This Fall’s Sports Betting Lineup Could Include 5 New States

By: Sara Dalsheim

The sports wagering industry in the United States will be significantly expanded by the end of this year.  This NFL season, fans in up to five new states may be able to legally bet on games from their own personal mobile device and/or desktop computer.  Since the Supreme Court’s ruling in mid-2018 the legal sports betting market has taken off exponentially including the introduction of sports betting legislation in five new states.  Check if your state is included with this nifty map from the iDEA website: https://ideagrowth.org/legislative-tracking/.  What states and brands may be headed your way?  Take a look below!

Arizona

The Arizona Department of Gaming stayed true to their word, maintaining since April 12, 2021, that they will be ready for launch by September 9.  The state’s 9-day license allocation evaluation process began on August 17.  The following operators are hoping that they will be allocated a license in accordance with their below listed partnerships:

• Bally Bet, in partnership with the Phoenix Mercury
• Barstool Sportsbook, in partnership with Phoenix Raceway (i.e., NASCAR)
• Betfred Sports, in partnership with Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation
• BetMGM, in partnership with the Arizona Cardinals and the Gila River Tribe [Note: BetMGM officially received their license on August 26].
• BlueBet, in partnership with the Colorado River Indian Tribes
• Caesars, in partnership with the Arizona Diamondbanks and the Fiesta Bowl Organization
• DraftKings, in partnership with TPC Scottsdale
• FanDuel, in partnership with the Phoenix Suns
• MaximBet, in partnership with the White Mountain Apache Tribe
• PointsBet, in partnership with the Yavapi-Apache Nation
• Twinspires, in partnership with the Tonto Apache Tribe
• Unibet, in partnership with the Fort Yumaa-Quechan Tribe
• WynnBet, in partnership with the San Carlos Apache Tribe

Connecticut

Connecticut still plans to launch legal sports wagering and iGaming on September 6.  However, the state awaits approval from the Department of the Interior on the new tribal gaming compact.  The Department of Interior has until September 9 to rule on the updated compact, officially permitted legal retail sports wagering.  The following operators will be available to bettors in the state:

• BetRivers, in partnership with the Connecticut Lottery
• DraftKings, in partnership with the Masantucket Pequot Tribe and Foxwoods Resort
• FanDuel, in partnership with the Mohegan Sun Tribe

Florida

Sports wagering can launch in Florida on October 15; but there could be an injunction filed to prevent that.  Legal actions have been filed with more to come, hoping to overturn the approval of the updated compact that gives the Seminole Indians control of the entire state’s sports wagering landscape.  If Florida is able to launch mobile sports wagering, there will only be one operator available: Hard Rock Sportsbook. The state and Tribe did agree to allow other sportsbook operators to participate but these operators would have to reach an agreement with the Seminole Tribe in order to gain access to the Florida market.

Louisiana

It has not been officially disclosed when sports wagering will launch in Louisiana.  However, the Louisiana Gaming Control Board opened sportsbook license applications on August 20 and remains committed to launching in the fall of 2021.  State regulators have 180 days from August 23 to take public comment and approve permanent rules.  The state’s twenty combined riverboat casinos, horse tracks, and land-basked casinos will be permitted to have up to two online sportsbooks as well as a retail sportsbook at their respective properties. Additionally, the Louisiana Lottery is able to have a mobile app.  This means there could be as many as 41 online sportsbooks in the state.  Operators expected to launch in the state are as follows:

• B Connected
• Bally Bet; in partnership with Eldorado
• BetRivers
• Barstool Sportsbook; in partnership with Boomtown Casino, L’Auberge Casino, and Margaritaville Resort Casino
• BetMGM
• Caesars; in partnership with Harrah’s Louisiana Downs, Harrah’s New Orleans, Horseshoe Casino, and Isle of Capri Casino
• DraftKings; in partnership with Belle of Baton Rouge, and Hollywood Casino
• FanDuel; in partnership with Amelia Belle Casino, Evangeline Downs, Delta Downs, Sam’s Town, and Treasure Chest Casino
• PointsBet
• TwinSpires; in partnership with Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots
• WynnBet

Wyoming

Wyoming’s sports wagering regulations are set to be finalized and approved by September 1.  The Wyoming Gaming Commission plans to start issuing licenses directly after the regulations are finalized.  It is their intent that operators will be able to “go-live” almost instantaneously thereafter. The following operators plan to enter the state’s market with some already offering early registration bonuses:

• Barstool Sportsbook
• BetMGM
• Caesars, offering an early registration bonus
• DraftKings, offering an early registration bonus
• FanDuel