Connect with us
European Gaming Congress 2024

Gambling in the USA

Indiana Sportsbooks Lose Out On $125 Million In March Wagers

Published

on

Reading Time: 3 minutes

 

Without NCAA Tournament, NBA, baseball, and more, sportsbooks attract $75 million in bets, according to PlayIndiana

Indiana’s retail and online sportsbooks were hit hard in the first weeks of the coronavirus shutdown, costing the state an estimated $125 million in wagers in March, according to PlayIndiana. And with no immediate end in sight, the industry will continue to navigate treacherous waters in the months ahead.

“This is an unprecedented stoppage for legal sportsbooks, and there is no playbook for them to follow to help manage the crisis,” said Dustin Gouker, lead analyst for PlayIndiana.com. “Obviously, the sports betting industry is just one facet in a crisis that is affecting us all, too often tragically. But it is a business that employs hundreds in Indiana and generates millions in state taxes. And the bottom line is that there will be no significant relief until the sports world begins to open back up.”

Advertisement
Stake.com

Indiana appeared to be headed for its first month of more than $200 million in bets. Instead, the state’s retail and online sportsbooks collected just $74.8 million in March wagers, down 60% from the record $187.2 million in February, according to official reporting released Thursday. Almost all of the handle was generated before March 11, when the NBA shut down its season and sent a cascade of closures through the sports world.

March’s bets produced $5.5 million in adjusted gross revenue, down 50.5% from $11.9 million in February, and yielded $522,0825 in tax revenue for the state.

The shutdown wiped out nearly three weeks of games, including the NBA and the opening of the Major League Baseball season. The loss of the NCAA Tournament, one of the largest sports betting holidays in the U.S., proved particularly damaging. Indiana sportsbooks could have generated more than $50 million in tournament-related wagers, PlayIndiana estimates.

“There is no way to replace the revenue that would have been generated from the NCAA Tournament, which in legal jurisdictions generates more action than the Super Bowl,” said Jessica Welman, an analyst for PlayIndiana.com. “The NCAA Tournament can’t be rescheduled, but professional leagues are beginning to draw plans to begin games again. We still don’t know what that looks like or when it will happen. Whether spectators are there to watch in-person or not, though, online sportsbooks should again be able to attract bettors, which will be welcome news for the industry.

Other than some minor international events and futures betting, mainly on the NFL, sportsbooks have gone completely silent. That could change in a minor way without a single game being played. Sportsbooks are now accepting bets on Friday’s WNBA Draft and the NFL Draft later this month.

Advertisement
Stake.com

“We don’t expect a lot of betting on the WNBA and NFL drafts, but we suspect that each will draw more interest than either would under ordinary circumstances,” Welman said. “People are looking for some sense of normalcy while they practice social distancing, and the drafts and futures betting is providing at least some outlet for bettors.”

In March, online sportsbooks generated 81.3%, or $60.8 million, of the state’s handle. DraftKings/Ameristar Casino led the market with $33.1 million in bets, down from $74.1 million in February, and generated $2.4 million in gross receipts, down from $5.7 million. FanDuel/Blue Chip Casino was second with a $21.6 million handle, down from $63.8 million. That resulted in a $1.45 million win, down from $2.7 million.

The market leaders were followed by:

  • BetRivers/French Lick Resort ($3.6 million handle, down from $7.7 million; $343,482 win, down from $348,869)
  • BetAmerica/Rising Star Casino ($132,568 handle, down from $212,953; $8,233 win, up from -$6,169)
  • BetMGM/Belterra ($2.1 million handle, up from $70,061; $370,669 win, up from $13,175)
  • Hollywood Lawrenceburg/PointsBet ($334,237 handle, $65,390 win)

Horseshoe Hammond led the retail market with $3.4 million in bets, down from $12.4 million in February. That generated $211,475 in gross receipts, up from $52,445. Horseshoe Hammond was followed by:

