Latest News
The Gambling Battle for Governor of Kentucky
In November 2023, Kentucky held its gubernatorial election, which pinned Andy Beshear, the Incumbent Democratic governor, against Daniel Cameron, the Republican state attorney general. The race was won by Beshear, who attained re-election by winning 52.53% of the vote, in an election that saw the best performance by a Democrat since 2011 and the worst by a Republican. However, it wasn’t the race that generated nationwide media attention as much as the monetary contributions both parties received to back specific interests. Notably, heavy gambling interests put big money on the election.
According to the available data, in 2023, Kentucky’s horse race tracks gave sizeable funds to the Democratic Governors Association (DGA), which forked over around $19 million to back Andy Beshear’s win. Per uncovered IRS reports, the DGA received $50,000 from Revolutionary Racing Kentucky, $200,000 from Kentucky Downs, and a quarter of a million dollars from Churchill Downs in the latter half of 2023. That said, Daniel Cameron’s campaign also got a gambling fund boost, as it was revealed that the Republican candidate obtained $362,000 in contributions through the Republican Governors Association (RGA) from Georgia-based gaming machine manufacturer Pace-O-Matic in 2023 to fuel Cameron’s $12 million bid for governor.
Thankfully, both the RGA and DGA must disclose their expenses and donors to the IRS, which supplies the public with much-needed transparency regarding whose interests governor candidates will seek to look out for. Aside from gambling entities, both Cameron and Beshear noted backing from energy, health, and financial companies. Nonetheless, the gambling total came to somewhere in the neighborhood of $30 million, an impressive sum.
Differing Gambling Interests in Kentucky
As noted above, Kentucky horse race tracks supported Beshear’s second term by providing considerable donations to his campaign. That happened primarily because Beshear legalized sports betting in the state. The bill he passed allowed tracks to open retail lounges that accept wagers on sporting events. Thus, in September 2023, the Governor was the first to place a bet on an athletic competition in Kentucky. He laid a $20 parlay on two home-state college teams at the Churchill Downs track, citing this is the type of entertainment Kentuckians have been looking for for years. He added that allowing this activity will only boost local tourism and make people stay in Kentucky and not flee for Vegas once the NCAA March Madness tournament rolls around.
It should be said that once, the state’s multiple tracks, Cumberland Run, Ellis Park Racing & Gaming, Red Mile Racing & Gaming, Turfway Park Racing & Gaming, Oak Grove Racing & Gaming, Churchill Downs, and Sandy’s Racing & Gaming, established their brick-and-mortar sportsbooks, they also began exploring possibilities branching off into other types of gambling.
So, on one side, the Democrats got chiefly backed by the tracks in Kentucky. And the Republicans got aid from Pace-O-Matic, a company whose twenty-five hundred Burning Barrel games got shut down in June 2023, on the claim that they violated Kentucky law, which does not allow games of chance, even though Pace-O-Matic classifies them as ones of skill, citing that their nature does not cause any conflict with the state’s legislature.
Still, the manufacturer’s machines, widely available across the commonwealth at gas stations and bars, got disabled. That occurred by the rule of law from Governor Beshear, who signed the bill that banned them, proclaiming they feature no regulation, bring in zero in taxation, and only exist to take away hard-earned dollars from Kentuckians. However, venue owners throughout the state have rebelled against the move, stating that these machines help keep them in business, as the money they receive from hosting them is enough to cover their utility bills.
Hence, from everything explained above, it is clear that Beshear is interested in keeping his supporters happy by eliminating their gambling competitors, who looked to back someone else to take his place and change the laws to their benefit.
The Online Casino Situation in Kentucky
While Internet sports wagering is booming in the US, the same cannot be said of interactive gaming, as only seven US states have chosen to permit such gambling sites. Kentucky is not among them, as KY online casinos cannot be run from within the state’s borders. That said, for years, residents have been able to use internationally-regulated platforms based in foreign lands for game-of-chance fun.
Proposed lawsuits filed in Kentucky’s Eastern District in August of 2023 have raised eyebrows regarding whether this entertainment form is still available to Kentucky’s citizens due to a Lawrenceburg resident, Billi Jo Woods, suing Bovada and Bodog (Morris Mohawk Gaming Group), reputable offshore operators for violating state gambling law.
In the proposed suit, Woods alleged she had lost substantial amounts of money gambling at Bovada/Bodog-operated hubs and is calling about a 19th-century law that declares that Kentuckians can file legal actions against operators who they believe have unlawfully taken funds from them. The grounds for Woods’ suit is that the Morris Mohawk Gaming Group offers online casino gaming to the state’s citizens despite the state not legalizing this activity. Few believe this action will produce meaningful results for Woods, as loads of Kentuckians still use offshore platforms to satisfy their gaming needs.
