Welcome to iGB’s State of the Union, a look at the biggest North American sports betting stories we’ve covered over the week and briefs on others we found interesting.
Study raises RG alarm, but should it?
Since the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) was overturned in 2018, the number of internet searches terms around “gambling addiction” has risen 23% nationally, according to an American Medical Association JAMA Internal Medicine investigation. Published on 17 February, the responsible gaming (RG) study revealed that searches rose most in Pennsylvania (50%), Massachusetts (47%), New York (37%) and New Jersey (34%).
In the abstract, investigators wrote, “The results of this time series study suggest that access to sportsbooks, sports wagers and potential help-seeking for gambling addiction increased substantially and highlight the need to address the health implications of sportsbooks, including recognition and treatment of gambling problems and their broader societal implications.”
But is this increase truly cause for concern? Guy Bentley, writing for Reason.com, suggests that it is not. In New Jersey, he wrote that searches for gambling addiction help rose 34% since legal sports betting went live in 2018. But that has not translated into an increase in the percentage of problem gamblers in the state.
“In 2021, the latest year for which we have data, problem gambling in New Jersey was 5.6%,” Bentley wrote. “But in 2017, before sports betting was legal, New Jersey’s problem gambling rate was 6.3%.”
Number of problem gamblers in UK, Australia didn’t change
In addition, Bentley shared that while there was an increase in the number of bankruptcies in the 1980s and early 1990s after lotteries and casinos were legalised, the “effect largely disappeared” by the mid-1990s. Further, he wrote that gambling expert Howard Schaffer “said the evidence suggests that the rate of PG (pathological gambling) has remained relatively stable during the past 35 years despite an unprecedented increase in opportunities and access to gambling.”
In the UK and Australia, where digital wagering has been legal for 20-plus years, there has been “no change” in the percentage of problem gamblers, Bentley wrote.
Investigators from the University of California San Diego Qualcomm Institute and School of Medicine looked at the use of the following search terms: gambling and addiction, addict, anonymous, or hotline. In hard numbers, investigators wrote that between 6.5 and 7.3 million searches were made.
They reviewed Google search histories between 1 January 2016 and 30 June 2024.
Only two books taking bets on next Canada PM
Election betting is legal in Canada, but Gaming News Canada reports that only two sportsbooks are taking action on which party and prime minister will be the outright winners. The election is set for 27 February. FanDuel and Bet99 are offering markets for the “sworn in government”.
The Progressive Conservatives (PG) are favoured on both platforms, but at -1400 on Bet99 and -700 on FanDuel. According to GNC, Liberals have the next best odds at +750 on FanDuel and +900 on Bet99. The NDP is posted at +1500 on both platforms, and the Green Party is listed at +3100 on FanDuel and +3000 on Bet99.
In the US, election betting is a touchy subject. Mainstream sportsbooks can’t offer it in legal states, but prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket were able to offer odds on the November presidential election.
In Ontario, Canada’s only open, competitive gambling market, three sportsbooks also offered odds on which party would get the second-most seats. BetMGM, PartySports and Sports Interaction all offer that market. Most sportsbooks are only offering odds on the federal election, although some are taking odds on the Ontario provincial election, as well.
Fanatics to pay out on Wemby bets
Diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder, San Antonio Spurs defensive player of the year favourite Victor Wembanyama will miss the remainder of the NBA season. Wembanyama is expected to make a full recovery.
Those holding season-long bets on Wemby winning DPOY with Fanatics Sportsbook are in luck. The sportsbooks announced on Thursday (20 February) that it will honour all DPOY bets as wins. Those with parlays involving Wembanyama will be refunded.
Fair is Fair. ???? With Wemby out for the season, we're paying out all DPOY bets as a WIN and refunding all Parlay wagers, courtesy of Fair Play. pic.twitter.com/ReEsVgCJIB
— Fanatics Sportsbook (@FanaticsBook) February 21, 2025
Most people don’t know what sweepstakes are
While the legal gambling industry is focused on killing sweepstakes and social casinos, a Fantasy Sports and Gaming Association (FSGA) study released on 19 February shows low recognition and even lower engagement among Americans. According to the report, 14% of American adults “recognise” social sportsbooks and 4% have used them. In addition, the FSGA said, many do not understand what sweepstakes are or whether they are legal.
