THIS WEEK IN SPORTS BETTING NEWS – OCTOBER 15TH, 2021

Chris Altman Sports Betting Expert

5 minute read

LOUISIANA SPORTS BETTING LAUNCHES IN-PERSON AT PARAGON CASINO RESORT

While the launch of online sports betting in the Pelican State didn’t happen as planned, one resort has moved forward with sports betting on an in-person basis: the Paragon Casino Resort in Marksville.

Users that travel to the Paragon can sign up with Betfred Sportsbook and bet in-person on their favorite sports today! When Louisiana finally does open up to online play, these in-person (aka “retail” or “brick-and-mortar”) sportsbooks are still a great place to visit and place bets if you want the excitement and amenities of a highly-rated casino resort setting.

Once Louisiana does launch online sportsbooks, expect to be able to sign up and wager real money from any of the 55 parishes that opted to legalize betting back in 2020. If you’re physically located in a parish that voted against legal betting, you will have to travel to a parish that voted “yes” on the referendum.

THREE CASINOS MOVE FORWARD IN MARYLAND LICENSURE PROCESS

The Horseshoe Casino Baltimore, the MGM National Harbor, and the Live! Casino and Hotel Maryland have all taken the first steps toward being licensed to offer sports betting in MD.

In Maryland, eligible entities that hold or could hold a gambling license are able to apply for sports betting licenses with the MLGCC, or Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Commission. This commission will approve interested entities for a sports wagering license in the state in conjunction with SWARC.

SWARC, the Sports Wagering Application Review Commission is responsible not only for part of the license process, but ensuring that there is a fair market share for “certain small, minority, and women business owners and entrepreneurs” (according to the 2021 edition of House Bill 940, signed by Gov. Hogan).

Once approved by the MLGCC, interested entities must pass muster with SWARC before they can legally offer online sports betting in the Old Line State. The three aforementioned casinos have achieved the first approval from the MLGCC, and are now on to the second step of the licensure process.

Still, Maryland hasn’t announced a hard launch date for their sports betting package.

MASSACHUSETTS RELIES ON SENATE TO LEGALIZE SPORTS BETTING

Governor Charlie Baker has been vocal about his support for legalized sports betting in the Bay State, and it was looking like MA had a clear path to legalization earlier in summer 2021. However, recent gridlocks and disagreements between the two arms of the Massachusetts Legislature has pushed back the legalization of a betting package until at least 2022.

The main issue? As with anything else, it’s the dual issue of time and money, with Senate President Karen Spilka recently quoted as saying that she is “not certain that there’s a need for even more money.” She continued, adding that several other items will take priority over legalizing the potential revenue source this year.

Signs indicate that it won’t be until mid-2022 at least until sports betting becomes a reality in Massachusetts. We’ll keep you updated with the relevant information, but for the time being, sports betting legislation in MA is not a priority for legislators.

POINTSBET MAKES A PARTNERSHIP WITH MAJOR CANADIAN SPORTS PUBLICATIONS

Additionally, it looks like well-known Australian provider PointsBet has secured a partnership with Canadian brands Dailyfaceoff.com and The Nation Network.

Dailyfaceoff.com covers the latest in ice hockey news and stats, while The Nation Network focuses primarily on fantasy sports. The deal between PointsBet and these two growing networks is intended to promote legal and safe sports betting in Canada while bringing new users to the platform.

There’s a caveat, however: the laws regarding promotion of sportsbooks is decided on a province-by-province basis. That means that there’s always a chance that this kind of partnership deal will be limited in the way they can advertise and get the word out about said partnership.

In addition to promotional deals, PointsBet will bring its heavily-scrutinized odds and statistics to these growing sports news networks. How the deal will materialize in the coming months remains to be seen, but PointsBet’s Chief Commercial Officer Nick Sulsky is optimistic about being able to form a genuine connection with sports fans countrywide.

MINNESOTA MAY LEGALIZE SPORTS BETTING

State representative Pat Garofalo is representative of a MN district that’s only about an hour away from the border with Iowa, which as you probably already know is a state with legalized online sports betting. Now, it looks like Garofalo and other “power players” in the MN government are looking towards legalizing the practice.

”If, not when” continues to be in the headlines regarding the legalization of online betting in the North Star State, but it’s going to be a hard push against the existing tribal entities responsible for overseeing gambling there.

In fact, the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association has stated their direct opposition to a commercial sports betting package unless they’re allowed at the discussion table, an understandable concern for any tribal authority. They state:

“The Minnesota Indian Gaming Association continues to oppose the expansion of off-reservation gambling, including the legalization of sports betting.”

However, the definition of “off-reservation” is up for interpretation. If lawmakers can draft a package that includes and benefits local Minnesota tribes while bringing in some much-needed revenue from legalizing online betting, the tide may change with regards to legal betting in the state.

Written by Chris Altman, our US Sports Betting Industry Expert. You can read more about our author’s expertise here.

Chris Altman

Chris Altman is a sports betting writer and content expert with almost a decade of experience. He's covered everything, but his current focus is on reviewing sportsbooks and online casinos and keeping tabs on sports betting legislation. Chris has been with VegasInsider since 2019 and has freelanced in the sports betting content industry for years. More from Chris Altman