Gambling in the USA

March Madness propels Iowa to new heights

Published

4 years ago

April 9, 2021

Zoltan Tundik

IOWA SPORTSBOOKS SET WAGERING RECORD WITH $160 MILLION MARCH

March Madness propels Iowa to new heights, as race for market supremacy heats up, according to PlayIA analysts

(LAS VEGAS) — Iowa sportsbooks capitalized on the popularity of March Madness to set a fresh round of records with more than $160 million in wagering, a welcome result following February’s modest dip in handle, according to analysts for PlayIA, which tracks regulated online and retail gaming in the state.

“Iowa was one of the few legal sports betting jurisdictions to actually improve per-day betting in February, so it is no surprise that sportsbooks set new highs in March,” said Jessica Welman, an analyst for PlayIA.com. “With new operators coming online and the in-person registration requirement is long gone, the Hawkeye State is well-positioned ahead of the inevitable summer slowdown.”

In March, online and retail sportsbooks combined to take in $161.4 million in wagers in March, according to official data released Thursday. That is up 8% from $143.6 million in wagers in February and topped the record $149.5 million handle in January. The heavy action, much of which came from bets on the NCAA Tournament, helped Iowa set records for per-day betting average and revenue, too. Per-day betting hit $5.2 million in the 31 days of March, which was up from the record $5.1 million bet per day during the 28 days of February.

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The record month resulted in $13.5 million in net receipts for sportsbooks, which was up from $7.7 million in February and broke the previous high of $11.3 million set in January. In all, March’s bets yielded $908,011 in state taxes, yet another new high.

Iowa and Drake combined for four games in the NCAA Tournament, which undoubtedly boosted interest in March. And the Iowa and Iowa State women’s basketball teams added five more NCAA Tournament games, which also helped spike interest in college basketball betting. But the main catalyst for Iowa’s growth over the first quarter of 2021 has been the removal of in-person registration requirements for online betting in January. Online betting captured $139.4 million in bets, or 86.3% of the state’s overall handle, in March. Compare that to December, the last month of in-person registration when 74.4% of a much smaller overall handle came from bets made online.

“Three months after removing the in-person registration requirements, Iowa has set new highs in wagering per day in each month, even bucking a national trend of declining bets in February,” said Dustin Gouker, an analyst for PlayIA.com. “Obviously the key reason for that is that registration is easier than it was last year, and that has opened the door to new customers across the state. Those customers have responded enthusiastically, and the success of Iowa and Drake this season gave Iowans added incentive to engage with a sportsbook.”

William Hill — which partners in Iowa with Prairie Meadows, Horseshoe Casino Council Bluffs, Isle Casino Hotel Waterloo, Isle of Capri Bettendorf, Lakeside, and Harrah’s Council Bluffs — narrowly led the market with $49.5 million in retail and online handle, which included $43 million in online wagers in March. That produced $2.3 million in receipts from online betting alone.

But the two largest sportsbooks in the country continue to gain ground in Iowa. The Wild Rose license, which is anchored by DraftKings but includes BetRivers, came in second with a $44.3 million total handle and topped online betting with $43.7 million, which led to a market-best $3.6 million in net receipts from online betting. FanDuel and BetMGM helped put Diamond Jo in third place with $42.8 million in bets, including 37.7 million in online bets. Online betting netted $2.9 million in receipts .

Retail betting generated $22.1 million, up from $18.4 million in February.

“It will not be easy for William Hill to fend off DraftKings and FanDuel,” Welman said. “The two largest sportsbooks in the country have brought a lot of marketing know-how to the state, and that has led to continued gains. Ultimately, though, bettors are the beneficiaries as they all compete for attention.”

For more information and analysis on regulated sports betting in Iowa, visit PlayIA.com/news.

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Gambling in the USA

Andrew Cardno to Deliver Keynote at November Gaming Conference in Phoenix: “How are Technology Advancements Impacting Decision Making and Driving Innovation in Gaming?”

Published

13 mins ago

October 23, 2024

Peter Tolan

The gaming industry continues to evolve with the rapid integration of advanced technologies, offering new pathways for innovation and decision-making. Andrew Cardno, Chief Technology Officer of Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI), will deliver a keynote address titled “How are Technology Advancements Impacting Decision Making and Driving Innovation in Gaming?” at this year’s premier gaming conference, taking place on November 12th and 13th in Phoenix, Arizona.

Cardno, a leading expert with over two decades of experience in gaming and technology, will explore how advancements such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data-driven solutions are reshaping decision-making processes within the gaming industry. His address will provide actionable insights for professionals seeking to stay ahead in this fast-paced environment.

