Temperature Check
A New Jersey poll indicates the sports betting backlash is in full effect, as 76% of respondents would support limiting advertising.
The Bulletin Board
THE LEDE: Poll highlights the public’s frustration with sports betting ads.
ROUNDUP: NE considers mobile betting; RI considers an open market.
QUICK HITTER: New Hampshire online casino put back on the shelf.
VIEWS: Sports betting is causing an increase in Wisconsin gambling helpline calls, even though the state hasn’t legalized mobile betting.
AROUND the WATERCOOLER: Indian Gaming Association webinar tackles prediction markets.
STRAY THOUGHTS: A few (not so) random quotes.
SPONSOR’S MESSAGE - Yes, Sporttrade is indeed a prediction market. Always has been.
The Lede: Poll Highlights Sports Betting Frustration
A poll from Farleigh Dickinson University crystallizes what most industry watchers already know: The public is growing tired of the wall-to-wall, in-your-face nature of sports betting — If you weren’t intuitively aware of this, here is your wake-up call.
Among other questions like cell phone bans in schools, the FDU poll asked 1,500 New Jerseans:
“There is also concern about the number of ads for sports betting and other kinds of gambling in New Jersey, especially when those ads are seen by children. Would you support or oppose limits on where and when ads for betting and gambling could be shown in New Jersey?”
Respondents had four choices to choose from
Support limits on ads
Oppose limits on ads
Don’t Know [Vol]
Refused [Vol]
So what did the poll find?
“New Jersey voters support limits on when and where ads for gambling can be shown by a wide margin, with 76 percent in favor of limits, and only 17 percent opposed [7% of respondents selected “don’t know].”
“If either party is looking for a slam dunk issue in New Jersey, this is it,” Dan Cassino, professor of government and politics at FDU said in the press release. “Even the groups most likely to take part in gambling, like young men, seem to be fed up with all the ads.”
Cassino is alluring to the 70% of under-30s that support a limit on ads from the poll’s crosstabs.
As I’ve written, “Not one tear will be shed if the US restricts sports betting ads.”
Roundup: Nebraska Sports Betting Efforts and Rhode Island Lawmakers Want to Open the Market
Nebraska considers constitutional amendment for mobile sports betting: According to Sports Betting Dime, an effort to authorize mobile sports betting with or without a constitutional amendment was discssued during a recent Nebraska committee hearing: “Lawmakers discussed three pieces of legislation to legalize Nebraska online sports betting in the General Affairs Committee for the first time since the issues failed in a special session last year.” Two bills, LR20CA and LB 421, require constitutional amendments, while LB 438 does not require a constitutional amendment.
Rhode Island bill would open sports betting market: A group of Rhode Island lawmakers introduced legislation that would amend the state’s general laws to read [bold mine], “After July 1, 2026, the division shall not renew any existing sports-wagering vendor contracts in effect, and, prior to the expiration of any existing sports-wagering vendor contracts, the division shall issue an open invitation to applicants for sports-wagering vendor contracts and then shall award at least five (5) individual sports-wagering vendor contracts. This subsection shall not be construed to direct the commission to award a sports-wagering vendor contract to an unqualified vendor.”
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Quick Hitter: Sponsor Tables New Hampshire iCasino Bill
A New Hampshire online casino bill, SB 60, was recommended to pass by the Senate Ways & Means Committee in February, but the bill’s sponsor, New Hampshire State Sen. Tim Lang, has moved to “table” his online casino legalization bill, per SBC Americas.
The bill has had an interesting run already. After a January 29 hearing failed to produce a vote, State Sen. Tim Lang’s online casino bill was amended to make it more palatable, which led to the Ways and Means Committee passing the bill. Last week, Lang “tabled” the bill, which may end its chances in 2025.
“Table,” is a term I don’t like using, as it can mean different things in different locales. In New Hampshire, it places a bill in legislative limbo. Legislators can later vote to "take the bill off the table" and resume consideration. However, if no such vote happens by the session’s end, the bill dies due to inactivity.
