Latest News

Mobile Sports Bettors Show Greater Resilience and Sensitivity to Economic Headwinds

Published

2 years ago

August 31, 2022

In the midst of rising inflation and its impact on consumer personal savings rates, TransUnion (NYSE: TRU) conducted new research examining the financial status and behaviors of consumers who engage in mobile sports betting. The research found that more than half (54%) of mobile sports bettors earn high incomes—earning $100,000 or more—yet many are concerned about inflation and its impact on their ability to keep making credit payments in the future.

While the vast majority of mobile sports bettors appeared to be in good financial standing based on their incomes and savings, a higher percentage indicated they have trouble paying bills and are using short-term credit services, like payday loans compared to the total population. The research was conducted via an online survey of 2,739 adults in May 2022. A full report of the findings is available in the new “Consumer Pulse Online Sports Betting Study.”

“At face value, most of the consumers engaging in mobile sports betting can likely afford to do so,” said Declan Raines, head of U.S. Gaming at TransUnion. “At the same time, our findings demonstrate how important it is, especially during a time of economic uncertainty, that operators utilize comprehensive data to identify both resilient and distressed consumers. Doing so can help operators protect players and provide a safer experience to consumers engaged in regulated betting.”

Mobile sports bettors are well funded, mostly optimistic

One key trend derived from the report: mobile sports bettors are seeing increased incomes and are generally more optimistic than most consumers.

Mobile Sports Bettors More Optimistic About their Finances

	Total Population	Mobile Sports Bettors
Income Increased Last Three Months	32%	67%
Expect Income to Increase Next Three Months	45%	71%
Optimistic About Household Finances Over Next 12 Months	58%	83%

Mobile sports bettors are also more likely to be employed, with 89% currently employed vs. 81% of the total population. In addition, 22% of mobile sports bettors indicated they had changed jobs for higher compensation in the last three months, compared to 7% of the wider population.

Despite strong financial performance and general optimism, mobile sports bettors expressed concern over inflation and more are taking action to protect themselves financially to mitigate the costs. TransUnion’s analysis found mobile sports bettors are saving more money in emergency funds and paying down debt faster than the total population. In addition, they also increased their use of available credit and used retirement savings at higher rates than the total population.

The research also identified a positive correlation between consumer liquidity and the gambling industry’s performance at both the macro and state level. Given this established relationship, the current financial hedging behavior exhibited by mobile sports bettors could likely indicate a slowdown in the near future for the sports betting industry.

“Consumer liquidity was a critical component of this research,” said Raines. “Tracking it and its relationship to the industry’s performance can help operators understand how wider economic factors can impact share of wallet, lifetime player value and responsible gaming risk.”

More trouble paying bills

Another indicator of decreasing consumer liquidity is that 79% of mobile sports bettors were concerned about their ability to pay current bills and loans in full, compared to 52% of the total population. In addition, mobile sports bettors are using payday lending services at higher rates than the total population.

The report highlights the challenges operators face in identifying resilient or distressed consumers. Operators who rely solely on their first-party data are limiting their view of a player without the complete picture. Those who use more data sources are able to better monitor player stability and assess risky behavior leading to appropriate interventions, like cooling off periods, to help ensure sustainable play. Operators are at a significant advantage for enhancing responsible gaming practices when they leverage third-party data as is common in other global markets like the U.K.

“The obvious benefit of a robust responsible gaming strategy is helping to keep players out of financial trouble, improving brand loyalty and ensuring sustainable revenue,” said Raines. “Beyond that, it also demonstrates proactive efforts that improve public sentiment toward the industry overall, which is necessary if the market wants to see increased support for state access across sportsbook and online casino products.”

Impact on credit health

Mobile sports bettors, especially those concerned about paying bills in full or who have bills already past due, should be mindful of their credit health. “Payment history and credit utilization rate, a measure of how much of available credit someone is using compared to their total credit limit, are two of the major credit scoring factors,” said Margaret Poe, head of consumer credit education at TransUnion. “Missing payments and running up credit balances can have a severe, negative impact on a consumer’s credit score.”

Many mobile sports betting websites and apps allow deposits using credit cards, a high-interest form of revolving credit, so it’s imperative for sports bettors to understand how to gamble responsibly and practice healthy credit habits to ensure their financial well-being is not negatively impacted.

For more information about the research, read the “Consumer Pulse Online Sports Betting Study.”

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

This online survey of 2,739 adults was conducted May 12–19, 2022 by TransUnion in partnership with third-party research provider, Dynata. Adults 18 years of age and older residing in the United States were surveyed using an online research panel method across a combination of desktop, mobile and tablet devices. Survey questions were administered in English. All states are represented in the study survey responses. To ensure general population sample representativeness across United States resident demographics, the survey included quotas to balance responses to the census statistics on the dimensions of age, gender, household income, race and region. Generations are defined as follows: Gen Z, born 1995–2004; Millennials, born 1980–1994; Gen X, born 1965–1979; and Baby Boomers, born 1944–1964. These research results are unweighted and statistically significant at a 95% confidence level within ±1.87 percentage points based on calculated error margin.

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Cryptocurrency

BitLine Enhances Onboarding Experience in Collaboration with Jumio: Simplified KYC for Casino Patrons

Published

8 mins ago

April 25, 2024

Alan Campbell

This collaboration emphasizes convenience, security and regulatory compliance

Through the BitLine app, users can seamlessly transact with up to US$10 million in casino chips 24/7

BitLine, a pioneering provider in the integration of digital assets for direct access to casino chips, proudly announces a strategic alliance with Jumio, an industry leader renowned for its comprehensive know-your-customer (KYC) solutions.