“Movers and Shakers” is a dynamic monthly column dedicated to exploring the latest trends, developments, and influential voices in the iGaming industry. Powered by GameOn and supported by HIPTHER, this op-ed series delves into the key players, emerging technologies, and regulatory changes shaping the future of online gaming. Each month, industry experts offer their insights and perspectives, providing readers with in-depth analysis and thought-provoking commentary on what’s driving the iGaming world forward. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or new to the scene, “Movers and Shakers” is your go-to source for staying ahead in the rapidly evolving iGaming landscape.
Allan Petrilli, Managing Director at Acquire.Bet, talks about paid media and the trends shaping customer acquisition in the regulated North American market
Paid media is very much the future of player acquisition in the regulated North American market, but running successful campaigns is not without its challenges.
More than ever, operators and marketers need to nail not only their creatives and messaging but also the measurement and tracking of campaigns.
Paid channels control much of the campaign and ad targeting, but with stricter privacy rules in play, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to target directly based on a user’s preferences.
Creative fatigue is as real as it is prevalent, so operators and marketers need to achieve creative iteration at scale, not only in terms of volume but also creative types and formats.
Just as important is having measurement dialed in and being able to inform the platforms of what is working – this means having a ton of actionable data at your fingertips so you can quickly decide where to spend your ad dollars.
Then there’s incrementality and uplift, which can’t be ignored, either.
The platforms themselves are starting to take more “credit” for conversions, so being able to zoom out and understand multitouch is key to making the marketing budget go further and perform better.
The great SEO slowdown
Paid media is becoming increasingly important in player acquisition efforts because there is a clear SEO slowdown. This, combined with advancements in generative AI in search, means brands are going to have to rely more on communities for growth.
Influencer marketing is no longer just getting some with a decent following to promote your brand, with micro influencers becoming a very important piece of the puzzle.
It’s also worth highlighting Discord here as it’s starting to play a significant role, especially in sports betting. This channel is all about community and trust, and we are seeing some really smart partnerships play out across the platform.
Regardless of platform and channel, operators must understand the power of their brand and that by aligning with influencers and communities that match their values, they can supercharge growth.
The only caveat here is that these partnerships need to be authentic.
Market maturation brings new challenges
As the North American market matures, we see the establishment of standard success KPIs, but it’s important that each brand really understands its own LTV and CAC data so that it can drive towards hitting its own success metrics and not just “industry” standard KPIs.
Why? Because those industry standard KPIs are often skewed by the power players that have spent big to get to where they are today, and won’t be reflective of smaller operations and brands.
It’s also important to focus on incremental growth as the market matures, understand the power of multi-touch and how each channel supports the overall acquisition strategy. Operating in silos is a recipe for disaster.
In addition to this, operators need to have a clear view of their runway – those with considerable cash can operate in more aggressive ways than brands that are relying on quick growth to fund future spend.
Ultimately, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach, and that’s why operators must focus on their own metrics for success and not industry-standard KPIs. They also need to remember that while being nimble is key, being relentlessly focused on data is what will allow them to win.
Regulations do influence player acquisition strategies, but everyone plays the same game
A lot of times, operators will focus on regulation and compliance to make excuses as to why they market one way or another, but the reality is that everyone is playing in the same sandbox and under the same rules.
How marketers push those boundaries, and to the extent they are willing to get creative, is what separates those who succeed and those who don’t.
Take Ontario, for example. You can’t promote the welcome bonus, so brands are having to engage players in other ways – those with kick-ass product marketing campaigns or that offer something truly unique are winning right now.
Of course, paid media is the perfect channel through which to communicate their epic product and unique player experience.
Canada
AGCO issues penalties of $151,000 against Great Canadian Entertainment for alleged age verification failures
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has issued $151,000 in penalties to Great Canadian Entertainment for allegedly failing to prevent minors from accessing gambling on multiple occasions at three Toronto-area casinos.
As part of its investigation, the AGCO reviewed four separate incidents in which minors allegedly gained access to the casino floors and in which some of these minors participated in gambling activities – two cases at Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto, and one at each of Casino Ajax and Pickering Casino Resort.
The AGCO is committed to ensuring casinos meet Ontario’s high standards of harm reduction and responsible gambling. The AGCO’s Standards require operators to ensure only eligible individuals are permitted into a gambling site and strictly prohibit access to anyone under 19 years of age (except in the course of employment). The Standards also mandate that casino employees have the necessary competence, skills, experience and training to effectively carry out their duties, including age verification.
