of New Haven, Indiana recently shared his support for a proposed destination resort and casino in the city.
“When I have a tough decision to make, I ask a series of questions: Is it constitutional? Is it lawful at the federal and state levels? And is it lawful at the local level? Is it in the best interests of New Haven residents?” McMichael said to The Journal Gazette.
He visited 12 of Indiana’s 13 casino-hosting communities to understand the impact of such developments. During these visits, he focused on concerns like addiction, crime, and poverty, also gathering data on these. McMichael spoke with local mayors, nonprofit leaders, and emergency services, who all revealed that the presence of casinos has not caused any harm. In fact, they said that the casinos have helped develop the local community.
The mayor emphasized that rejecting the project without discussion would have been a missed opportunity for New Haven, potentially overlooking substantial resources that could support the local economy.
“After listening to opinions from those for and opposed, speaking with dozens of community leaders from casino host communities, evaluating the impacts on the community, reviewing numerous studies and other data, and asking tough questions, I am all in on New Haven,” he said.
The mayor encourages citizens to discuss the benefits of gaming tax revenue for the community.
Cover the Bases for Nov. 18-22
