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PlayIllinois.com: Sportsbooks post huge month, but March could be ‘last hurrah’ for major growth

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PlayIllinois.com: Sportsbooks post huge month, but March could be 'last hurrah' for major growth

 

Illinois sportsbooks set records for betting and revenue in March, easily reaching $600 million in monthly wagering for the first time and again surpassing Pennsylvania, a dramatic turn one year after the industry’s launch was spoiled by the pandemic-related shutdown of major U.S. sports. But as far as Illinois has come, the state’s newfound position as the nation’s No. 3 market could be short-lived as in-person registration requirements begin to take hold, said PlayIllinois, which analyzes and researches the state’s regulated online gaming and sports betting market.

“March Madness helped deliver a huge month for Illinois, but March is essentially a ‘last hurrah’ for the state’s rapid growth,” said Joe Boozell, analyst for PlayIllinois.com. “Illinois will still be one of the largest U.S. markets because of the population of the state, but it will be difficult to maintain its current status as the U.S. No. 3, much less catch Nevada. No matter how appealing a market, there isn’t any easy way to overcome the inconvenience of in-person registration.”

Spurred by March Madness, betting at Illinois’s retail and online sportsbooks surged to $633.6 million in March, according to official data released Monday. That is up 24.3% from $509.8 million in February and easily topped the previous record $581.6 million in January. Bettors placed $20.4 million per day in the 31 days of March, up from $18.2 million per day in February.

March’s high volume produced $49.9 million in operator revenue, up 64.6% from $30.3 million in February and narrowly topping the record $49.4 million in January. The month’s win created $44.3 million in taxable revenue, which yielded $6.6 million in state taxes and another $493,543 in local taxes.

Illinois surpassed Pennsylvania ($560.3 million) in monthly handle for the second straight month and gained ground on New Jersey ($859.6 million) and Nevada ($641 million). In doing so, the state surpassed $3 billion ($3.6 billion) in lifetime handle.

That stands in stark contrast to March 2020, when Illinois launched retail sportsbooks, taking in $997,739 in bets before a wave of sports cancellations essentially put a hold on sports betting in Illinois until July.

“The growth over the last year has been staggering, making Illinois the quickest to $3 billion in U.S. history,” said Jessica Welman, analyst for PlayIllinois. “The question now becomes what will happen when the brakes are hit on that growth? Does it alarm lawmakers enough to make a change? Or will Illinois be satisfied with where the sports betting market has been frozen in place?”

The NCAA Tournament was the main driver in March, generating an estimated $176.8 million in bets even as bettors were barred from wagering on Illinois and Loyola Chicago. The NBA also drew well, helping to push basketball betting to $365.7 million. The previous high for basketball in a month was $256.7 million.

Tennis also continues to do especially well in Illinois, hitting $47.2 million in wagering, the second-most wagered-on sport.

“Illinois has grown in some unique ways, but the state’s love of basketball has really carried the state over the last few months,” Boozell said. “If the ban on betting on in-state college teams didn’t exist, Illinois would have likely been the No. 2 market in the U.S. in March.”

Online wagering accounted for 96.1%, or $609 million, of all bets in March. Retail betting generated the remaining $24.6 million.

DraftKings/Casino Queen represented 32.2% of the state’s entire handle in March, generating $207.6 million in online and retail wagers, up from the operator’s $199.8 million handle in February. Nearly $203.9 million of March’s bets came online.

FanDuel/Fairmont attracted $195.2 million in bets — $194.9 million of which came online. BetRivers/Rivers Casino continued to lose pace with the market leaders, generating $95.7 million in online betting and $106.9 million overall, up from $86.9 million in February.

The leaders were followed by:

PointsBet/Hawthorne Race Course ($55 million in wagers, including $53.6 million online; $5.1 million in revenue)
Barstool/Hollywood Casinos ($48.9 million in wagers, including $47.8 million online; $1.1 million in revenue)
William Hill/Grand Victoria ($14.2 million in wagers, including $13.3 million online; -$270,456 in revenue)
Argosy ($4.1 million in wagers; $410,477 in revenue)
Hollywood Joliet ($1.2 million in wagers; $127,344 in revenue)
Par-A-Dice ($628,286 in wagers; -$163,180 in revenue)

“One of the biggest issues with the return of in-person registration is it puts newly launched operators at a permanent disadvantage,” Welman said. “In one way, Barstool was fortunate to launch when it did, helping them build a foundation. But growth will be difficult for all operators, and especially those that are farther away from the largest population centers.”

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

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 a dozen states, PlayUSA.com and its state-focused branches (including PlayIndiana.com, PlayIllinois.com, PlayNJ.com and PlayPennsylvania.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 affiliation to any casino — commercial, tribal, online, or otherwise.

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Xpoint Launches Groundbreaking New Product to Reduce Geolocation Costs for Operators

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Trust Mode feature reduces unnecessary location checks by over 20%

Xpoint, a leader in geolocation security solutions, has unveiled its proprietary Trust Mode feature, a patent-pending product that allows online gaming operators to realize previously unattainable efficiencies while remaining compliant with all state regulations and enhancing player satisfaction.

Trust Mode is a product feature that decreases geolocation checks while complying with state-mandated check frequencies by minimizing location checks when a player is connected to a residential or office WiFi, even if they are near the border. Results have shown that Trust Mode reduces geolocation service checks by over 20%, allowing Xpoint customers to realize significant cost savings compared to legacy industry technologies.

