DraftKings Launches Mobile Sports Betting Service in North Carolina

draftkings_launches_in_north_carolinaDraftKings, the famous North American sports betting operator, has launched its online sports betting platform in North Carolina starting on March 11 after having secured a written designation agreement with NASCAR earlier this year.

The respective written designation agreement was necessary for the sports betting operator in order to be allowed to offer its services in the state of North Carolina. The launch marks an important moment for DraftKings as the operator now has its sports betting service available in 27 American states. Moreover, the sports betting website is also available in Ontario, the most populous province in Canada.

North Carolina is a very important state when it comes to sports because it is the home state of most of the NASCAR industry and it also has high-profile professional teams in all the major North American leagues: the National Football League (NFL), the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the National Hockey League (NHL). Moreover, North Carolina has several universities competing at the Division-I level, attracting plenty of sports fans.

From now on eligible sports fans in the state will be able to place their bets on the DraftKings online sportsbook, which provides a wide range of markets and offerings, including same-game parlays, in-game betting and special odds boosts.

DraftKings underlined that its sportsbook platform in North Carolina is “safe and regulated”, offering plenty of customer protections like deposit and time limits, full access to responsible gaming resources and self-exclusion features. Moreover, DraftKings offers the new “My Stat Sheet” feature, which shows punters the exact amount of time they spent on the sports betting website and also the total amount of deposits made.

Ceremonial First Bet

The launch of legalized mobile sports betting in North Carolina is a memorable occasion and sports fans in the state will most likely remember it for quite some time as Greg Olsen, the legendary Carolina Panthers player, was designated to place a ceremonial first bet.

The event was hosted by the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte and along with Greg Olsen it benefitted from the participation of Zack Hawkins, a North Carolina State Representative Zack Hawkins, and Jeremy Elbaum, the Chief Commercial Officer of DraftKings.

DraftKings started out in 2012 and it was founded by Jason Robins, Matt Kalish and Paul Liberman. The company is headquartered in Boston and it offers online sports betting services and daily fantasy sports products.

Source: “DraftKings Set to Launch Mobile Sports Betting in North Carolina on March 11“DraftKings. March 7, 2024.

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Study: Sports Betting Regulations Can Have Adverse Effects, Drive Consumers Offshore

A new study concludes that sports betting regulations designed to protect athletes can have adverse impacts and drive consumers to offshore sportsbooks.

sports betting offshore sportsbook
Sports betting restrictions can drive traffic to offshore sites. That’s according to new research commissioned by the International Betting Integrity Association. (Image: Shutterstock)

The International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) in Belgium recently commissioned a study to determine how policymakers unknowingly impact a market and fuel activity they sought to prevent through regulations. The IBIA probe was conducted by H2 Gambling Capital, a data intelligence firm based in England focused on the global gaming industry.

The study — “The Availability of Sports Betting Products: An Economic and Integrity Analysis” — makes several key assumptions based on the review. One highlight researchers discovered is that when regulators prohibit certain bets, that often prompts bettors to seek those options in unregulated markets.

“The central finding of the study is that alongside other regulatory and economic factors — including taxation and advertising policy — there is a strong correlation between the availability of sports betting products and onshore channeling,” the report’s executive summary read.

Regulations Drive Offshore Activity  

H2 Gambling said it compiled anonymized data from IBIA members in 12 markets where sports betting is allowed. Those jurisdictions included Australia, Brazil, Canada (excluding Ontario), Denmark, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Netherlands, Ontario, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden. The US was excluded because of the bespoke regulatory model that varies from state to state.

Researchers found that when a market excludes a type of bet, with one example being a player prop, bettors wishing to make such a wager won’t simply fold on that endeavor but will instead seek a business willing to accept the bet. In the US, player props involving college student-athletes are banned in nearly all of the 38 states that have legal sports betting.

NCAA President Charlie Baker says college player props increase the likelihood of players being harassed and threatened on social media and in person. IBIA researchers, however, say banning those bets doesn’t eradicate such wagers but instead fuels bettors to offshore sportsbooks.

While politically attractive, this study confirms that bet restrictions are a blunt and counterproductive instrument,” said IBIA CEO Khalid Ali. “They don’t prevent betting; they just drive it into the unregulated market where most of the problems with sports integrity arise.”

Along with protecting student-athletes, prohibiting player props on college sports, Baker and others in favor of prohibiting such bets argue, decreases the risk to game integrity being compromised. With a player prop, a rogue bettor seeking an upper hand might buy off a student-athlete to throw a game.

