Gambling in the USA
CHIEFS RETURN TO FAVORITE STATUS AFTER WILD WEEKEND
The Kansas City Chiefs are poised to return to the Super Bowl for the third straight season and have reclaimed their preseason spot as favorites following a wild Divisional Weekend, according to analysts TheLines, which tracks odds in the U.S. regulated sports betting market.
The championship games are set after one of the wildest weekends in NFL Playoffs history. The Kansas City Chiefs will play host to the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC title game on Sunday with the Chiefs opening Sunday night as 6.5 favorites, according to a consensus of the nation’s largest legal online sportsbooks — including DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, BetRivers, Caesars, and PointsBet. The over/under opened at 53.5 points.
In the NFC title game, the Los Angeles Rams opened at -3.5 over the San Francisco 49ers with a total of 46.5 points in a rematch of a Week 18 game in which San Francisco won to qualify for the playoffs.
Last week, TheLines noted the historic nature of the odds — the Divisional Weekend showed a combined point spread of just 14 points in the four games. Historical data showed that it was the second-lowest combined points in history.
The tight matchups played out in historic fashion — the road team, all underdogs, won the first three games and did it in similar fashion: kicking a walk-off field goal as time expired. The final game saw four lead changes in the final minutes between Kansas City and Buffalo, before the Chiefs prevailed in overtime.
“The wild nature of the Divisional Weekend will likely carry over to the Conference Championship weekend,” said Brett Collson, lead analyst for TheLines.com. “With Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers now out of the playoffs, the Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes return to their preseason position as Super Bowl favorites. But as these playoffs have shown, anything can happen.”
Kansas City opened the season as the preseason Super Bowl favorite at +400. Following the Divisional Weekend, Kansas City moved from +400 at this time last week to +120 heading into this weekend
The Rams are in the NFC Conference Championship for just the second time since 2001. They won the NFC during the 2018 season before losing to Brady and the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl. They trail the Chiefs on the Super Bowl favorites list at +200 after opening the year at +1500.
San Francisco pulled off back-to-back underdog wins in beating the Dallas Cowboys and a stunning upset of Green Bay. The 49ers are now +450 to win the Super Bowl after opening the season at +1400.
The Bengals knocked off the AFC’s top seeded Tennessee Titans to advance to the AFC Championship game for the first time since 1988. Cincinnati is now one win away from just their third Super Bowl appearance in franchise history. The Bengals opened the year as +15000 longshots for the Super Bowl title, but are now a consensus +800.
The current odds for each playoff team to win Super Bowl LVI as of Jan. 23 (with preseason odds):
- Kansas City Chiefs +120 (+500)
- Los Angeles Rams +200 (+1500)
- San Francisco 49ers +450 (+1400)
- Cincinnati Bengals +800 (+15000)
The consensus point spreads for the Conference Championship Weekend, as of Jan. 23:
- Cincinnati Bengals at Kansas City Chiefs (-6.5); over/under 53.5
- San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams (-3.5); over/under 46.5
To access updated NFL playoff lines and Super Bowl odds, and for more analysis, visit TheLines.com/odds/nfl-playoffs.
Compliance Updates
Arizona Department of Gaming Releases October Sports Betting Figures
Bettors in Arizona wagered approximately $791 million on sports in October of 2024, according to a new report by the Arizona Department of Gaming. This represents an approximate 22% increase when compared to October of 2023.
The state collected approximately $2.35 million in privilege fees in the month.
Gambling in the USA
Neosurf & Betting Hero to reveal results of their in-depth study into US online gambling and payment habits in exclusive two-part webinar series
Neosurf, the globally trusted provider of swift and secure cash-to-digital payment solutions, has announced it will be sharing the findings of a recent study into the online betting habits, preferences and frustrations of US players in an exclusive two-part webinar series beginning on January 14th.
Neosurf commissioned the research via Betting Hero – a leading US-based iGaming portal with expertise in casino, sports betting and DFS. The webinars will see Neosurf CEO Americas, Sue Page, Betting Hero’s Co-Founder and President, Jai Maw, and Senior Director of Product and Research, Ernie Ropas, dive into the report’s key findings and discuss what some of the more surprising results could mean for operators.
The survey, which featured respondents from New Jersey, Colorado and North Carolina, aimed to help operators and regulators within the gambling industry better understand the typical US bettor – how and why they bet, what tools they use to manage their budget and what Responsible Gaming means to them. The findings will be revealed in the webinars and used to identify areas where Neosurf’s products can help operators provide a better user experience.
The research highlighted several aspects of payments and responsible gaming that bettors felt could be improved. Problems with payments remain an issue – 52% of respondents said that they’d experienced payment issues in the past year, and with over 50% depositing and withdrawing multiple times each month, there is a significant cost impact to the operators.
Additionally, respondents indicated they’d be in favour of using a service that could share pre-verified ID information with operators, with ease of use for new payment methods and seamless integration across multiple platforms identified as important factors in their choosing and remaining loyal to a single sports betting platform.
Sue Page, Neosurf CEO Americas, said: “It was important to us to gain a more detailed insight into the US sports bettor. We wanted to talk to the players and ask questions that no one else is asking, and through our collaboration with Betting Hero I’m delighted that we now have a comprehensive piece of research.
“Offering valuable insights into player habits – how and why they bet, the ongoing pain points they’re experiencing with payments and their thoughts on Responsible Gaming—we’ll be taking a deep dive into the results of the survey in our two-part webinar series starting at 10:00 ET on January 14th, and we encourage all US-focused operators and regulators to join us.”
Gambling in the USA
Saracen Casino Resort Chooses QCI Chatalytics to Enhance Casino Operations with Integrated AI Solutions
Saracen Casino Resort has selected Quick Custom Intelligence’s (QCI) Chatalytics, an integrated AI-driven suite, to revolutionize its casino operations and elevate guest experiences. The QCI Chatalytics solution, which includes Slot Copilot, Player Copilot, Dashboard, and the Robot Button, leverages OpenAI integration to provide real-time insights and streamlined decision-making across the casino floor.
QCI Chatalytics offers a powerful blend of AI-powered tools designed to optimize both player and slot management. With Slot Copilot, operators gain enhanced capabilities for real-time slot performance monitoring, predictive analytics, and dynamic task assignment. Player Copilot delivers personalized player engagement by analyzing customer data to inform service decisions and reward recommendations. The Dashboard component offers an intuitive, real-time display of key metrics, enabling data-driven insights at a glance. Additionally, the innovative Robot Button automates routine processes, allowing staff to focus on higher-value tasks and improve overall efficiency.
Clayton Mason, Senior Director of Marketing of Saracen Casino Resort, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership: “Integrating QCI Chatalytics into our operations marks a significant step in our strategy to harness the power of AI. With advanced tools like the Robot button, Slot Copilot and Player Copilot, we can deliver a more tailored and efficient experience for our guests while gaining deeper insights into our gaming operations.”
Dr. Ralph Thomas, CEO of QCI, shared his vision for the collaboration: “We’re excited to bring the capabilities of QCI Chatalytics to Saracen Casino Resort. By integrating OpenAI technology, our solution provides unprecedented levels of automation and insight. We believe Chatalytics will play a crucial role in optimizing floor operations and enhancing guest satisfaction through real-time, data-driven decision-making.”
The QCI Chatalytics platform is part of Quick Custom Intelligence’s commitment to driving innovation in the gaming industry, offering a comprehensive suite of solutions to streamline operations and enhance the player experience.
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