Press Releases
PlayIA.com: Betting volume grows for first time since March

Iowa bettors boosted their wagering in August more than 20% from July, the first month-over-month gain in betting volume since March’s record-setting month. August’s uptick to more than $108 million was nearly enough for the state to reach $1 billion in wagering since Jan. 1, a noteworthy milestone ahead of what will likely be the busiest four months of the year, according to PlayIA, a leading source for news and analysis of the Iowa gaming market.
“Futures betting and a handful of college games are enough to move the needle. That’s how important football is to the sports betting industry,” said Eric Ramsey, analyst for the PlayUSA.com Network, which includes PlayIA.com. “August is a precursor for what should be the busiest stretch of the year. Optimistic projections for the last four months put the state past $1.7 billion in wagers for the year.”
Iowa’s online and retail sportsbooks accepted $108.4 million in bets in August, up 21.1% from $88.9 million in July, according to official data released Monday. Bettors placed $3.5 million per day over the 31 days of August, up from $2.9 million per day over the 31 days of July.
Despite the volume increase, operator revenue fell 14.3% to $6.6 million from $7.7 million in July, resulting in $486,608 in tax revenue for the state.
Year-over-year, August’s wagering was up 115% compared with $50.3 million in August 2020. Meanwhile, revenue grew 120% in August from $3 million in August 2020. Iowa sportsbooks have now generated $997.0 million in bets since Jan. 1, falling just short of reaching $1 billion in wagering for the year.
“As slow as the summer months have been, the growth over the last year in Iowa remains remarkable,” said Russ Mitchell, lead analyst for PlayIA.com. “Nearly $1 billion in eight months represents a significant jump forward, and that growth should only accelerate over the next four months.”
Baseball led the way in August. But the return of college football, even if for just a handful of games, was a significant reason why volume increased in August.
September will show even greater gains, though. A full college football schedule and the return of the NFL will always bring a boom in sports betting. But Saturday’s showdown between No. 9 Iowa State and No. 10 Iowa â the first time a Cy-Hawk game featured both teams in the AP Top 10 â was something altogether different for Iowa sportsbooks.
“A game that creates that kind of excitement is rare, sending fans on both sides pouring into the state’s online and retail sportsbooks,” Ramsey said. “That made it a unique opportunity for the industry to reach college football fans all across Iowa, including those who have never placed a bet before.”
In August, $96.1 million in bets were made online, representing 88.6% of the state’s handle. Retail betting accounted for the remaining $12.4 million.
William Hill topped the online market with $34.8 million in online wagers, which yielded $229,427 in net receipts. DraftKings was second with $29.9 million in online wagering, generating a market-best $2.3 million in revenue.
Ameristar Council Bluffs topped the retail market with $3.6 million in wagers, netting $643,585 in revenue. Diamond Jo Worth was second with $3.4 million in bets, producing $246,324 in revenue.
“Operators have been jockeying for market share since the beginning of the year, but the real test comes with the beginning of the football season,” Mitchell said. “If operators put in place a solid strategy for reaching out to customers over the summer, the fruits of that labor will start to come in September.”
For more information on regulated sports betting in Iowa, visit PlayIA.com/revenue/.
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BetMGM Unveils First Major Corporate Brand Repositioning with âMake it Legendaryâ Campaign

BetMGM, a leading sports betting and iGaming operator, unveiled the next evolution of its brand in collaboration with leading independent ad agency Highdive. The refreshed brand identity highlights BetMGMâs dynamic entertainment ecosystem â one that unlocks a world of possibilities, elevated experiences and exceptional hospitality. Bringing the brand to life, the new âMake it Legendaryâ campaign is anchored by a series of multi-channel spots featuring BetMGMâs newest brand ambassador: EMMYÂŽ Award and Golden Globe Award-winning actor Jon Hamm.
âThis isnât just a campaign â itâs a reimagining of what BetMGM stands for. Weâre at the forefront of entertainment and gaming, with the spirit of Las Vegas woven into our DNA,â said Casey Hurbis, Chief Marketing Officer, BetMGM. âOur new positioning celebrates the thrill, spectacle and storytelling potential in every spin, play and reward. With Jon Hammâs talent and universal appeal, heâs a natural fit to represent the refined essence of our brand.â
Highdive worked hand-in-hand with BetMGMâs creative team on the transformation, informed by extensive customer research. The first of six new spots is scheduled to premiere Saturday, Aug. 30 during college football games, with additional spots rolling out across TV, social, digital, out-of-home and BetMGM properties nationwide. Directed by two-time Directors Guild of America Director of the Year Noam Murro, the spots leverage Hammâs charisma and storytelling charm to make every interaction feel like an elevated experience.
Hamm said, âBetMGM is all about style, and the âMake it Legendaryâ campaign captures that energy. Itâs witty, cinematic, and shows that betting with BetMGM is an unmatched experience.â
Mark Gross, co-founder and co-chief creative officer at Highdive, emphasized the strategic depth of the repositioning and said, âWe didnât just create ads â we built a creative platform that gives BetMGM a long-term advantage. This is about storytelling, connection and creating a brand that truly speaks to todayâs players, not at them.â
As BetMGM continues to expand into new markets and introduce new features, responsible gaming remains a key focus. Additionally, BetMGM is proud to provide resources to help customers play responsibly including GameSense, an industry leading program, developed and licensed to MGM Resorts by the British Columbia Lottery Corporation. Through the integration within BetMGMâs mobile and desktop platforms, customers can receive the same GameSense experience they have grown to rely on at MGM Resorts properties nationwide. This complements BetMGMâs already existing responsible gambling tools which serve to provide customers with an entertaining and safe digital experience.
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (Available in the US), 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY)1-800-327-5050 (MA), 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR) 21+ only. Please Gamble Responsibly.
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Spintec Strengthens its Partnership with Merkur in Colombia and Peru

