Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission Director Todd Allen recently said that the commission hasn’t set a “go-live date” yet. He noted that “a lot of processes…have to take place still” in a recent interview with Covers. KRGC hasn’t approved regulations for sports betting, but Allen said temporary regulations could be approved by commissioners at the Aug. 12 meeting.

Kansas Sports Betting Processes Set by Law

The sports betting legislation, Senate Bill 84, set timelines for completion of certain processes. KRGC was supposed to set parameters for background checks by Aug. 1, with the commission beginning those investigations by Aug. 15. The Kansas Lottery is supposed to set out the licensing processes for online sportsbooks by Sept. 1 under the law.

When Gov. Laura Kelly signed the sports betting bill into law in May, observers hoped wagers would begin by football season. College games begin Labor Day weekend, while the NFL begins on Sept. 8. It now appears that won’t happen.

While Allen said he understands the disappointment if state agencies don’t complete the processes by NFL Week 1, he pointed out that “our job is to ensure that a safe and honest product is put in place for bettors.”

Cory Thone, spokesman for the Kansas Lottery, recently told WIBW that his agency is working on the issue and it’s still possible for an early September launch of live and online sports betting.

“[The process] is moving forward, but the biggest thing for us and everyone is we want the product to be functional, secure, and safe to use,” he said.

Industry Could Grow Large Quickly in State

The sports betting law sets a 10 percent tax on revenue, allowing sports books at four state-owned casinos. This includes Boot Hill Casino and Resort, Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway, Kansas Star Casino and Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. Those casinos can also partner with up to 50 retailers to offer betting kiosks in other business locations.

SB 84 would also authorize up to 12 online sportsbooks, permitting casinos to partner with up to three online operators.

Eight partnerships have already been announced, with heavy-hitters such as BetMGM, FanDuel, Caesars and DraftKings planning to offer online betting in Kansas.

The post Kansas Sports Betting Regulations Taking Time appeared first on OnlineGambling.com | OG News.

Gov. Charlie Baker must sign the Massachusetts Sports Wagering Act within 10 days before it can become law, but he has already expressed support for the motion. Legislators in the joint Sports Betting Conference Committee voted for the bill 36-4.

Massachusetts Lawmakers Reach Sports Betting Deal

Speaker of the House Ron Mariano announced the deal via tweet early Monday, touting the “immense economic benefits of a legal sports betting industry” for the state. Barely more than a week earlier, Mariano told reporters the sides remained far apart on a deal.

One of the points of contention was betting on college sports, particularly those within the state. The final version of the bill will only permit betting on events involving in-state colleges when they are taking part in tournaments such as March Madness.

Sports governing bodies can also enter into commercial agreements with sportsbooks and share in the revenues without the need to obtain sports betting licenses.

The act will allow both live and online betting and tax sportsbooks at rate of 15 percent of net revenue from in-person wagers and 20 percent on online wagers.

Betting at Sports Venues Could Come in Future

Of the 30 states that have legalized sports betting, a handful have authorized wagering at sports betting kiosks at professional sports venues. While legislators considered that move in Massachusetts, they ultimately did not include that provision as part of the negotiated deal. The legislation will, however, include a plan to study possibly implementing betting kiosks at sports arenas, bars and restaurants in the future.

DraftKings, one of the national leaders in sports betting, is headquartered in Boston. CEO Jason Robins said in a statement he hopes the governor will sign the act quickly “to protect consumers and grow revenue in the Commonwealth.”

Analysts expect sports betting to generate $60 million or more in tax revenue in Massachusetts.

Jon Keller, a political analyst for WBZ-TV, said he heard that sports betting “could be up-and-running in time for the start of football season.”

The post Massachusetts Could See Sports Betting by Football Season appeared first on OnlineGambling.com | OG News.

Over the years, redevelopment of Willets Point, Citi Field’s neighborhood, has been elusive. Meanwhile, New York Mayor Eric Adams is the former chair of the NY State Senate’s Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee. Cohen saw an opportunity.

Cohen lays the groundwork for Citi Field casino

Steve Cohen is a man who knows what he wants. And the billionaire hedge fund manager usually gets his way. At first, Cohen was rebuffed by the Wilpons when he had his eye on the Mets. Cohen, however, didn’t give up. It took months — and $2.4 billion. But Cohen bought the Mets. And now he has his sights on a Citi Field casino.

