But is it going to push swathes of gambling activity offshore, and will it yield £1.1 billion in new tax revenue as the Office for Budget Responsibility claims? And why could it lead to retail closures when taxes on betting shops were left untouched??

Ed Birkin is not so sure, as Right to the Source breaks down the key figures to cut away the hyperbole and set out what GB gambling faces facing in the wake of the tax rise.

Hosted by Dr Eyal Loz, there’s no surface-level chatter here. Dr Eyal and his stellar list of guest speakers focus on answering the big questions, and embark on some serious taboo-orientated, myth-busting and thought-provoking conversations.

In this sixth episode, Dr Eyal and former BETonSPORTS CEO David Carruthers tap into how overzealous regulators create a black market in their own back yard. But is this a good or a bad thing for iGaming? With the natural shift many companies take from unregulated activity that brings fast cash flow, to regulated activity that brings long term value, the pair examine the two different attitudes from regulators – one that attempts to create a thriving iGaming ecosystem and one that tries to shut it down. 

You can also catch the episode on Apple here.

In the wake of FanDuel and DraftKings giving up any hopes of a gaming licence in Nevada and leaving the American Gaming Association, prediction markets are front of mind for Ed Birkin this week. He’s not convinced they even have a long-term future in the industry, so why are the market leaders going all in?

This quickly develops into the difference between white, black and grey market gambling. Do grey markets actually exist or, as Robin Harrison suggests, is the definition of what constitutes a grey market being stretched to breaking point?

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Gambling in Argentina highlights the grey market challenge

Argentina, with its province-by-province framework, illustrates the grey market challenge quite nicely. Most provinces may have a licensing system, but the bulk of certifications seem to have been handed out for Buenos Aires province and the capital city. 

That doesn’t necessarily mean Argentina gambling licensees are just sticking to those two jurisdictions, however. There’s an element of parts of the gambling industry trying to have their cake and eat it, Ed argues, but does anyone actually face consequences for their actions?

There are plenty of gaming podcasts discussing what’s going on in the industry. This isn’t more of the same. Instead, this iGB series, in partnership with RubyPlay, aims to dig into the philosophical, psychological, economic, technological and societal dimensions of the gambling industry. