BetMGM
TheLines.com: Bettors react to quarterback uncertainty ahead of NFL’s conference championships
Like the NFL itself, the NFL’s conference championship games will be quarterback-driven. In Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes, and Josh Allen, the AFC and NFC championship games feature a matchup of two of the greatest to ever play and another featuring the brightest stars of the NFL’s younger generation. But in a quarterback-driven league, the health status of a star like Mahomes has the power to create big odds swings, according to TheLines, which tracks odds in the U.S. regulated sports betting market.
A look at a consensus of the nation’s largest legal online sportsbooks — including DraftKings, FanDuel, PointsBet, PlaySugarHouse, BetMGM, Unibet, and William Hill, shows just how quickly things can change. With Mahomes in the league’s five-step concussion protocol, the Buffalo Bills opened on Sunday night as a 1.5-point favorite over the reigning champions Chiefs. But as bettors look to cash in on a favorable line as the status of Mahomes remains uncertain, Kansas City has been bet to a 2.5-point home favorite. Mahomes’ status may be weighing on the oddsmakers’ point total, too. In a game featuring two of the top offenses in a historical offensive year, the over/under of 54 points is just the third-highest in the last 10 years of the AFC Championship.
In the NFC, a matchup of two certain Hall of Famers offers more clarity. Set for frigid Lambeau Field, the Packers sit as 3.5.-point favorites. Home teams are 33-17 straight up and 27-22-1 against the spread in the NFC Championship game since 1970. Green Bay, though, is 1-3 against the spread in NFC Championship games in which Rodgers starts. Brady’s teams, on the other hand, are 9-3 against the spread in conference championship games, all with the New England Patriots.
“It’s rare that the status of a team lynchpin like Patrick Mahomes is so uncertain ahead of a conference championship game, so the consensus point spread will likely keep shifting as bettors make speculative plays,” said Brett Collson, lead analyst for TheLines.com. “Add a matchup between two of the greatest quarterbacks to ever live, both with long, intriguing histories in conference championship games, and this could be the most interesting championship weekend for bettors that we’ve seen in a very long time.”
The consensus point spreads for the AFC and NFC Championship games, as of Monday, Jan. 18:
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Green Bay Packers (-3.5); over/under 51
- Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs (-2.5); over/under 54
The current odds for remaining playoff teams to win Super Bowl LV as of Monday, Jan. 18 (with preseason odds):
- Kansas City Chiefs +200 (+600)
- Green Bay Packers +220 (+3100)
- Buffalo Bills +325 (+2500)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers +450 (+1500)
To access updated NFL playoff lines and Super Bowl odds, and for more analysis, visit TheLines.com/odds/nfl-playoffs.
About TheLines.com:
TheLines.com is a leading source for news, analysis, and research related to the market for regulated sports betting in the United States. Affiliated with the PlayUSA.com Network, TheLines.com provides original daily reporting and offers player advocacy tools related to the advancement of safe, licensed, and legal online sports betting. Based in Las Vegas, the PlayUSA Network is independently owned and operated, with no affiliations to any casino — commercial, tribal, online, or otherwise.
BetMGM
BetMGM Appoints Casey Hurbis as Chief Marketing Officer
BetMGM has appointed Casey Hurbis as its new Chief Marketing Officer. Reporting directly to BetMGM Chief Revenue Officer Matt Prevost, Hurbis brings 30 years of diverse consumer marketing expertise to BetMGM’s leadership team, positioning the brand to further accelerate its rapid momentum in the sports betting and iGaming industry.
“Building BetMGM from the ground up into one of the most recognizable brands in the sports betting and iGaming sphere has been an incredible accomplishment made possible by the tireless efforts of our amazing team. Bringing a visionary leader like Casey Hurbis on board adds another impactful advantage for our brand,” said Prevost.
Over the past three decades, Hurbis has spearheaded innovative, needle-moving strategies in consumer engagement, digital advertising, partnership development, experiential marketing and more — expertise that will evolve into big-impact initiatives for BetMGM. Most recently, Hurbis served as Chief Marketing Officer at Rocket Mortgage, where he led marketing strategies that captured the country’s attention for the nation’s largest retail mortgage lender. Highlights of his tenure include consecutive No.1 rankings on USA Today’s Ad Meter for Super Bowl commercials and the launch of the Rocket Mortgage Classic, which has become the most awarded event on the PGA Tour.