In the short run, Cohen may worry about where Juan Soto is going. But Cohen has long-term plans that extend just past Citi Field’s brick walls. Ever since January, when NY’s Governor released a budget plan, which included three new “downstate” casino licenses, Cohen has been busy.

Although it would take months for NY to approve a final budget, Cohen immediately went to work. In January, he invited the Mayor and other city bigwigs to review a redevelopment proposal for Willets Point. Since Cohen gave $1.5 million to a PAC to get Mayor Adams elected, City Hall’s attendance was expected. Cohen’s Willets Point proposal included new schools, affordable apartments — and a Citi Field casino.

A week later, Cohen sent Las Vegas Sands CEO Rob Goldstein to press the Mayor’s office to support a casino in Queens. But while the Sands was an early ally, it may not be the final winner of a Queen’s casino license.

Hard Rock could be the front runner

While the Sands did some of the early work on the Citi Field casino project, they aren’t the only ones in the running. According to the New York Post, Cohen has enlisted the investment bank Union Gaming in selecting a casino partner for the project. Meanwhile, sources claim Cohen is currently leaning toward the Hard Rock.

MGM Resorts already has a slots-only casino in Yonkers. It’s hoping to get one of NY’s three downstate licenses to operate a full-fledged casino. Likewise, Resorts World/Genting is looking to expand its slots parlor at Aqueduct in Queens. So, with potentially only one license in play, Cohen should find no shortage of willing partners.

Meanwhile, Cohen is keeping the skids greased. New Green Willets, LLC. already spent $99,000 this year lobbying City Hall. The firm is barely six months old and is associated with Cohen’s hedge fund Point72.

The post Mets Owner Steve Cohen Continues to Press for Citi Field Casino appeared first on OnlineGambling.com | OG News.

The Ukrainian giants played in France, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Poland, Turkey, and Romania, among others. All the money resulting from their games went to charities supporting war victims and refugees. The initiative for the tour belonged to Dynamo manager Mircea Lucescu, who started making efforts for it to happen soon after Putin’s troops invaded on 24 February.

“It’s really important that people all around the world don’t forget what’s happening in Ukraine,” Lucescu told Online Gambling.

“We are trying to make a statement through our football. It’s really important for the people to be together during these times,” he stressed.

“Not only football fans attend these games. Refugees come so they can be with their own. Also, charities are supported thanks to these events. Football can move hearts and inspire hope,” Lucescu concluded.

For the friendly game on 29 July, Everton will offer Ukrainian refugees free tickets. The Merseyside club announced that all proceeds from the game, including donations from supporters, will go to humanitarian charities supporting Ukraine. The club also contributed with a $600k donation to the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal in March.

Dynamo hopes to reach the Champions League group stage

Almost eight months after playing their previous official match, Dynamo kick-started its campaign with a 0-0 draw against Fenerbahce, in the Champions League second qualifying round.

The clash took place in Lodz, Poland, with the second leg scheduled to take place in Istanbul on Wednesday.

Dynamo is at +270 to reach the third qualifying phase of the Champions League, while Fenerbahce sits at -500.

The Ukrainian domestic season is planned to kick off next month in the western part of the country and Kyiv, with no spectators allowed at matches.

Dynamo reached the Champions League group stage in 2020 and 2021. In February, the Ukrainian league was stopped following the Russian invasion, with all results canceled for last season at domestic level.

The post Everton Offering Free Tickets to Ukrainian Refugees for Dynamo Kyiv Friendly appeared first on OnlineGambling.com | OG News.

Last month, Wynn Resorts provided a $500 million revolving loan to Wynn Macau. Meanwhile, Las Vegas Sands loaned Sands China $1 billion. The US casino parent companies have worked hard to keep the region’s gambling hub afloat, especially since their Macau gambling license renewals are hanging in the balance.

Loans to Macau casinos could cost Vegas gamblers

Las Vegas is on the rebound. In May, the Vegas airport had its third-busiest month in its history. Nevada casinos booked a gaming win of $1.3 billion — the fourth highest of all time. And average daily room rates topped $175. This is good news for casinos, but bad news for bargain hunters.