More Bets, More Onshore Demand

Researchers deduced that the more betting options a market allows, the more demand there is for the regulated environment.

In Great Britain, H2 Gambling investigators calculated that 97% of sports bettors opt to make their wagers through regulated books. The UK is home to an abundance of bets, including politics.

Compare that with Germany, which restricts in-play betting and tends to allow only moneyline, spread, and over/under bets, H2 found that about 40% of bettors patronize unregulated sports betting channels.

“The evidence-based and data-driven analysis in this study shows that sports betting product restrictions adversely impact onshore channeling and that in turn has negative consequences for regulatory oversight and taxable revenues. A market that seeks to maximize the economic impact and social protections achieved via an onshore regulated framework requires a wide sports betting product availability,” the report concluded.

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Online Sports Betting Payment Preferences Revealed Thanks to the Paysafe Research!

In the world of online sports betting, payment methods are more than just transactions, they’re integral to the player experience. Paysafe’s comprehensive research delves into the intricate nuances of bettors’ picks, shedding light on how these choices influence their engagement with sportsbooks.

Streamlined Payouts

paysafe_research_stronger_online_betting_experience_starts_with_paymentsAccording to Paysafe’s research that was conducted across six United States (Massachusetts Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania), the Canadian province of Ontario, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy in December of 2023, the rapid withdrawals are a top priority for bettors worldwide. Surpassing factors like brand confidence and probabilities, players prioritize sportsbooks that offer swift and hassle-free payouts. This focus on streamlined transactions highlights the importance of efficient payment processing in enhancing the overall betting journey.

In addition to speedy payouts, bettors seek platforms that support their preferred payment methods. Paysafe’s findings reveal that seamless deposits are a crucial consideration for players when selecting a sportsbook. The availability of various payment options, ranging from traditional methods like debit cards to emerging alternatives such as digital wallets and eCash, is instrumental in catering to the diverse needs of players.

Player Retention

Beyond attracting new customers, maintaining player loyalty is paramount for sportsbooks. Paysafe’s research indicates that a seamless payment experience significantly contributes to customer retention. With 78% of bettors valuing payment satisfaction in their decision to remain loyal to a brand, sportsbooks must prioritize the optimization of their payment processes to foster long-term relationships with players.

The emergence of digital wallets as a preferred payment method is a notable trend highlighted in Paysafe’s research. Digital wallets offer convenience and security, appealing to a growing segment of bettors, particularly in regions like Italy and Germany.

Despite regulatory constraints in certain markets, credit cards maintain their popularity among bettors, especially in regions like France. Additionally, the research underscores the significant interest in eCash, particularly in countries with a strong cash culture such as Germany and the United States.

Localized payment options, tailored to regional preferences, are favored by a substantial portion of players. These LPMs cater to the specific needs and preferences of players, contributing to a seamless betting experience.

Security and Future Trends

While players generally express confidence in transactional security, continuous efforts are required to address any concerns and maintain trust. Sportsbooks must prioritize robust security measures to safeguard player data and financial transactions.

Looking ahead, the adoption of alternative payment methods is expected to grow significantly. Digital wallets and eCash are poised for increased usage, offering players greater flexibility and convenience in their transactions.

Interest in Cryptocurrency

Despite market volatility, cryptocurrency paymentsgarner significant interest among players, particularly in regions like the United States. This highlights the potential for cryptocurrency to emerge as a viable payment option in the future, offering players additional choice and flexibility.

The Global Gaming President for Paysafe, Zak Cutler said: “Our latest research clearly indicates the value of payments to online sportsbook operators at all stages of the player experience. Operators that optimize their payment offering will gain a competitive advantage when starting their brand’s relationship with new bettors. Given the correlation between the payment experience and brand loyalty, operators can maximize player retention by getting payments right. This includes upgrading their cashiers to cover all possible payment choices to meet evolving transactional expectations.”

Source: ”Paysafe Research: Stronger Online Betting Experience Starts with Payments”. European Gaming. February 8, 2024.

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Wyoming Registers New Sports Betting Records in October

wyoming-smashes-online-sports-betting-records-in-october-Wyoming, the American state that is widely known as the “Equality State”, has registered new records in the month of October 2023 when it comes to its regulated online sports betting market.

Bettors in the state wagered 21.2 million dollars in October using licensed online bookmakers, an amount which is an all-time high since the state opened its legal online betting market.

The previous record set in the American state was 19.2 million dollars, and it was set in September 2023. Moreover, the figure registered in October 2023 represents an increase of 23.4 percent compared to the same month of 2022.