At the Peru Gaming Show in June, strategic partners Merkur Gaming and Spintec entered a new chapter in their partnership in Latin America. The two companies signed a distribution agreement for Colombia and Peru, marking an important milestone in their collaboration. Their united presence at the show highlighted the strength of this alliance, which continues to deliver considerable advantages to their already winning cooperation across the region.
Spintecâs debut appearance this year was a highlight of Merkur Gaming stand at Jockey Plaza in Lima. The Slovenian specialist in Electronic Table Games (ETGs) featured an impressive range of products that combined innovation, reliability, and performance. Â Their Karma and Charisma product lines were the big showstoppers with their unbeatable combination of innovation and reliability. These products are gaining traction and popularity all over the world for a very good reason: they are fully engaging and attractive to look at, while also being extremely dependable.
And the quality of Spintecâs portfolio is already delivering measurable results in the region. The renowned research company Eilers & Krejcik recognized Spintec as the top-performing ETG supplier in South America in their April 2025 Latin America Game Performance Report. This achievement propels the partnership in Peru and Colombia even further. It not only underlines the seamless integration of Merkurâs powerful regional presence with Spintecâs technological leadership in ETGs but also serves as a testament to the importance of companiesâ growing strategic alliance.
“ETGs are a valuable and strategic addition to Merkurâs already robust product portfolio,” said Dominik Raasch, Management Board Member, Merkur Games. “Our partnership with Spintec is built on a shared vision of delivering excellence, innovation, and value to our customers. The joint market presence we are creating in Latin America is only the beginning.”
Goran Sovilj, Global Sales Director at Spintec, echoed the sentiment: “Our collaboration with Merkur Gaming continues to deepen, and weâre proud of what weâve achieved together. With their strong local teams, infrastructure, and sales support, we are perfectly positioned to take the leading role in the ETG market in Latin America, and beyond.”
As the companies continue to strengthen and widen their strategic alliances in the region, their commitment to joint innovation, market leadership and next-level gaming experiences grows even further. The optimism is based on past achievements, but also on a very positive outlook towards future growth.
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ACR POKER CONCLUDES MONSTER VENOM TOURNAMENTS, DELIVERING OVER $10 MILLION IN PRIZE POOLS AND EPIC FINAL TABLE BATTLES

ACR Poker wrapped up its flagship Dual Venom tournaments, delivering over two weeks of big poker action and awarding more than $10 million in prize pools as players worldwide battled for massive payouts and coveted bounties.
The $8 Million NLH Venom drew 3,392 entrants across six Day 1 flights, pushing the prize pool to $8,480,000. The tournament concluded with Southern California resident David ‘IamYorFather’ Gonzalez, 54, claiming the NLH Venom crown after a fierce final table battle against elite opponents. The champion eliminated runner-up ‘ArkaduktusFrRM’, earning $665,163 and $45,000 in bounties.
âIâm still trying to process what just happened. Even days later it all seems so surreal. I was especially thrilled to be able to overcome being the short stack at the final table,” Gonzalez shared. “The money was a blessing because I have quite a few family members in need and this allows me to support them fully.”
Adding to the excitement, âsorka1975â claimed the $500,000 top bounty, with âArkaduktusFrRMâ ($210,000) and âAndreWardâ ($205,000) rounding out the top three mystery bounty winners.
ACR Pros kept the action buzzing throughout, with Chris Moneymaker firing up multiple bullets in the opening Day 1s, and Michael Loncar, Rob Kuhn, and Katie Lindsay earning their spots in Day 2. Fans can rewatch the final table action on ACR Poker’s Twitch channel, featuring Rob Kuhn and Drew Gonzalez.
Meanwhile, the $2 Million PLO Venom, tying ACR Pokerâs biggest Omaha tourney ever, attracted 830 entrants and a $2,075,000 total prize pool. âFutureTrunksâ ultimately secured the first-place prize of $208,217, plus $146,250 in bounties.
“It was awesome to see such a solid turnout and fun atmosphere in both Venom tourneys,â said Moneymaker. âHuge congrats to the winners and everyone who hit those incredible bounties.âÂ
From Venom Fever to the Venom Vault, ACR Poker offered players hundreds of low-cost opportunities to win $2,650 Venom seats. One standout success came from âxGetxRektxâ, who turned an $0.80 Venom Vault Key into an incredible $15,000 bounty and $6,500 cash prize.
While the Venom tourneys have concluded, ACR Poker is ensuring the action continues with more exciting tournaments approaching, including Septemberâs Online Super Series XL, boasting a $50 million guarantee.
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