The study also showed that 28% of Americans engaged in fantasy or sports betting in 2024, which is flat when compared to 2023. It also revealed that more Americans participate in sports betting (22%) versus fantasy (18%) and that the demographics are different. The average sports bettor is a 45-year-old male while the average fantasy player is 42.4 years old. The demographic for both is predominantly male.
With regard to to women’s sports, FSGA did not provide any numbers, but said that the WNBA remains the top women’s league for betting and that it is seeing “steady growth” in betting on women’s soccer, MMA, golf and other sports.
The research was released at the FSGA Winter Conference in Las Vegas. The Angus Reid Group conducted polling 21-29 January 2025, among a representative sample of 2,052 online Americans who are members of the Angus Reid Forum.
On 19 February the Responsible Online Gaming Association (ROGA) released a suite of responsible gaming and financial literacy tools aimed at helping college-aged consumers. “Know Your Play” is available to anyone interested in learning more about money habits, responsible gaming or mental health. The website also includes “exclusive” content available to anyone with a college code or who requests a code.
The website is comprised of videos on each topic. According to a ROGA press release, the campaign will also include in-person “learning sessions” and workshops on some college campuses. The programme was crafted in partnership with EPIC Global Solutions, Kindbridge Behavioural Health and the Responsible Gaming Council. Eight of the biggest US gaming operators formed ROGA in March 2024.
“College students are learning to navigate newfound financial independence and equipping this age group with resources to make informed decisions that can build good financial habits will serve them throughout their lives, whether they engage in gaming or not,” ROGA executive director Dr Jennifer Shatley said via press release. “While previous programmes have focused on student-athletes, our campaign intends to educate the broader student population about responsible gaming concepts that can help this age group set realistic expectations and see gaming as a form of entertainment, not as a way of making money.”
Churchill Downs retail sportsbook shuttered
Citing the growth of online sports betting platforms, Churchill Downs racetrack shut down its in-person sportsbook on 9 February, reports the Louisville Courier Journal. Bettors had until 16 February to collect on tickets in person. After that date, tickets could be mailed in. Consumers will still be able to bet on horse races, including the Kentucky Derby, at the venue.
“With 98 per cent of sports betting made on mobile platforms such as FanDuel, there simply isn’t a profitable path forward for us to sustain profitability as a retail operator,” Churchill Downs spokesman Darren Rogers said in a statement.
Will Vermonters lose chance to wager?
Just over a year after legal digital sports betting launched in Vermont, three lawmakers filed a bill to end it. H133 seeks to repeal the laws that allow for legal sports betting and a state lottery. The bill is the first of its kind in a legal wagering state.
After being introduced on 4 February, H133 was sent to the government operations and military affairs committee. No hearing has been scheduled yet.
Bill sponsor representative Troy Headrick told PlayUSA that he believes legal sports betting and lotteries are tantamount to “regressive” taxation.
MI two-factor authentication starts on 4 March
The Michigan Gaming Control Board will begin requiring two-factor authentication for online casino on 4 March. PlayUSA reports that operators must require two of the following authentication methods:
- Information known only to the authorised participant, such as a password, pattern,
or answers to challenging questions; - Something possessed by an authorised participant, such as an electronic token,
physical token, or identification card. This can include a one-time passcode sent to a device, email address, or phone number; - An authorised participant’s biometric data, such as a fingerprint, face recognition,
or voice recognition scan.
In other news…
The Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission (CLGCC) awarded more than $2.9 million in responsible gambling grants on 21 February. Four organisations received grants to combat gambling addiction in the state. The biggest single earmark is $886,550 to the Kindbridge Behavioural Institute.
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