Hurbis said: “Sports betting is one of the most competitive and rapidly evolving industries in the marketing world, and I’m honored to join BetMGM at such an exciting time in its growth. BetMGM is a brand with incredible momentum, backed by a team that is redefining how we engage and entertain audiences. I look forward to pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation to not only attract new audiences but enhance the experience for our loyal players to even greater heights.”
Before joining Rocket Mortgage, Casey spent 24 years in automotive marketing, culminating in his role leading advertising and communications for FIAT and Alfa Romeo. Alongside his brand-building expertise, Casey is deeply committed to philanthropy, supporting organizations such as the Special Olympics, the Salvation Army and Bethany Christian Adoption Services. He also serves on the Board of Directors for Adcraft Detroit, Michigan State Communication Arts and Sciences, Brand Innovators and the Detroit Sports Commission.
Hurbis and BetMGM’s creative agency of record, Highdive, previously collaborated on three top-ranked Super Bowl campaigns at Rocket Mortgage, laying the foundation for even greater synergies and success at BetMGM.
BetMGM
BetMGM Partners with Push Gaming to Deliver iGaming Content in Ontario
BetMGM, a leading iGaming and sports betting operator, announced a new partnership with Push Gaming, a B2B online gaming industry supplier. The first phase of the partnership brings some of Push Gaming’s top slot titles to BetMGM Casino in Ontario. In 2025, pending regulatory approval, BetMGM will be the exclusive partner for Push Gaming in the US.
Some of Push Gaming’s most popular slots, including Retro Tapes, Big Bamboo, Razor Returns, and Wild Swarm 2 are now available at BetMGM Casino and Wheel of Fortune Casino in Ontario, with more top titles arriving soon. Retro Tapes won Gambling News’ Most Watched and Most Streamed Slot Award in 2023. Retro Tapes immerses players in a late 20th-century-themed atmosphere with state-of-the-art graphics and sound design.
“Push Gaming’s exciting slots resonate with players and elevate the iGaming experience. We are proud to partner with Push Gaming and add their popular slots to our online casinos in Ontario which offers players a vast variety of over 3,000 titles,” Oliver Bartlett, VP of Gaming Product & Content at BetMGM, said.
This deal is a landmark occasion for both brands, signalling Push Gaming’s first-ever market entry with BetMGM, one of the leaders in the online casino industry in the province. The combination of BetMGM’s industry leadership with Push Gaming’s innovative, mobile-first approach positions both companies for continued success and growth. Ontario experienced an increase in total wagers to $18 billion (CAD) during the second quarter of the 2024-25 fiscal year according to iGaming Ontario (iGo), with online casinos accounting for an 86% share of the province’s total wagers.
“This is a proud moment for the team at Push Gaming as this partnership is the culmination of an incredible amount of hard work. Having some of our biggest games available to BetMGM players, one of the industry’s largest names, is a milestone in our evolution as a developer and we’re incredibly excited at the potential of our partnership. As well as being committed to creating the best slots the industry has to offer, it is also our priority to ensure that content is available to as many players as possible, in tandem with the very best operators, globally. Working with BetMGM fits those goals perfectly and the ensuing long-term closer cooperation across North America that this will bring gives us an amazing foothold in key regions,” Fiona Hickey, Chief Business Development Officer at Push Gaming, said.
Adam Greenblatt
BetMGM Rewards Points Now Combined into Single, Digital Wallet
BetMGM, a leading iGaming and sports betting operator, announced a major enhancement to its customer experience by consolidating BetMGM Reward Points (BRPs) into a single account. In addition to users’ cash balance, this feature enables BetMGM Rewards Points to travel with them across jurisdictions.
Streamlining BetMGM Rewards Points into a single account is the next phase of BetMGM’s single, digital wallet. With single account, users have one set of login credentials and account settings, along with a single cash balance accessible in all states where BetMGM is available. In August, BetMGM became the first sports betting app to offer Nevada bettors seamless, nationwide connectivity through a single, digital wallet. Through operation and partnership with MGM Resorts, this innovative feature makes BetMGM the only legalized sports betting app that allows Nevada residents and visitors to wager in the state and carry their funds to BetMGM mobile markets across the US.
“We are committed to streamlining the loyalty experience for our players so they can enjoy the rewards they earn wherever they are in the US. 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,” said Adam Greenblatt, CEO of BetMGM.
Players can earn BetMGM Rewards Points and Tier Credits by playing at BetMGM Sportsbook, BetMGM Casino, and BetMGM Poker.
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