Press Releases
PlayVirginia.com: State’s sportsbooks off to strong start with $60 million January
Virginia’s sportsbooks are off to an impressive start after collecting nearly $60 million in wagers in the first 11 days after the market launched on Jan. 21, the second-highest monthly total in U.S. history for any state in its first month of legal sports betting, according to PlayVirginia, which provides news and analysis of the state’s gaming industry.
“Like its neighbor in Tennessee, Virginia’s online-only market had some advantages that helped fuel such a successful launch,” said Jessica Welman, analyst for PlayVirginia.com. “Debuting ahead of the NFL’s conference championship games and the Super Bowl ensured there would be heavy interest from bettors. In addition, launching with top-flight sportsbook operators in place to serve a market with years of pent-up demand is a recipe for success.”
Virginia sportsbooks generated $58.9 million in handle in January, according to official data released Monday by The Virginia Lottery. Only neighboring Tennessee, which drew $131.4 million in bets in the 30 days after launching on Nov. 1, generated more than Virginia in its debut month, though Virginia topped Tennessee’ per-day total. Michigan, which opened retail sports betting in 2020, collected $150.8 million in January after launching online sports betting for the first time on Jan. 21.
Virginia’s sportsbooks won $3.6 million in gross gaming revenue on January’s bets. But with an expectedly heavy early promotional push, three of Virginia’s four sportsbooks lost money. That put combined adjusted gaming revenue at a $3.2 million loss.
The promotional credits dampened the state’s take, which was $39,710 and includes a $38,718 infusion in the state’s general fund.
“The relatively small injection in tax dollars is eye-catching, but significant promotional expenses are a given in a market’s first few days,” said Dustin Gouker, analyst for PlayVirginia.com. “We saw the very same dynamic play out in the first days of Michigan’s online market, as well. The bottom line is that Virginia’s market is off to a good start, with significant interest from bettors across the state. That will certainly pay off for the state in coming months.”
Virginia’s market launched with the biggest operators in the U.S. at the ready. FanDuel went live on Jan. 21, and DraftKings and BetMGM opened days later on Jan. 24. BetRivers jumped in the fray on Jan. 26. William Hill launched in February, and more are expected soon.
But that is just the opening salvo for Virginia’s sports betting market, which PlayVirginia expects will grow to generate some $5 billion in annual bets at maturity.
“This was a great start for Virginia, but it’s important to remember that this is just the first few days of the market,” Welman said. “More operators will launch in Virginia and the market should quickly evolve. But in just a few days, it’s clear that Virginia is on its way to becoming one of just a handful of major U.S. markets once it reaches maturity.”
For more information and analysis on regulated sports betting in Virginia, visit PlayVirginia.com/revenue.
About the PlayUSA.com Network:
The PlayUSA.com Network is a leading source for news, analysis, and research related to the market for regulated online gaming in the United States. With a presence in over two dozen states, PlayUSA.com and its state-focused branches, including PlayVirginia.com, produce daily original reporting, publish in-depth research, and offer player advocacy tools related to the advancement of safe, licensed, and legal online gaming options for consumers. Based in Las Vegas, the PlayUSA Network is independently owned and operated, with no affiliations to any casino — commercial, tribal, online, or otherwise.
Evolution has announced the launch of its first-ever live casino studio in São Paulo, Brazil, marking a significant milestone in the company’s expansion in Latin America. The cutting-edge facility is purpose-built to meet the unique demands of Brazil’s rapidly expanding regulated iGaming market.
Following the regulation of Brazil’s online gaming sector in January 2025, Evolution became the country’s first licensed supplier on day one of the new legal framework. The opening of this studio further underscores Evolution’s commitment and investment in the region.
The new state-of-the-art studio will initially offer multiple variants of native Brazilian Portuguese-speaking Blackjack tables, including Blackjack Clássico, Blackjack Illimitado, and Brazilian Blackjack.
Global fan-favourites such as Crazy Time, and XXXtreme Lightning Roulette will be fully localised and launched in Brazil – delivering world-class entertainment with a distinctly Brazilian flavour. Rounding out the line-up, ICE Fishing – Evolution’s flagship global release for 2025 – will also be customised for the local market and streamed from the new Brazil-based studio.