  • Hollywood Lawrenceburg ($2.6 million handle, down from $6.8 million; $65,390 win, down from $308,577)
  • Ameristar Casino ($2.1 million handle, down from $5.9 million; $232,186 win, down from $345,660)
  • Indiana Grand ($1.7 million handle, down from $4.7 million; $95,088 win, down from $516,760)
  • Harrah’s Hoosier Park ($1.8 million handle, down from $4.5 million; $32,459 win, down from $301,764)
  • Caesars Southern Indiana ($800,758 handle, down from $2.2 million; -$25,689 win, up from $16,774)
  • Blue Chip Casino ($693,011 handle, down from $2.1 million; $10,736 win, up from $3,008)
  • Tropicana Evansville ($594,036 handle, down from $1.6 million; -$49,753 win, down from $31,513)
  • Belterra Casino ($242,689 handle, down from $864,230; -$35,082 win, down from $46,173)
  • French Lick Resort ($81,343 handle, down from $387,656; -$16,027 win, down from $27,015)
  • Rising Star Casino ($43,686 handle, down from $123,393; -$5,903 win, down from $11,723)

“Online sportsbooks will bounce back more quickly than their retail counterparts, which face a much more uncertain future as the coronavirus pandemic continues,” Gouker said. “In states where online casino games and poker are legal, such as New Jersey and Pennsylvania, casino operators have had a bit softer landing. But Indiana has really borne the brunt of this crisis, unfortunately.”

For more revenue information on Indiana sportsbooks, visit PlayIndiana.com/revenue.

Advertisement
Stake.com
Continue Reading
Advertisement

Caesars Digital

EVERI DIGITAL AND CAESARS DIGITAL LAUNCH CAESARS-BRANDED SLOT “CAESARS EMPERORS GOLD”

Published

on

everi-digital-and-caesars-digital-launch-caesars-branded-slot-“caesars-emperors-gold”

 

Everi Digital, the online gaming business of Everi Holdings Inc., a premier provider of land-based and digital casino gaming content and products, financial technology, player loyalty solutions, and bingo, announced the launch of the custom-branded online game “Caesars Emperors Gold” on the newly-upgraded Caesars Palace Online Casino platform via a direct integration with Caesars Digital.

Now available to online players in Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ontario, “Caesars Emperors Gold” is the second title Everi has developed specifically for Caesars Palace Online Casino and is a standard, five-reel video theme with mystery jackpots. The branded game also features iconic Caesars branding with Roman-esque statues for the reel array housing and the high paying symbols.

Everi has provided iGaming content to Caesars Digital for more than four years, and this launch is an extension of the companies’ ongoing collaboration. Everi Digital’s compelling game catalog now consists of more than 70 distinct titles with a footprint spanning North America and Europe. This portfolio of iGaming content is housed and delivered via Everi’s proprietary Spark™ Remote Game Server.

“This rewarding custom game launch with Caesars Digital deepens our strategy with a top-tier iGaming operator and brings Caesars online players in North America a new title with thrilling progressive jackpot opportunities,” said Jordan Brent, Everi Vice President, Digital Commercialization. “With the launch of the ‘Caesars Emperors Gold’ custom slot, it’s clear both Everi and Caesars are committed to providing unique experiences to engage online players.”

“Expanding our custom game catalog with Everi offers us another chance to captivate our online casino players with exclusive one-of-a-kind content and progressive jackpot opportunities that we know are in high demand with players,” said Ricardo Cornejo Rivas, Vice President of Online Gaming at Caesars Digital. “Everi’s games have already proven to be favorites at our various destinations and across our online casino platforms. The launch of ‘Caesars Emperors Gold’ should deliver a distinctive and enhanced online casino experience that will undoubtedly thrill our players.”

Advertisement
Stake.com
Continue Reading

Adrian Bailey

Top Performing Aristocrat Interactive Titles Now Live on Hard Rock Bet in New Jersey

Published

on

top-performing-aristocrat-interactive-titles-now-live-on-hard-rock-bet-in-new-jersey

 

Aristocrat Interactive, Aristocrat’s new online Real Money Gaming division, and Hard Rock Digital announced the arrival of Aristocrat Interactive Content & Aggregation’s extensive suite of gaming content to HRD’s Hard Rock Bet online casino in New Jersey. Players of the Hard Rock Bet platform can now enjoy an impressive collection of Aristocrat Interactive’s most popular games within the state, whenever they seek entertainment.