Usually, Vegas’ triple-digit heat brings about plentiful comps and incentives. This year, however, summer room rates, parking fees and resort fees are near their peak. Granted, the casinos have some losses to make up, given the 2020 COVID shutdowns and subsequent restrictions. But the gouging seems over-the-top this year.

MGM is a few week away from charging customers an Oxygen Access Fee if they want to breathe while staying on property. https://t.co/k79mXIHbXX

— Mitzula (@Mitzula) July 16, 2022

Maybe it’s because Vegas casinos aren’t just making up for their past losses. Many of them are making up for Macau’s current losses. Macau casinos shut down again last Monday due to a COVID outbreak.  Analysts now predict Macau’s 2022 gross gaming revenues (GGR) could be just 20% of their 2019 levels.

MGM Resorts, Wynn, and Las Vegas Sands all have Macau properties. So far, two of the three have floated sizable loans to bail out their Macau casinos. The timing could have been ugly for Apollo Global Management, the new owners of the Venetian and Sands Expo Center. But since it only bought the rights to operate the US assets, it dodged a bullet this time.

The breaking of Apollo’s curse

By many metrics, Apollo Global Management is a successful private equity company. But Apollo’s past association with a Las Vegas-based casino wasn’t pretty.

Apollo was responsible for the biggest casino bankruptcy in history. In 2006, Apollo and TPG Capital, bought Harrah’s Entertainment (later renamed Caesars). Unfortunately, the timing couldn’t have been worse.

When the deal finally closed, the US was in the depths of the 2007-08 financial crisis. Apollo shuttered some casinos to reduce costs, but it wasn’t enough to cover its massive debt. In 2015, the casino chain filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

The bankruptcy rattled the industry. In fact, the Nevada Gaming Commission was somewhat reluctant to approve Apollo’s LVS license. During its hearing, the commissioners pressed Apollo to explain why the purchase of LVS wouldn’t end up like Caesars.

Apollo eventually won the approval of the Nevada Gaming Commission. And in a sense, maybe it will finally find good casino karma. After all, the $2.25 billion it paid for LVS’ US properties may help bail out the industry.

Ironically, Caesars — another big player without a Macau property — may fare best in 2022. Apollo sold its remaining stake in Caesars in 2019.

The post Macau Casinos Get $1.5 Billion in Loans from Wynn and LVS appeared first on OnlineGambling.com | OG News.

The three-person hearing panel that reviewed Judge O. Peter Sherwood’s 50-page report from the April hearing credits Baffert with 59 days served. That came via NYRA’s previous temporary suspension. There’s also time served through the 90-day Kentucky Horse Racing Commission’s suspension that the New York State Gaming Commission honored under reciprocity rules.

That means Baffert’s NYRA suspension, which prohibits him from racing or training at any NYRA track, runs through January 25, 2023. This takes the Hall of Fame trainer out of this summer’s lucrative Saratoga Meet. It does, however, open the gate for Baffert to return in time for next spring’s Belmont Park meet.

That technically means he’s eligible for the 2023 Belmont Stakes, along with such lucrative races as the Met Mile and Ogden Phipps, even if he remains ineligible for the 2023 Kentucky Derby.

NYRA claims ‘integrity of the sport’ defended

“This was an impartial and deliberative process that has resulted in a lengthy suspension of the sport’s most prominent trainer,” NYRA President and CEO Dave O’Rourke said in a statement. “However, this is not simply about Bob Baffert or any one individual, but about protecting the integrity of the sport here in New York. Today’s decision advances that goal.”

The panel’s 14-page decision also comes with finality. According to Rule 16(f) in the NYRA hearing rules and procedures, the decision of the hearing panel is “final.”

The panel’s report did find fault with a few planks of Sherwood’s report and didn’t agree with Sherwood’s finding that Baffert doped horses.

“While the Panel agrees with Justice Sherwood that NYRA has sustained its burden of proof, and, further, that Justice Sherwood’s Hearing Report is supported by the facts, we hereby clarify that Baffert was not charged with ‘doping’ in any jurisdiction. Justice Sherwood’s finding that Baffert was guilty of ‘multiple instances of doping (emphasis added) horses he entered in races is incorrect.”