Gross gaming revenue also registered an all-time high of 2.3 million dollars, an increase of 15 percent year-on-year and 53.3 percent compared to the 1.5 million that were generated in September 2023.

Taxable gaming revenue also set a new record in October, amounting to 1.4 million dollars. That figure represents an increase of 21.7 percent from October 2022 and no less than 172.6 percent when compared to September 2023, when the total taxable gaming revenue in Wyoming amounted to just over half a million dollars.

DraftKings On Top of The Market

The most successful online bookmaker in Wyoming in October was DraftKings, with revenue of 1.4 million dollars and a handle of 12.5 million dollars. FanDuel ended the month in second place with revenue of 402,961 dollars and a handle of 4.9 million dollars.

BetMGM grabbed the final podium place with revenue of 387,344 dollars from a handle of 3.5 million dollars, while Caesars was in fourth place with revenue of just 73,028 dollars from a handle of 378,622 dollars.

The Wyoming onlines sports betting market is set to become more competitive as Fanatics Betting and Gaming will join the fray after having taken control of PointsBet Wyoming LLC.

Fanatics Betting and Gaming is a division of Fanatics, the global sports retail giant, and it has struck a deal to acquire the United States operations of PointsBet earlier this year. The purchase price was 225 million dollars and it was approved by the PointsBet shareholders.

However, the effective transfer of the operations to Fanatics Betting and Gaming will only happen when the operator will receive all necessary approvals in each state. Fanatics Betting and Gaming has so far rolled out its online sportsbook in Virginia following the acquisition of PointsBet U.S.

Source: “Wyoming smashes online sports betting records in October“. iGaming Business. November 23, 2023.

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New York Hits the US-Record $2 Billion Sports Betting Handle in October

The State of New York hit the nation-wide record as the total sports wagers placed through online operators totaled to more than $2 billion in October 2023. Such a handle also brought $166.3 million in revenues to mark the highest market level since the launch of online sports betting in the state in January 2022.

$2.01 Billion in Player Bets

new-york-mobile-sports-bets-break-2-billion-in-octoberNew York players reportedly wagered a total of $2.01billion using online platforms and mobile betting apps to hit the handle 30.5% higher than in the same month of 2022. The figure also represents a 14.2% higher level than $1.76 billion wagered in the state in September 2023.

Consequently, the market hit the record monthly revenue of $166.3million to exceed the September 2022 record of 165.5 million and stand for a 14.1% higher level than October 2022.The remarkable online sports betting result was extensively driven by several leading operators.

77% Market Share of FanDuel and DraftKings

FanDuel kept the New York market leading position with a 50% share in total revenues generated during October and the handle of $891.9 million representing a 44.5% stakein overall bets processed in the market in the given period. DraftKings followed with a 35.6% revenue share and the $652.3 million handle to get hold of a 32.5% share in the total market handle.

Individual Operator Contributions

The remaining around 15% of revenues and 23% of online bets placed in the state in October 2023 have been split to six major operators with their individual revenue and handle contributions standing as follows:

  • BetMGM: Revenue $7.2M; Handle $107.6M
  • Rush Street Interactive: Revenue $3.3M; Handle $114.2M
  • PointsBet: Revenue $1.3M; Handle $27.6M
  • Resorts World Bet: Revenue $894,039; Handle $7.7M
  • Wynn Interactive: Revenue $313,363; Handle $12.3M

Mets Owner and Hard Rock Partners for a Casino License

The $2 billion record handle testifies about the season of the increased gambling-related activities in New York. Another argument supporting the trend comes from the recently made announcement that Mets owner Steve Cohen would partner with casino giant Hard Rock International to bid for the last of the three casino licenses available for a casino development in downtown New York.

$8 Billion Metropolitan Park Casino Development

The billionaire and the top-tier casino operator revealed plans to build an $8 billion Metropolitan Park casino and entertainment complex next to the Citi Field Stadium in Queens, New York City.

The hotel and casino project includes separate sports betting facility, as well as a wide range of amenities, such as a music venue, food hall, an entertainment park, and the associated parking and retail facilities.

Obtaining Support to Bid For the License

Cohen has reportedly hosted multiple community workshops and conducted more than 20,000 door-to-door conversations with local community members. The project has thus secured the support of more than 89% of the pooled community members who signed the petition to support the project and help Mets owner take a lead in the metropolitan casino license race.

Source: “New York sets US-first with $2bn online sports betting handle in October”. iGB. November 13, 2023.

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