Churchill Downs Inc., the biggest horse racing company in Kentucky, is set to provide FanDuel and other online platforms access to the state’s consumers in exchange for a cut of the action. The company expects sports betting to go live in Kentucky in the second half of 2023, after the Republican-controlled legislature authorized sports wagering in March, making Kentucky the 37th state to allow betting on college and professional sports. Churchill Downs CEO Bill Carstanjen said sports betting will not meaningfully change the finances of the $10 billion horse racing and casino company, but it will draw customers to the company’s casino-like historical horse racing venues. Each of Churchill Downs’ racetracks and its historical gaming venues will get sports-wagering kiosks in their sports bars, and […]

The National Rugby League (NRL) is in talks to establish a long-term strategy to tap into the booming online sports betting market in the US, which could bring in hundreds of millions of dollars in broadcast fees, sponsorship, and gambling revenue. The NRL executives are negotiating to host two round one games in Las Vegas next year and will continue the discussions next month with multiple stakeholders. The US sports betting market is worth around $20bn a year, despite being only five years old. The NRL’s overseas expansion is supported by many of Australia’s biggest sports gambling companies. However, Les Bernal, director of advocacy group Stop Predatory Gambling & Campaign for Gambling-Free Kids, believes the NRL could make money off gambling in the US by […]

The latest version of Ohio’s two-year budget bill includes language that could allow for more sports gaming facilities in Cuyahoga County and other large counties. If passed, House Bill 33 would allow Cuyahoga, Franklin, and Hamilton counties to have seven sports gaming facilities, rather than the five currently allowed under state law. This could provide an opportunity for previously rejected sportsbook applicants in Cuyahoga County, such as Harry Buffalo, Resilience Capital Partners, and Stark Enterprises. The bill also expands Medicaid coverage for Ohioans, including coverage for obesity treatment, such as nutrition counseling, behavioral therapy, and weight-loss surgeries. Other provisions in the bill include funding for various organizations and initiatives in Northeast Ohio and reimbursing emergency personnel deployed for the 2024 solar eclipse. The bill is […]