Sherwood didn’t get off without criticism

The panel also took issue with Sherwood’s claim that “Baffert has engaged in a pattern and practice of unlawful conduct that has no parallel in the modern history of Thoroughbred racing.” The panel’s report said “there is scant support in the record for such a statement.”

Baffert’s NYRA hearing ran for five days at the end of January. It arose after the organization originally suspended Baffert for the repeated drug positives in his horses. That culminated with Medina Spirit’s positive test for the banned-on-race-day, anti-inflammatory betamethasone. The late colt tested positive for betamethasone after crossing the finish line first in the 2021 Kentucky Derby.

Medina Spirit was posthumously stripped of his Derby title in February, 2 1/2 months after he died after a morning workout at Santa Anita Park.

Baffert enjoyed initial success here

Baffert appealed his initial NYRA suspension, claiming he was not allowed due process under the law. This was upheld last fall, leading to the January hearing.

In April, Sherwood issued his report. From there, it went to the three-member panel. That panel: Saratoga Springs, NY lawyer John J. Carusone, William Alempijevic, the executive director of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, and Rev. Humberto Chavez of the New York Race Track Chaplaincy, reviewed Sherwood’s report before issuing Thursday’s ruling.

The post Three-Member NYRA Panel Suspends Bob Baffert Until January appeared first on OnlineGambling.com | OG News.

In December 2021, four former minor league baseball teams filed a lawsuit against MLB and its commissioner. The plaintiffs are among the dozens of MiLB teams cut by MLB the previous year. The lawsuit seeks to challenge the 1922 Supreme Court decision granting MLB its antitrust exemption.

MLB antitrust exemption was always a fluke

This isn’t the first challenge to MLB’s legal exemption, but it could be the most far-reaching, especially given the recent pressure from the US Department of Justice. Last week, the DOJ filed a request with the US District Court in New York, encouraging the court to “define [MLB’s] exemption narrowly.” Should that happen, it could significantly help the teams’ case.

The DOJ’s position isn’t a total surprise. The original Supreme Court decision was a stretch, even at the time. It’s even more of a stretch today, considering that MLB is now a multibillion-dollar business.

In 1922, the Supreme Court granted the exemption because it considered baseball more of a pastime than a business. Even though players traveled across state lines, the Court ruled that baseball wasn’t interstate commerce, because “the players … are not the game.” Ironically, it was a player who provided the first real chink in the MLB antitrust exemption.

In 1969, Curt Flood wrote a letter to then-MLB commissioner Bowie Kuhn. Flood was protesting his pending trade to Philadelphia.

“I do not believe I am a piece of property to be bought and sold irrespective of my wishes.” — Curt Flood

Flood subsequently sued MLB, taking the case all the way to the Supreme Court. Although the Court technically decided against Flood, it recognized the right of free agency through collective bargaining. By 1976, MLB had its first free agents. In 1998, Congress passed the Curt Flood Act, officially carving out MLB players from the antitrust exemption. Unfortunately, the law ignored MiLB players.

MiLB could be the next antitrust shoe to drop

While all sports leagues struggled during the worst of the pandemic, MiLB had the worst of it. It never had a chance. MLB canceled the 2020 MiLB season. But the loss of teams and the 2020 season aren’t MiLB’s only hardships.

The base salary for MLB players has risen 2,500% since 1976. The base for MiLB has risen less than 70% in that time. Meanwhile, inflation has increased by more than 413%.

According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, 86% of MiLB players currently live below the poverty line. Meanwhile, the other 14% aren’t far above it. This lawsuit, with pressure from the DOJ, could help says Harry Marino, Executive Director at Advocates for Minor Leaguers.

“This means the United States government sees no substantive reason why Major League Baseball teams should be permitted to collude and pay minor league players poverty wages, as they have for decades,” Marino said.

Over the years, MLB’s antitrust exemption has been called a “curious and narrow misreading of the antitrust laws,” an “impotent zombie,” and “baseball’s most infamous opinion.” Up until now, however, it has endured. But the clock may be ticking.