Views: WI Helpline Calls Rise Despite No Mobile Betting
A constant narrative is that online gambling increases problematic play. One of the most often cited peices of evidence is increased calls to problem gambling helplines following legalization.
However, as mentioned previously, the increase could be due to other factors, including people looking for help with their sports betting accounts (registrations, deposits, withdrawals, and more).
A great example of this is Wisconsin. The state has yet to legalize online sports betting (it does have retail betting at tribal casinos) and calls to helplines are on the rise.
Wisconsin Council on Problem Gambling Executive Director Rose Blozinski told local press helpline calls are increasing, and believes the rise is due to accessibility — Which doesn’t align with the lack of legal mobile betting in the state.
"We are hearing from a little bit more of the sports betters, which is unusual. Usually we don’t really hear from the sports betters, so we’re starting to have that happen, so that’s an indication that things might be changing,” Blozinski said.
I would posit that calls and outreach have increased because of legalization, but not because of increased accessibility. Instead, calls are on the rise because gamblers (including those using black market sites) are now seeking treatment due to the following factors:
Increased awareness of their existence, as most states now require 1-800-GAMBLER and other RG/PG notifications in ads, which can run nationally or on the internet. Black market operators don't have to abide by the same regulatory mandates.
Before legalization, gamblers didn’t know who to contact — they certainly weren’t/aren’t going to contact the offshore site. Now, every licensed operator has RG departments that monitor problematic play and offer resources, as do most states.
Widespread legalization and regulation have helped reduce the stigma of seeking help, with state-funded resources.
A couple of thoughts here:
The rise in calls in Wisconsin should be seen as a good thing. It shows that more existing gamblers are reaching out for help.
The next time someone points to increased helpline calls following the introduction of mobile betting, take it with a grain of salt.
SPONSOR’S MESSAGE - Zero Latency host Brad Allen is joined by EKG's director of policy Becca Giden to discuss:
Whether NJ's proposed tax rise will stick
Whether state budget deficits will encourage online casino legislation
A bad month for DraftKings in Texas
Listen to the episode here
Around the Watercooler
Social media conversations, rumors, and gossip.
After several episodes covering sweepstakes, the Indian Gaming Association’s New Normal Webinar Series sets its sights on prediction markets this week.
Today at 1 PM EST: The New Normal: Kalshi, Prediction Markets, and the Future of Gambling: Who Wins and Who Loses?
Speakers:
Stephen Hart, Legal Counsel, Womble Bond Dickinson
Victor Rocha, Conference Chairman, Indian Gaming Association
Jason Giles, Executive Director, Indian Gaming Association
Register for the webinar here.
Per the summary:
“A new frontier in gambling is emerging - one that threatens to disrupt the industry as we know it. Prediction markets, led by platforms like Kalshi, are challenging regulatory norms and testing the limits of what is considered legal gambling. With election betting and other speculative markets gaining momentum, these platforms could have far-reaching consequences for the gaming industry.
”In this episode of The New Normal, we'll examine the looming risks and potential fallout from the rise of prediction markets. Are they a legitimate expansion of interactive wagering, or an existential threat to tribal gaming, commercial casinos, and regulators? Our guest, Stephen Hart, Legal Counsel at Womble Bond Dickinson, will break down the legal battles, regulatory loopholes, and the industry's response to this growing challenge. Don't miss this timely discussion on the intersection of prediction markets, gambling regulation, and the future of tribal gaming.”
You can find my previous coverage of the New Normal’s sweepstakes discussions here:
Stray Thoughts
A few random quotes to ponder.
"What we anticipate seldom occurs; what we least expect generally happens." — Benjamin Disraeli
"The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not ‘Eureka!’ but ‘That’s funny…’" — Isaac Asimov
“Life’s greatest lessons are usually learned at the worst times and from the worst mistakes." — Unknown