Casino Cabbie keeps it focused and unmissable with their latest enthralling “Letter From America”, bringing us the best of American iGaming news at the top of a new week.
Wynners and Losers
A victim of the outsized multi-million-dollar marketing spend needed to compete in the frenzied US iGaming market, WynnBET devotees have until next month, October 11, to withdraw their gaming funds, following the news that heavy-hitter Wynn Resorts is closing its WynnBET online casino and sportsbooks in states where it doesn’t have a physical presence, namely Arizona, Colorado, Indiana, Louisiana, New Jersey, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.
WynnBet will, however, continue to operate in Nevada and Massachusetts, where parent Wynn operates mega resort casinos.
Meanwhile, while it currently has no physical presence in the Empire State, WynnBET will also continue to operate in New York (under review); while in Michigan Wynn will initiate partial closure of digital activities: the sportsbook will be closed, but the WynnBet online casino will remain open for the moment.
Delaware, The Rush is On
Big changes are abroad for online casinos and players in Delaware–the first state in the US to legalise online casino games–as Rush Street Interactive has been left as the only bidder for the state gaming tender after current holder 888 withdrew.
888 has held the contract since online casinos in Delaware launched in 2013.
The tender should have ended in 2020, but it was extended for two years due to the launch of multi-state poker in the jurisdiction.
The exact date of 888’s withdrawal and RSI’s launch has yet to be confirmed, although regulator the Delaware Lottery has requested it should be before November 1.
All Time High
US commercial gambling revenue has hit a new record high in Q2, according to the American Gaming Association (AGA).
Latest quarter figures have exceeded even record-breaking Q1 of this year, 2023, and June was the 10th consecutive month of growth for the USA, with gross gambling revenue (GGR) up to US$16.07 billion and sports betting and iGaming, rising 66.5 percent and 22.6 percent, respectively.
Play’n GO Live at BetRivers MI and NJ
Swedish games developer and industry titan Play’n GO has formed a new deal with Rush Street Interactive to see the provider’s games go live at BetRivers Casinos in New Jersey and Michigan.
As part of the agreement, Play’n GO will at first provide a smaller part of its portfolio, like Fire Joker and Rise of Merlin, before launching more hit titles, including Book of Dead, over the coming months.
And “They’re Off!” in Kentucky
Kentucky’s Horse Racing Commission has issued seven temporary sports betting licenses in preparation for the market launch this Thursday, September 7, with online sportsbooks following later, on the 28th.
The temporary licenses are active for one year, and mean bettors will be able to place bets on the NFL kick-off, which also takes place on Thursday, featuring reigning champs the Kansas City Chiefs against the Detroit Lions.
Seven online operators–BetMGM, Bet365, Caesars, Circa, DraftKings, FanDuel, and Penn Sports–and eight retail locations–Churchill Downs, Derby City, Ellis Park, Mint Gaming Hall in Corbin and Williamsburg, Newport Racing, Oak Grove, The Red Mile and Turfway Park–have passed muster.
Fanatics Sportsbook Goes Live in Four States
In our last headline for the week, Fanatics Sportsbook has officially launched in Maryland, Massachusetts, Ohio and Tennessee, following six months of beta testing.
Fanatics is a challenger brand that uses an in-house platform and claims to bring consumers simplified betting and transparent withdrawals.
“We are laser-focused on solving pain points facing customers by offering a faster, easier, and more rewarding sports betting experience,” affirms Fanatics Betting and Gaming Chief Scott McClintic.
“The strategic patience to build a product for the long term has given us an opportunity to redefine a customer’s expectation of what a sportsbook should be.”
Time will be the judge of McClintic’s stirring promise.
Watch this space!