Just last year, the US Supreme Court ruled the NCAA couldn’t limit payments to student athletes. The Court saw restricting compensation as a violation of antitrust laws. So, the current Court may be more amenable to the plight of MiLB players. And if not, Congress might eventually step in to patch the MiLB hole left in the Curt Flood Act.

After all, MLB’s 99-day lockout didn’t make many friends on either side of the aisle.

The post Clock May Be Ticking on MLB Antitrust Exemption appeared first on OnlineGambling.com | OG News.

Those guidelines, called “house rules” in New Jersey, allow jockeys six strikes per race, with no more than two in succession before a horse has a chance to respond. There is no limit on underhanded strikes.

The NJRC voted 5-1 during a special meeting to approve the new crop guidelines. They go into effect at Monmouth Park starting with that track’s opening day, May 7. HISA’s regulations begin July 1 and the NJRC’s vote preempts Monmouth Park starting its season with the no-crop rule, then changing mid-meet.

“We are grateful to the New Jersey Racing Commission members for giving up their time to hold a special meeting on an issue that is important to the entire industry,” said Darby Development CEO and Chairman Dennis Drazin in a statement to Monmouth Park’s Tom Luicci. “The Commission recognized that uniformity on crop rules is paramount to our success and to the integrity of our product.”

Monmouth Park took a handle hit

Monmouth Park’s no-crop rule stipulated jockeys could only use their crops for safety reasons. Jockeys were uniformly against the change, with 13-time Monmouth Park riding leader Joe Bravo taking his tack to California. Another rider, Antonio Gallardo, went to Canada’s Woodbine. He said the rule was the reason for his migration north.

The rule also may have played a part in Monmouth Park’s 2021 daily average handle declining 17.13% from 2020 numbers. That, despite 11 more cards (55 to 44).

Drazin told Thoroughbred Daily News last year that he couldn’t pin the handle decline totally on the no-crop rule.

“A number of the whales I spoke to told me (the no-crop rule) was a factor why they weren’t betting,” he told TDN. “There were a number of people who were mixed on the whip rule. Some people said they were uncomfortable with the whip rule and couldn’t bet serious money. They told me they might bet a race because they wanted to have a good time and have some action. But they just bet less and didn’t make huge bets on those races. I’m sure the whip ban had some effect on our handle, but if I tried to quantify it, I don’t know that I could.”

No crop rule played a role in Monmouth’s biggest race

Flavien Prat cited the no-crop rule as the reason he and Hot Rod Charlie were disqualified from their apparent victory in Monmouth Park’s marquee race: the Grade 1 Haskell.

Prat was suspended seven days and Hot Rod Charlie taken down after he crossed over three paths in the stretch. That caused Hot Rod Charlie to clip heels with Midnight Bourbon, who fell, dumping his rider, Paco Lopez.

Neither Lopez, nor Midnight Bourbon were injured. But Prat later told BloodHorse that he could have prevented Hot Rod Charlie from veering left had he been able to use his crop.

Monmouth Park’s racing office will enforce the new crop rule. A three-person committee of racing officials will review each race.

The post Commissioners Rescind Monmouth Park’s Restrictive No-Crop Rule appeared first on OnlineGambling.com | OG News.

Under the new rules, ads must not “be likely to be of strong appeal to children or young persons, especially by reflecting or being associated with youth culture.” Popular video game content and gameplay appealing to those under-18 are also banned from gambling advertising.

Talking to the BBC in March, former England and Arsenal star Paul Merson, who was a gambling addict for years, said it “sickens” him to see former players and managers in betting adverts.

Jack Wilshere, a former Arsenal and England player himself, and Harry Redknapp, the ex-Tottenham and West Ham manager, are two of those who recently starred in betting ads.

Shahriar Coupal, the Committee for Advertising Practice director, believes that by ending these advertising practices, “the new rules invite a new era for gambling ads, more particular to the adult audience they can target and more befitting of the age-restricted product they’re promoting.”

Gambling companies spend almost $2 billion/year to promote their products

Lord Don Foster, chairman of Peers for Gambling Reforms, welcomed the removal of players from promotional campaigns for gambling products, but warned that young audiences will still be exposed.