This enforcement action underscores the AGCO’s dedication to protecting youth and other vulnerable individuals.
A casino operator served with an Order of Monetary Penalty by the AGCO Registrar has the right to appeal the Registrar’s decision to the Licence Appeal Tribunal (LAT), an adjudicative tribunal that is part of Tribunals Ontario and independent of the AGCO.
“Ontario casino operators have an obligation to ensure minors are not able to access casino floors or activities such as slot machines or table games. The AGCO will continue to monitor and hold all casino operators accountable for fulfilling this important role.” – Dr. Karin Schnarr, Chief Executive Officer and Registrar, AGCO.
Two titans of entertainment are joining forces! UK-licensed casino and sportsbook, Casino Kings, and the legendary boxing platform, BoxNation, have announced a dynamic new partnership, set to deliver a knockout blow of exclusive content, promotions and responsible betting experiences for fans. Becoming their official boxing betting partner, Casino Kings is stepping into the ring with one of the most respected names in the fight game, promising fans a ringside seat to even better betting.
This isn’t just a bell ringing for another sponsorship deal; it’s a knockout partnership designed to bring you closer to the action than ever before. Casino Kings branding will be engrained into the boxing industry, prominent across BoxNation’s popular YouTube channel through branding and content, where the biggest names and personalities in boxing step into the spotlight for exclusive interviews.
For you savvy fight fans, Casino Kings will be rolling out a series of exclusive offers, adding even more thrill to 2025’s already-explosive boxing schedule. And here’s a great way to kick things off: Casino Kings is welcoming new members with a £35 Free Bet! Just deposit a minimum of £10 and place bets of £10 or more to grab yours. Don’t miss out!
Given BoxNation’s powerful presence in the boxing arena and Casino Kings’ reputation as a premier UK online casino and sports betting platform, this partnership is bound to be a knockout you won’t want to miss.
“We’re buzzing to partner with BoxNation—this really puts Casino Kings in the heart of the action.” Says Jack Dunn, COO of Casino Kings. “The team have been absolutely brilliant, and we’re excited to get stuck into some top-tier behind-the-scenes boxing content for the fans!”
“BoxNation is delighted to announce our partnership with Casino Kings. Casino Kings has a great reputation for delivering sports and entertainment options for users. We look forward to working together with Casino Kings to create a safe and enjoyable experience for fans.” adds Umar Ahmed, BoxNation Channel Lead.
Want to be the first to know? Follow Casino Kings and BoxNation on social media now for instant updates, special offers, and all the ringside action!
About BoxNation:
BoxNation is a dedicated boxing news and media outlet, providing fans exclusive interviews and behind the content featuring the boxing’s biggest names and personalities. With over 95k YouTube subscribers and 50 million plus views, BoxNation is delivering the best boxing content from all around the world. To find out more about BoxNation, visit: www.youtube.com/@BoxNationOfficial
About Casino Kings:
Casino Kings isn’t just another UK-licensed online casino and sportsbook – it’s a platform that puts player well-being first. Deeply committed to responsible gambling, they offer a secure environment equipped with robust tools to empower users to manage their play effectively. Beyond this dedication, Casino Kings delivers consistently fair and competitive odds across a thrilling selection of sports. Plus, the king casino team consistently provides their players with the best welcome bonuses, weekly promotions, daily offers, and much more!
Let’s keep the fun in the game. Please remember to gamble responsibly. 18+ only. For more information, visit: www.gambleaware.org.
-
Latest News7 days agoLuckBet Launches New TV Commercial Starring Caio Castro on Sportv and Globoplay
-
Latest News6 days agoCT Gaming Strengthens Its Presence with New Installations in Venezuela
-
Latest News6 days agoOctoplay Launches Jackpot Blitz with BetMGM in Ontario, Accelerating North American Expansion
-
Latest News5 days agoCasino Guru enriches its portfolio with a dedicated sweepstakes casino database and updated safety index
-
Latest News5 days agoLuckBet Named Master Sponsor of LFA 209, Marking MMA History in Mato Grosso
-
Latest News5 days agoTaDa Gaming Extends Brazilian Footprint with inplaySoft Deal
-
Latest News5 days ago7K Named Official Betting Sponsor of Paulistão Feminino 2025
-
Latest News4 days agoDefy the Odds and EDGE Markets Announce Strategic Partnership to Drive Innovation in Betting and Gaming Payments