Titles that will be available on Hard Rock Bet include Buffalo, Timberwolf, Wild Wild Emerald, Firelight II, Winfall Wishes, Wild Lepre’Coins, Twilight Forest, Frog of Riches, and Secrets of the Phoenix Elements. Currently available in New Jersey, Aristocrat Interactive and Hard Rock Digital look forward to launching Aristocrat Interactive gaming content together in additional states and markets in the future.

“Collaborating with Hard Rock Digital to offer our gaming content to their players via Fusion Aggregation platform is truly exciting. This relationship marks the beginning of bringing some of the most engaging gaming experiences on the market to the players of Hard Rock Bet,” Adrian Bailey, Managing Director of Aristocrat Interactive Content & Aggregation, said.

“The addition of these popular Aristocrat Interactive games to Hard Rock Bet is yet another way that we’re entertaining our players like no one else can. Since launching Hard Rock Bet in New Jersey, we’ve increased our casino offerings by nearly 1000 games and are excited to continue adding unique gaming experiences to our top-rated platform,” Grant Williams, Hard Rock Digital’s SVP of Casino, said.

Advertisement
Stake.com
Continue Reading

FBM

FBM® brings Asian fortune to the United States with Jí Hǎo Link™

Published

on

fbm-brings-asian-fortune-to-the-united-states-with-ji-hao-link

 

FBM® is ready to spread the golden wealth in the United States with the four slot themes of Jí Hǎo Link™ – Golden Lóng™, Fortunate Héping™, Eternal Fènghuáng™ and Great Weiyan™. This product line of Asian inspiration presents a new gaming experience to American players, merging captivating graphics and alluring sounds with amazing payouts offered by an attractive feature set.

The FBM slots portfolio keeps growing in the United States. After successful introductions of the Easy$Link™ and Mythic Link™ game suites, the global gaming brand takes another step in its growth path in the USA by installing Jí Hǎo Link at Hialeah Park Casino in Miami.

The brave white tiger, the powerful dragon, the wise turtle, and the eternal phoenix are the mythical creatures of the Jí Hǎo Link game suite united by a lucky pagoda that is deeply connected with ancient Asian culture.

WHAT DISTINGUISHES THE JÍ HǍO LINK GAMING EXPERIENCE?

Jí Hǎo Link delivers a vibrant entertainment experience to slot players in the US. The new games offer a diverse selection of features to ensure every moment is a thrilling adventure.

Heading these features is the astonishing Jí Hǎo Link bonus – a special feature triggered by the games’ pagoda which is sure to entice lucky slot players with potential riches. This bonus allows players to get a Mini, Minor, Major, or Grand jackpot and may also result in another fantastic prize. If players fill all 15 positions available on the reels, they will double the non-progressive prize amounts collected during the bonus rounds.

Advertisement
Stake.com

Players may also get their hands on the golden coins spread by Jí Hǎo Link through the activation of the Triple Wild and Wild Multiplier game features in free spins mode. Triple Wild is available on Golden Lóng and Fortunate Héping making the Wild symbols fill all the positions of reels 2, 3 or 4 to guarantee better chances for big wins. Wild Multiplier is available on Eternal Fènghuáng and Great Weiyan multiplying earnings up to 30 times with the X2, X3 or X5 factors in the Wild symbols.

EXPANSION IS FBM’S WATCHWORD

Expansion continues for FBM with the Jí Hǎo Link product line, also available under the trademark Jin Qián Link™ in other markets. Following successful installations in Spain and impressive expansion in Mexico, FBM launches the slots suite in the United States at Hialeah Park Casino with a promising introduction and immense growth potential.

In the sequence of this remarkable step, Mike Medlin (Sales & Operations Manager at FBM) expressed his gratitude to Javier Fernandez (Slots Director at Hialeah Park Casino) and Steve Calabro (General Manager at Hialeah Park Casino) for their continued loyalty and support to FBM’s operation in the market, once again proved with the Ji Hao Link debut in the United States through the Hialeah Park Casino facilities.

FBM strengthens its position in the United States adding a new option to its game portfolio. This new step reaffirms the global gaming brand’s commitment to growing its market presence in the US with reliable and innovative games that add value for casino operators and provide thrilling entertainment experiences to their players.

Advertisement
Stake.com
Continue Reading

Trending