Sports Betting Beat - June 21, 2021
This is your sports betting industry news for Monday June 21, 2021.
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Arizona
Gamblers who owe child support or court fines will have winnings from sports betting garnished to pay their debts to the state
The so-called "debt setoff" is among 13 pages of draft rules the Arizona Department of Gaming released this week for the sports-betting industry. The industry was legalized this year in the state in a sweeping deal that also allowed for expanded tribal casinos.
Another critical aspect of the draft rules for sports wagering: Taxation.
While there is no mention within the draft documents, Arizona sportsbooks will pay 8% of revenues after subtracting payouts to gamblers.
Sports betting is expected to go live in Arizona on Sept. 9, the season opener for the NFL, with up to 10 sportsbooks owned by professional sports teams and another 10 run by tribes under the new law. The Diamondbacks, Suns and PGA have already announced they are on board. The PGA will offer a sportsbook at the TPC Scottsdale, where the Waste Management Phoenix Open is played.
Some of the other Arizona draft rules, courtesy of USA Today, include:
- Mobile sportsbooks that gamblers access on their phones will be required to use a geofencing system that checks to ensure the bettor is in the state during the entire session when they place a bet.
- People who work for sportsbooks will need to be licensed by the department, and the licenses will be good for two years.
- Winning tickets must be honored for at least a year.
- Operators will be required to keep a cash or credit reserve of at least $500,000 or enough to cover all wagers if that amount is greater.
- The department will require special approval for sportsbooks to accept bets on events after they have begun, commonly referred to as in-play wagering. It's unclear whether sportsbooks would need approval for individual bets or whether they could get a waiver for an entire season.
- Sportsbooks must use integrity monitors to watch for suspicious activity. If they find anything unusual the sportsbooks are permitted to suspend bets related to the activity but "shall not cancel related event wagers" until given approval by the department. “Suspicious wagering activity” can include "match fixing, the manipulation of an event, misuse of inside information, a potential breach of a sports governing body’s internal rules or code of conduct pertaining to event wagering, any other conduct that corrupts the outcome of an event."
- No ATMs that accept electronic benefit cards issued to needy families will be allowed in the sportsbooks, and no cashing state benefits checks at them, either.
- Advertising, marketing, and promotions "shall not target, or otherwise be of a kind that specifically appeals to" people younger than 21.
Canada
Countdown for Canadian sports betting bill as Senate prepares for summer recess
We should have a better understanding Monday as to whether Canada moves forward with legalized sports betting. It is essentially crunch day for the Canadian Senate to come up with a final decision with the debate on Bill C-218 set to resume.
The Senate is set to adjourn for summer recess on Wednesday.
One amendment raised on behalf of the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake late last week by Senator Mary Jane McCallum could result in changes to the language and an inability to process in time for the Parliamentary break.
Should the bill fail to pass this week all is not lost as hopes are high for a special election when the Senate reconvenes in September.
Dafabet
Dafabet signs on as Palmeiras sports betting partner
Brazilian football club Palmeiras has partnered with the online betting company Dafabet as its first-ever official sports betting partner with wagering firm having its brand displayed at the club’s Allianz Parque home stadium and on social media sites.
Roberto Trinas, Executive Director of Marketing for Palmeiras, said: “We are happy to sign this agreement with Dafabet, the first company in the sports betting segment to sponsor Palmeiras.
“We appreciate the trust and hope that this alliance will have results and benefits for the parties involved, especially for the millions of fans of the team.”
Louisiana
Louisiana set to achieve $2.5bn sports betting market
Eric Ramsey, analyst for the PlayUSA.com network, which includes PlayLouisiana.com, noted: “Louisiana should be able to outperform its relatively small population. In fact, as a market Louisiana shares many of the same attributes that have made New Jersey and Nevada sports betting meccas.
“The state has long been home to a thriving casino industry, New Orleans itself can draw tourists from all over the country, and Louisiana is not bordered by another state that offers both retail and online sports betting.”
PlayLouisiana claims the Louisiana market will one day attract over $2.5bn in annual sports wagers and more than $200m in operator revenue.
Washington
Sports betting will help lift up Washington state tribes
The Washington State Gambling Commission has unanimously approved 15 newly negotiated tribal compact agreements, each of which will be sent for federal review. The process will lead to the allowance of sports betting in these casinos. Washington is not a state that will offer mobile to its residents outside the casino properties.
- Chris Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher
