THIS WEEK IN SPORTS BETTING NEWS – NOVEMBER 26TH, 2021

Chris Altman Sports Betting Expert

3 minute read

CANADA SPORTS BETTING INDUSTRY SEES A HIRING BOOM

The Canadian sports betting landscape is exploding, as provinces all across the country are looking to add single-event wagers to their offerings now that the practice is legal. Ontario has pulled in some record numbers, as well as British Columbia, with Saskatchewan? expecting to go live with legal bets in 2022.

With the boom of sportsbooks in Canada comes new hires, and companies such as theScore Bet have hired hundreds of new employees in the last few months since single-event wagers went legal.

PointsBet is another company expanding its staff with thirteen new hires, including bringing on Scott VanderWell, former CEO for Rogers (a telecommunications company in Canada).

Additionally, Unibet, has found a manager of Canadian operations: the Canadian Gaming Association’s Amanda Brewer. All across the board, we’re seeing gambling companies reach out to experts in the communications and betting industries. It’s a clear indicator of the near future: Canada will be a country to watch, as their sports betting market is growing at a break-neck pace.

NORTH CAROLINA SPORTS BETTING LOSES CHANCE TO GO LEGAL IN 2021

North Carolina's SB 688 has sat on the desks of legislators for the better part of 2021, and even though the House Commerce Committee voted 12-4 to pass the bill, it’s not likely to see the light of day in 2021.

As the North Carolina Assembly does not meet again until April, any meaningful discussions about advancing SB 688 will not occur this year. Even though there were several closed-door discussions between legislators in the last few months and sports betting seemed to be a priority in the Tar Heel State, 688 just doesn’t have the momentum to get passed into law before 2022.

DELAWARE SPORTS BETTING TO STAY IN-PERSON

Delaware, staying true to its nickname The First State, legalized sports betting ahead of NJ in June 2018. However, this legalization only included retail (read: “in-person’, also called “brick and mortar”) sportsbooks.

There are three gambling venues representing the lion’s share of legal betting in the state. These horse racing/sportsbooks/casino venues bring in a decent share of cash for the Delaware Gaming Enforcement division, and all interested parties are hesitant to “rock the boat” by adding online play.

However, according to Delaware State Law, sports betting online isn’t strictly prohibited. We may see legislators push for online sportsbooks in the near future, but for now, we’re not seeing any movement towards mobile or online play.

ALABAMA LOOKS TO SPORTSBOOKS IN 2022

Surprisingly, the historically conservative state of Alabama may be looking toward legalizing sports betting next year in 2022.

Redoubling of efforts in 2022 could convince lawmakers to legalize online (or at the very least, retail) sportsbooks, considering the massive success Alabama is seeing with their neighbors Tennessee, Florida (but not for much longer), and even Mississippi, which offers in-person sports betting including apps.

Alabama offers some of the most limited gambling options in the country. Bettors in AL can bet on slots and bingo-style games at tribal casinos. There isn’t even a state lottery, putting Alabama in a group with eight other states not allowing lotteries:

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arkansas
• Hawaii
• Mississippi
• Nevada
• Utah
• Wyoming

Note that in this list, only Wyoming has legalized online sports betting. We’re looking to lawmakers in Alabama in 2022, as they’ve already spent some time this year attempting to legalize a state lottery and sports betting. Efforts are expected to continue into next year.

Written by Chris Altman, our US sports betting industry expert. You can learn 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