“It won’t stop gambling advertisements appearing on the shirts of children’s sporting heroes, nor many of the other concerning actions of gambling companies who spend over £1.5 billion ($1.95 billion) a year promoting their products,” he stressed. “The government should ban all links between sport and gambling, all inducements, such as so-called “free” bets, and direct marketing to individual customers and take steps to reduce all forms of gambling advertising,” Lord Foster demanded.

In 2019, a ban on gambling commercials during live sporting events before 9 PM has seen the reach among the young go down by 97%.

“Our members also introduced new age-gating rules on advertising on social platforms, restricting the ads to those aged 25 and over for most sites,” Michael Dugher, the chief executive of the Betting and Gaming Council, said.

“The BGC takes a zero-tolerance approach to gambling by those under the age of 18 and we enforce the toughest possible action,” he assured.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and Jose Mourinho are some of the most prominent footballers involved in promoting gambling companies over the years. Ibrahimovic was even said to own a stake in online casino BetHard.

The post New Rules on Gambling Adverts: Football Players and Celebrities Banned from Promotions appeared first on OnlineGambling.com | OG News.

According to the Thoroughbred Daily News, which first reported the story, that means Baffert’s suspension begins Monday. Under reciprocity agreements with other states, that means Baffert would have to vacate his Santa Anita Park and Los Alamitos barns. Under California Horse Racing Board rules, any trainer who receives a suspension of 60 days or more is banned from any CHRB facility.

This requires removing all signage and turning over his strings of horses to other trainers not currently on his staff. As of Friday afternoon, signs were off Baffert’s Santa Anita barns, according to numerous sources.

Currently, Baffert has nearly 100 horses in his stable. He has the largest stable at Santa Anita, with 50 stalls that take up two full barns. This week, he transferred three colts: Messier, Doppelganger and McLaren Vale, and filly Adare Manor to former assistant Tim Yakteen. Baffert moved another colt, Blackadder, to Rodolphe Brisset.

Court sees no financial harm

Friday’s stay denial came after Franklin Circuit Court Judge Thomas Wingate’s March 21 decision denying him an emergency stay of that suspension. Baffert and his legal team went up the legal ladder, filing a request for that stay with the Kentucky Court of Appeals.

In that appeal, Baffert and his legal team maintained that suspension would cause him financial harm by shutting down his operation for three months, dispersing his horses and laying off the nearly 80 employees in his employ. Along with that, his team claimed that Baffert’s suspension would harm his ability to retain and recruit new clients.

Acting Chief Justice Allison Jones dismissed that argument. In her ruling, she wrote that, “It is true that Baffert cannot regain the 90 days once the suspension is served. However, lost time itself is not sufficient to demonstrate irreparable harm.”

Baffert doomed by medication history

Jones upheld the KHRC’s suspension of Baffert for the positive betamethasone test of Medina Spirit. The late colt crossed the finish line first in the 2021 Kentucky Derby. In February, the KHRC disqualified Medina Spirit, who died in December after a morning workout. It promoted Mandaloun, who finished a half-length behind Medina Spirit, to Derby champion.

Jones cited Baffert’s history of medication violations among her reasons for denying the stay.

“The Racing Commission has steadfastly and vigorously maintained that a stay, even a temporary one, is not appropriate, given Baffert’s repeated violations,” she wrote. “The Racing Commission is statutorily required to ‘promote public confidence in the industry (by providing) assurance that the races are fair and genuinely competitive.’ While the Racing Commission’s judgment is not unchallengeable, the Court cannot discount it either. The Racing Commission’s judgment must be considered in light of the enormous responsibilities our General Assembly has charged it with overseeing.”

More legal irons in the fire pending

This suit is separate from the one Baffert filed against Churchill Downs Inc. That suit seeks to stop CDI’s ban on his charges from running at any CDI track. It seeks reinstatement of points earned by his Derby and Kentucky Oaks prospects. The suit seeks Medina Spirit’s reinstatement as Derby champion. And it seeks Baffert’s reinstatement for the 2022 and 2023 Derbies and Oaks’.

That appeal will go before the full KHRC April 17.

The post Baffert’s 90-Day Suspension Starts Monday After Latest Court Setback appeared first on OnlineGambling.com | OG News.