Natalia Torres, Evolution’s Head of Region Latin America, commented: “We are proud to unveil Brazil’s first fully localised live casino studio. This is a major milestone not only for Evolution but also for the future of regulated iGaming in Brazil. With our industry-proven formats, robust local infrastructure, and unwavering commitment to regulatory compliance, we’re empowering operators to go live with content that genuinely connects with Brazilian players.”
Torres added: “The new studio affords us full flexibility to customise everything – from game selection and dealer language to branding and marketing support. It sets a new benchmark for quality and localisation in Brazil, enabling our partners to deliver a premium, trusted, and highly engaging player experience from day one.”
Latest News
Kambi appoints experienced LatAm executive Mateo Lenoble as Head of Sales in Latin America
Appointment supports Kambi’s ongoing growth strategy in Latin America, with Lenoble bringing 10 years’ experience in senior LatAm-facing commercial roles at Sportradar
Kambi, the home of premium sports betting solutions, is pleased to announce the appointment of Mateo Lenoble as Head of Sales in Latin America. Lenoble, an established voice in Latin America’s betting and gaming industry following 10 years at Sportradar, will play a key role in driving Kambi’s commercial growth and expanding its presence in the fast-growing region.
Lenoble brings more than a decade of experience in the Latin American sports betting and gaming industry, having previously held several senior commercial roles at Sportradar, including Director of Sales and most recently Vice President of Account Management for the region. Lenoble’s deep understanding of the market landscape, operator needs and varying regulatory environments will be instrumental in further strengthening Kambi’s leadership position in Latin America.
The appointment reinforces Kambi’s commitment to expanding its footprint across Latin America and providing leading operators with premium sports betting products and services. These solutions include Kambi’s flagship Turnkey Sportsbook, the world’s leading end-to-end sports betting solution, as well as cutting-edge standalone products such as Odds Feed+, Esports and Front End.
Sarah Robertson, Kambi Chief Commercial Officer, said: “I’m very excited to welcome Mateo to Kambi, strengthening our commercial team as we continue to establish ourselves as the home of premium sports betting solutions in Latin America. Mateo’s extensive experience and strong network across Latin America will be invaluable as we continue to expand in the region.”
Mateo Lenoble, Kambi Head of Sales, LatAm, said: “I’m thrilled to join Kambi at such a pivotal moment for the sports betting industry in Latin America. The region is full of opportunity, and Kambi’s reputation for product excellence, flexibility and regulatory expertise positions us perfectly for success. I look forward to working with the team to build strong partnerships and bring Kambi’s premium sportsbook offering to even more operators in Latin America.”
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) is continuing its efforts to combat unregulated gambling and protect the public. As part of these efforts, the AGCO took steps this week to revoke the lottery seller registrations of a number of retailers in the GTA that were found to be offering unapproved electronic gambling machines under the Prime Slot brand.
The AGCO regulates all gambling in the province of Ontario to ensure gambling products and gaming sites are held to high standards of game integrity, player safety, and the protection of minors and vulnerable individuals.
Over the past decade, unregulated gaming machines have increasingly proliferated across North America. While they largely rely on chance like traditional slot machines, manufacturers have claimed they are games of skill and have installed terminals in convenience stores and other locations where gaming machines would otherwise be prohibited.
The AGCO will continue to take every action within its authority to protect the public against the risks that these unregulated machines pose – particularly in locations easily accessible to children and youth.
A registered lottery seller served with a Notice of Proposed Order to revoke their registration has the right to appeal the AGCO’s action within 15 days to the Licence Appeal Tribunal (LAT), an adjudicative tribunal that is part of Tribunals Ontario and independent of the AGCO.
“Unapproved gambling machines have no business being in convenience stores or other locations, particularly those that are available to children and youth. ” – Dr. Karin Schnarr, Chief Executive Officer and Registrar, AGCO
Background:
Under Section 10(b) of the Gaming Control Act, the Registrar shall refuse to register an applicant as a supplier or to renew the registration of an applicant as a supplier if there are reasonable grounds to believe that the applicant will not act as a supplier in accordance with law, or with integrity, honesty, or in the public interest.
Under Section 12 of the Gaming Control Act, the Registrar may propose to suspend or to revoke a registration for any reason that would disentitle the registrant to registration or renewal of registration under section 10 if the registrant were an applicant.
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