“Technology is no longer just an enabler; it’s the driving force behind innovation in gaming,” said Andrew Cardno. “At this year’s conference, I will delve into how these advancements can empower industry leaders to make better, faster decisions and capitalize on new opportunities for growth.”

Mark Pace, President of the International Gaming Standards Association (IGSA), praised Cardno’s expertise: “Andrew Cardno has a deep understanding of how technology is transforming the gaming industry. His ability to translate complex innovations into practical, strategic insights makes him the ideal keynote speaker. His work continues to inspire and guide decision-makers across the gaming world.”

The conference, held in Phoenix on November 12th and 13th, promises to be a hub of cutting-edge discussions and networking opportunities, bringing together top leaders to explore the future of gaming.

Gambling in the USA

New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement Announces September 2024 Total Gaming Revenue Results

Published

1 day ago

October 22, 2024

Niji Narayan

New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement announced the September 2024 total gaming revenue results.

Casino Win:

Based upon filings with the Division of Gaming Enforcement, Casino Win for the nine casino hotel properties was $230.6 million for September 2024, reflecting a decrease of 6.5% when compared to $246.5 million reported in September 2023. Year-to-date Casino Win for the nine casino hotel properties was $2.15 billion, which is a decrease of 0.9% compared to the year-to-date Casino Win for September 2023.

Internet Gaming Win:

For the month of September 2024, Internet Gaming Win reported by casinos and their partners was $208.1 million, reflecting growth of 27.1% when compared to $163.8 million reported in September 2023. For the year-to-date period, Internet Gaming Win reported by casinos and their partners was $1.73 billion, reflecting growth of 23.2% when compared to $1.41 billion for the prior year-to-date period.

Sports Wagering Gross Revenue:

Sports Wagering Gross Revenue reported by casinos, racetracks, and their partners was $119.6 million for September 2024, reflecting a 7.6% increase when compared to $111.1 million reported in September 2023. Sports Wagering Gross Revenue reported by casinos, racetracks, and their partners was $835.4 million for the year-to-date period, reflecting a 17.8% increase when compared to $709.0 million reported in the prior year-to-date period.

Total Gaming Revenue:

Total Gaming Revenue reported by casinos, racetracks, and their partners was $558.3 million for September 2024, reflecting a 7.1% increase from $521.5 million reported in September 2023. For year-todate, Total Gaming Revenue reported by casinos, racetracks, and their partners was $4.72 billion, reflecting a 10.1% increase from $4.29 billion reported in the prior year-to-date period.

Gambling in the USA

Detroit Casinos Report $101.98M in September Revenue

Published

2 weeks ago

October 11, 2024

Niji Narayan

The three Detroit casinos reported $101.98 million in monthly aggregate revenue (AGR) for the month of September 2024, of which $101.23 million was generated from table games and slots, and $755,519 from retail sports betting.

The September market shares were:

• MGM, 47%

• MotorCity, 31%

• Hollywood Casino at Greektown, 22%

Monthly Table Games, Slot Revenue, and Taxes

The casinos’ revenue for table games and slots for the month of September 2024 increased 1.2% when compared to the same month last year. September’s monthly revenue was 8.6% lower when compared to the previous month, August 2024. From Jan. 1 through Sept. 30, the Detroit casinos’ table games and slots revenue increased by 1.0% compared to the same period last year.

The casinos’ monthly gaming revenue results were mixed compared to September 2023:

• MGM, up 6.6% to $47.68 million

• MotorCity, up 0.5% to $31.17 million

• Hollywood Casino at Greektown, down 7.8% to $22.38 million

In September 2024, the three Detroit casinos paid $8.2 million in gaming taxes to the State of Michigan. They paid $8.1 million for the same month last year. The casinos also reported submitting $12.5 million in wagering taxes and development agreement payments to the City of Detroit in September.

Monthly Retail Sports Betting Revenue and Taxes

The three Detroit casinos reported $22.02 million in total retail sports betting handle, and total gross receipts were $771,751 for the month of September. Retail sports betting qualified adjusted gross receipts (QAGR) were down by 52.0% in September when compared to September 2023, and down by 55.4% when compared to August 2024.

September QAGR by casino was:

• MGM: $601,794

• MotorCity: $11,817

• Hollywood Casino at Greektown: $141,908

During September, the casinos paid $28,559 in gaming taxes to the state and reported submitting $34,905 in wagering taxes to the City of Detroit based on their retail sports betting revenue.

Fantasy Contests

For August 2024, fantasy contest operators reported total adjusted revenues of $613,448 and paid taxes of $51,530.