The Weekender: MO Sports Betting; Sweeps Rally Together; MGC Meeting
Sports betting will be on the ballot in Missouri; but will it pass? Sweepstakes companies form trads group. MGC meeting on limiting bettors scheduled for Sep. 11.
The Bulletin Board
ABOVE the FOLD: A look at the three biggest stories of the week.
— A wild week for the Missouri sports betting ballot initiative.
— Sweepstakes companies band together.
— MGC sets the stage for a very consequential discussion.
HOUSEKEEPING: A look at recent podcasts, featured articles, and more from yours truly.
SPONSOR’S MESSAGE - SUBSCRIBE NOW to Zero Latency, the new podcast from Eilers & Krejcik Gaming that provides unparalleled insight into the U.S. online gambling industry through interviews with industry insiders and analysis from EKG experts.
Missouri Sports Betting Ballot Initiative Update
The Missouri sports betting ballot initiative has been on a rollercoaster ride since Missouri Secretary of State John “Jay” Ashcroft approved the measure for the November ballot.
Here’s a look at the last seven days.
In positive news, the ballot initiative will remain on the November ballot, as Judge Daniel Green dismissed a lawsuit on Friday that would have kept it off the ballot. Full story from Covers.com.
Another positive is the latest polling out of the Show-Me State, which indicates 50% support for the measure and just 29% opposition. Another 21% are undecided.
In a less positive development, the measure is not a slam dunk to pass, and that’s before the opposition kicks into high gear. So, who opposes it? As Elaine did to Ned Isakoff (“She named name”), the possible opponent of Missouri’s sports betting ballot initiative (known to me for some time) has been revealed as Ceasars.
Sweepstakes Companies Join Forces
A significant development occurred on Friday: 11 sweepstakes and social gambling companies formed the Social and Promotional Gaming Association (SPGA).
The news broke on Friday, so it was too late for a newsletter last week. I’ll dive into this story more this week, but it definitely warrants a mention today.
According to a press release, the organization aims “to highlight the well-established legality and legitimacy of social sweepstakes games, providing regulators, policymakers, and consumers with a comprehensive understanding of these offerings.”
The SPGA press release also highlights that it “brings together innovative companies in a unified approach to creating safe, legal, and engaging social and promotional gaming experiences for American adults.”
It’s hard to ignore the launch of the SPGA in light of the recent attacks on sweepstakes sites by various industry entities.
MGC to Host Public Meeting on Limiting Bettors
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission will host a public meeting on the topic of sportsbooks limiting bettors on September 11.
I posted this as a Quick Hitter on Thursday, but this story is anything but. As Ryan Butler put it on X:
Here are my previous thoughts on limiting bettors:
The first was from May after operators bailed on the first roundtable discussion the MGC scheduled.
The second was from July, when I offered up my personal thoughts on the topic.
And, as I mentioned on Thursday, “The big question now is, who the MGC will invite to speak at the meeting.”
Housekeeping
Still time to sign up for THE FORECAST:
The Forecast is a premium service that consists of quarterly reports and weekly updates on the US online gambling sector. I created it specifically for individuals and organizations interested in an unbiased, clear-cut assessment of the landscape. It will launch in November at a cost of $2,600 annually, but you can save $600 by registering before September 30, 2024.
Reach out to Steve@igamingpundit.com for more details or to register your organization.
PODCASTS:
This week’s guest on the Talking Shop Podcast is Alex Kane, the CEO of Sporttrade (a newsletter sponsor). Alex is the first two-time guest (you can find his previous appearance here), and his second appearance was as good as the first. Topics ranged from alternative ways to expand the market and bring new innovative ideas to transparency (a recurring theme in this episode) to election betting and sweepstakes.
COLUMNS:
Why is it so hard to overcome intuitive beliefs? That’s the subject of this week’s featured column.
And for all of you online casino supporters, you can also read the latest installment of the Ruddock Report over at Casino Reports.
Why hire Steve Ruddock? Over the years, Steve has advised startups, national gambling companies, government agencies, and investment banks on a wide variety of topics.
Whether you’re looking for market research, want to raise your brand awareness, or are trying to develop responsible gaming strategies, Steve can help with honest, balanced, no-nonsense analysis of the situation.
Steve’s unique experience and insights are often the missing piece to the puzzle.
Reach out for more information: Straight to the Point Consulting.