Press Releases
PlayVirginia.com: Sportsbooks make gains in August ahead of football season
Virginia’s sportsbooks bounced back with more than $180 million in wagering in August, a modest surge after July’s low. The gains in August were made in part because Virginians were offered their first opportunity to bet on early season football, offering a limited sample of what will likely be record-breaking months ahead for the commonwealth’s fledgling sports betting market, according to PlayVirginia, which offers news and analysis of the Virginia’s sports betting market.
“Baseball did much of the heavy lifting in August, but NFL futures betting, preseason football, and a small sampling of college games make a significant difference for sportsbooks,” said Dann Stupp, lead analyst for PlayVirginia.com. “Seeing any gain is a breath of fresh air after what was the typical slow period for the industry. But August’s gains are just a foreshadow for what will certainly be the busiest stretch since Virginia launched sports betting in January.”
Bettors placed $182.4 million in wagers at Virginia’s sportsbooks in August, up 12.7% from $161.9 million in July, according to data released Friday by The Virginia Lottery. The pace of betting grew to $5.9 million per day over the 31 days of August, topping $5.2 million over the 31 days of July, which was the lowest daily volume in any month this year.
Gross gaming revenue did fall 10.0% to $18.0 million from to $20.0 million in July. That created $8.7 million in adjusted gross revenue, yielding $1.4 million in state taxes, including $34,463 for problem gambling support.
Despite the gains, August’s handle and revenue totals were still well below the highs hit in March, which brought $304.1 million in wagers and $26.6 million in gross revenue. Virginia, though, remains on one of the fastest tracks of any legal sports betting market in U.S. history, attracting $1.7 billion in wagers and $145.0 million in gross gaming revenue since launching in January.
But the final four months of 2021 should bring the market to new heights with full schedules of college and NFL football. In 2020, a year marred by the shutdown of major sports for months, 60.2% of the money wagered legally in the U.S. was placed from September through December. In 2019, 50.8% of all legal wagers were made during the last four months of the year.
“We are entering the most important four months for Virginia’s sports betting industry, and it will be exciting to see how Virginia bettors respond to a full schedule of football,” said Eric Ramsey, analyst for the PlayUSA.com Network, which includes PlayVirginia.com. “It is a great bet that from September through the end of the year, the commonwealth’s sportsbooks will shatter just about every record that was set earlier this year.”
The roster of operators in Virginia continues to shift, which is expected during football season. Barstool Sports debuted in August, and Golden Nugget is gearing up for its own launch, pledging funds to five Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Meanwhile, BlueBet Holdings abandoned its pursuit of a license.
Operators often target football season to debut, aiming to capitalize on increased interest. Football season represents an important opportunity for established operators, too.
“College football and the NFL will generate hundreds of millions of dollars in bets at Virginia’s sportsbooks, which is important on its own,” Stupp said. “With increased engagement comes a chance for sportsbooks to grow their customer base. A good promotional strategy set over the summer should start to pay off in September.”
For more information and analysis on regulated sports betting in Virginia, visit PlayVirginia.com/revenue.
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GAN Selects Internet Vikings’ Hosting Solutions in Arkansas
Internet Vikings, a licensed in-state hosting provider for iGaming and online sports betting, announces the extension of its relationship with GAN Sports®, a supplier of industry-leading casino content, into Arkansas.
Following a successful multi-state collaboration initiated in 2022, Internet Vikings continues to support GAN by delivering hosting services tailored to their operational needs. Internet Vikings is continuing to grow across the United States, as Arkansas becomes the latest state to benefit from their hosting services.
GAN, a B2B supplier of internet gambling software-as-a-service solutions, initially entered into an agreement with Internet Vikings in a landmark deal covering 15 states. Since then, the relationship has grown stronger, with GAN relying on Internet Vikings’ bare metal server solutions to support their large-scale U.S. operations.
This expansion into Arkansas follows a recent deployment in Nevada, where Internet Vikings also provides hosting solutions to GAN. As GAN continues to operate across regulated U.S. markets, Internet Vikings remains a dependable resource, and has demonstrated its reliability to support long-term growth.
Rickard Vikström, CEO and Founder of Internet Vikings, shared his thoughts, “Our relationship with GAN reflects the trust we’ve built over the years. It’s not just about providing hosting solutions; it’s about understanding their vision and exceeding their expectations.”
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ICE Barcelona 2025: Alona Shevtsova on Sends’ Vision for the Future of Gaming
The Sends team attended the biggest and most famous gaming conference, ICE, now held in Barcelona, Spain. From the 20th to the 23rd of January, the leading gaming companies and solution providers gather for business meetings, experience sharing and networking. More than 170 countries visited, achieving the number of 55,000 visitors.
“Our team attends the ICE conference annually. Previously held in London, the financial capital and home to our head office, 2025 is the first time it’s hosted in Barcelona—and it remains as expansive and resourceful as ever. We’re thrilled to participate, connect with our partners, explore innovative solutions, and engage with market leaders. At Sends, we are committed to staying ahead in this dynamic industry, never missing an opportunity to gain fresh insights and experiences,” commented Alona Shevtsova, Director at Sends.
As the organisers of ICE 2025 said, after a rigorous, independent selection process, ICE and iGB Affiliate moved to Fira Barcelona Gran Via because Barcelona presents a compelling list of benefits, including improved logistics and operational efficiency. The location is close to Barcelona airport and is well connected to the public transport network, offering a world-class in-show and around-show experience.
It is worth mentioning that this February, Send will co-host its event in London for fintech companies. This is the third gathering in London to network and connect industry professionals. To get more information about the London Fintech Meetup, follow the link.
To get more details, keep in touch with Sends on social media: LinkedIn and Instagram.
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SCCG Partners with Osage Nation Gaming Enterprise to Enhance Interactive Gaming Operations with Managed Services
SCCG Management, a leading global advisory firm in the gaming and sports betting industry, is proud to announce its engagement by the Osage Nation Gaming Enterprise (ONGE) to assist in developing innovative, robust, player-centric solutions for sportsbook operations, on-line/mobile social casino, and Class II mobile on-premise gaming, designed to enhance the patron experience with diverse content, and drive operational efficiency.
The ONGE, operators of seven gaming and hospitality facilities in Oklahoma, is known for providing an intimate, guest-focused gaming, service, and entertainment experience. This collaboration marks a significant step in integrating advanced technology and operational expertise to deliver innovative solutions for the evolving interactive gaming landscape.
SCCG Managed Services (SCCGMS) specializes in turnkey solutions for tribal operators to develop, optimize, and manage sports betting and interactive gaming offerings. For the ONGE, , SCCGMS will assist in sourcing and implementing customized products and services tailored to their operations, enabling patrons to enjoy casino-style games on their mobile devices while within designated areas of the casino properties. This service ensures compliance with regulatory standards while delivering a seamless and convenient gaming experience.
“Our mission is to ensure operators like the Osage Nation Gaming Enterprise can fully harness the potential of their gaming operations,” said Stephen Crystal, Founder and CEO of SCCG Management. “This partnership is about bringing cutting-edge technology and operational expertise to elevate interactive gaming experiences. We are honored to collaborate with the ONGE, a leader in tribal gaming, to pave the way for enhanced content, responsible gaming, and innovation.”
“On behalf of Osage Casinos, we are very pleased to announce our engagement of SCCG to assist us with developing these new products and services for our guests,” offered Kimberly Pearson, CEO of Osage Gaming.
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