“Trust Mode is a clear example of how competition fosters innovation,” the Chief Executive Officer for Xpoint, Manu Gambhir, said. “There is no need to frequently re-check the location of a bettor connected to Wi-Fi at their home despite being located near a state border.

“As well as benefiting operators, end users also benefit from Trust Mode as their battery usage will decrease due to the operator’s ability to reduce the number of location checks for players without accuracy being sacrificed. This technology will serve as a game-changer for operators looking to get the most out of their geolocation service provider.”

Xpoint is licensed and authorized in 20 states and the District of Columbia across its current customer portfolio including names such as Bet365 and PrizePicks. Trust Mode delivers efficiencies to an industry that has remained largely static due to previously low levels of competition. Trust Mode saves iGaming operators money while enhancing user experience. Roll-out for the service is expected later this year.

The company’s flagship geolocation platform for iGaming, Xpoint Verify, is an advanced toolset for geo-compliance. The service is focused on being the most accurate, allowing players in permitted locations and denying all others including those attempting to spoof their location. Xpoint Verify detects and prevents fraud while providing valuable marketing insights to operator customers.

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SBC Summit North America: Stages, Sessions, and Speakers Highlights

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SBC Summit North America: Stages, Sessions, and Speakers Highlights

 

The 2024 SBC Summit North America is set to bring a diverse array of stages, sessions, and esteemed speakers, in an event that promises to deliver numerous opportunities for learning, networking, and collaboration. Let’s delve into the highlights from each day of this groundbreaking summit:

Day 1: The Prelude to Insight

As the curtains rise on the inaugural day of the summit, attendees are greeted with a plethora of engaging sessions spanning regulatory compliance, responsible gambling initiatives, and the latest technological innovations. The stage is set for dynamic discussions and thought-provoking insights as industry leaders converge to explore the intersection of regulation and commercial growth.

Day 2: Navigating the Regulatory Maze

Against the backdrop of New York’s iconic Tribeca 360, day two of the summit takes center stage with a focus on regulatory compliance and responsible gaming practices. Attendees can anticipate deep dives into the complexities of mergers and acquisitions, the role of AI and big data in betting, and the imperative of responsible gambling technology. With expert speakers offering guidance and expertise, participants are empowered to navigate the regulatory maze with confidence and clarity.

Day 3: Charting the Course for Growth

As the summit enters its penultimate day, the spotlight shines on strategies for sustainable growth and innovation in the gaming industry. From exploring the symbiotic relationship between responsible gambling initiatives and long-term profitability to harnessing the power of emerging technologies, attendees are treated to a wealth of insights designed to drive commercial success while upholding the highest standards of integrity and compliance.

Day 4: The Grand Finale

As the final day dawns, anticipation mounts for the grand finale of the SBC Summit North America. Attendees can look forward to a culmination of key insights, actionable strategies, and memorable moments as the industry’s brightest minds come together for one last day of inspiration and collaboration. From live editions of the Safe Bet Show to dedicated conference tracks covering sports betting, iGaming, and leadership, the summit concludes on a high note, leaving attendees energized and empowered to chart the course for the future of gaming.

In summary, the SBC Summit North America emerges as a transformative event, offering a platform for dialogue, innovation, and progress in the gaming industry. With stages brimming with thought-provoking sessions and speakers at the forefront of their fields, the summit sets the stage for a future defined by compliance, responsibility, and sustainable growth.

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Kiron Interactive expands Brazilian presence with EstrelaBet partnership

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Kiron Interactive expands Brazilian presence with EstrelaBet partnership

 

Kiron Interactive, a leading provider of virtual sports and numbers games, has announced a new partnership with EstrelaBet, one of Brazil’s most prominent online gaming operators, to deliver its innovative virtual sports portfolio to the operator’s extensive player base.

The agreement sees EstrelaBet, the sponsor for nine football teams in Brazil, integrate Kiron’s popular virtual sports games into its online offering. Players will now have access to an exciting range of virtual sports, including football, horse racing, and motorsports, enabling 24/7 betting opportunities across a wide variety of fixtures and markets.

Kiron’s virtual sports games are designed to replicate the excitement of real sports betting, with a staggered schedule of events providing opportunities for in-play betting every two minutes. The games are fully customisable, allowing EstrelaBet to tailor the content, odds, and frequency of events to meet the preferences of its local audience.

EstrelaBet is a leading online gaming operator in Brazil, offering a wide range of sports betting and casino products to players across the country. Founded in 2019, the company has quickly established itself as one of the top three operators in the market.

The integration of Kiron’s virtual sports content is expected to significantly enhance EstrelaBet’s online offering, providing its players with engaging new betting options and driving revenue.

Steven Spartinos, Kiron Co-CEO, said: “We are delighted to partner with EstrelaBet, one of the biggest names in the rapidly growing Brazilian market. This agreement underlines the appeal of our virtual sports offering and its ability to drive player engagement and growth for operators in markets worldwide.

“We look forward to working with the EstrelaBet team to deliver an exceptional virtual sports betting experience to their players and to supporting the continued expansion of their business in Brazil.”

Fellipe Fraga, Chief Business Officer at EstrelaBet, said: “It is a pleasure to have this partnership with Kiron, allowing us to offer our clients more options for entertainment in iGaming, using new technology and an advanced product.

“We are always looking for ways to enhance our offering and provide our players with the best possible betting experience, and we are confident that Kiron’s virtual sports games will be a valuable addition to our portfolio.”

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