This partnership marks a significant milestone as BitLine streamlines its onboarding process for casino patrons, ensuring a seamless and secure journey into the realm of digital asset-based payments for gaming.

The collaboration between BitLine and Jumio signifies a commitment to delivering unparalleled convenience while upholding the highest standards of security and regulatory compliance. By leveraging Jumio’s advanced technology, BitLine reinforces its dedication to building trust among users and offering a frictionless experience for individuals seeking access to casino chips via digital assets.

Richard Jones, the Chief Executive Officer for BitLine by Ibanera, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating: “Trust and compliance are the cornerstones of every successful casino venture. At BitLine, our vision to innovate this industry through digital assets hinges on maintaining trust and adherence to regulations. Our collaboration with Jumio represents a monumental stride towards achieving this vision, ensuring that casino patrons transact securely and confidently through our platform.”

Echoing this sentiment, Robert E Prigge, the Chief Executive Officer for Jumio, commented: “The evolving landscape of digital assets presents endless possibilities and BitLine’s innovative approach has reshaped the casino industry. By eliminating withdrawal limitations and expanding accessibility, BitLine has ushered in a new era of gaming. We are thrilled to contribute to BitLine’s journey by providing essential elements of security and compliance.”

BitLine by Ibanera grants cryptocurrency owners unprecedented access to up to US$10 million in casino chips, 24/7/365, serving as a conduit for liquidity on the casino floor. Through the intuitive BitLine app, casino enthusiasts worldwide can initiate transactions within minutes, leveraging their digital assets to unlock funds effortlessly.

Latest News

Sportradar Names New CFO, Craig Felenstein

Published

1 hour ago

April 25, 2024

George Miller

Sportradar Names New CFO, Craig Felenstein

Sportradar Group AG today announced that Craig Felenstein has been named Chief Financial Officer of the Company, effective June 1, 2024. Felenstein joins the Company from Lindblad Expeditions where he most recently served as Chief Financial Officer. He will report directly to Sportradar Chief Executive Officer Carsten Koerl.

Felenstein brings nearly 30 years of senior finance and operating experience for US publicly listed companies across the media, entertainment, experiential and digital content industries to his new position at Sportradar. Most recently, Felenstein served as Chief Financial Officer at Lindblad Expeditions, a global leader in expedition cruises and adventure travel, where he oversaw the company’s global finance organization, as well their corporate development, information technology and human resources functions. In his role as Sportradar’s Chief Financial Officer, Felenstein will lead the company’s global finance, accounting and investor relations functions. Felenstein has a unique blend of financial rigor and operational insight and will partner with the rest of the executive leadership team to advance the company’s key strategic initiatives and grow the business while maintaining strong relationships with the investment community. He will be based in New York.

Carsten Koerl, CEO, Sportradar said: “With Craig’s deep international experience and successful track record building finance organizations as a CFO at US listed public companies, I am confident that he will be a strong addition to our team. His track record of helping drive financial strategy and building shareholder value will be instrumental to our continued success. We want to express our deep gratitude to Ger Griffin for his meaningful contributions to Sportradar during a transformational growth period for our Company.”

Prior to his tenure at Lindblad, Felenstein served as Senior Vice President of Investor Relations and Strategic Finance at Shutterstock where he oversaw all interaction with the investment community while leading the financial planning and analysis and corporate development functions. Prior to Shutterstock, he served in various management roles at Discovery Communications, LLC, including Executive Vice President of Investor Relations. At the same time, he was a member of the executive team for several of Discovery’s businesses including serving as the Chief Financial Officer of Digital, Chief Financial Officer of US Network Revenue and Chief Financial Officer of Animal Planet. Prior to Discovery Communications, he held senior positions at News Corporation, Viacom Inc., and Arthur Andersen & Co.

Felenstein said: “Sportradar has built an impressive leadership position in the rapidly growing global sports technology market and the Company is ideally situated to deliver sustained growth given their strong content portfolio, unmatched product offerings and commitment to industry innovation. I am excited to work with Carsten and the entire Sportradar team, as well as the Board of Directors, to capitalize on the significant growth opportunities ahead and deliver additional value to our clients, partners and shareholders.”

Compliance Updates

Brazil’s Ministry of Finance Appoints Régis Dudena as Secretary of Prizes and Betting

Published

6 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Niji Narayan

Regis Dudena, a seasoned lawyer with expertise in Public and Regulatory Law, has been appointed as the new Secretary of Prizes and Betting at the Ministry of Finance in Brazil. Dudena’s appointment ordinance is signed by Rui Costa, Minister of the Civil House.

The new secretary had already been visiting the Ministry of Finance and getting closer to the entire group at the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting, until then led by Simone Vicentini, deputy secretary.

The appointment of the lawyer is attributed to the Executive Secretary of Finance, Dario Durigan. Dario and Dudena worked together at Palácio do Planalto during Dilma Rousseff’s government.

Both worked in the Legal Affairs secretariat of the Civil House. Dudena’s name is linked to other names on the left. He has good relations with Edinho Silva (PT), mayor of Araraquara (SP).

The SPA started operating two months ago. Since then, it had been without a permanent boss. Lawyer José Francisco Manssur, special advisor to the Ministry of Finance who coordinated the regulation of sports betting from the beginning, was the most likely to take on the position. But he was exonerated under pressure from Centrão politicians.

Bets representatives welcomed the name Régis Dudena.

From the beginning, the SPA was under the responsibility of Simone Vicentini, appointed as deputy secretary. Since then, it has edited the ordinances that defined requirements for laboratory accreditation and the sector’s regulatory policy.

Under her supervision, three laboratories have already been approved, GLI, eCogra, and BMM. Last week, the ordinance establishing the rules for payment transactions to be complied with by sports betting and online gaming operators was also published.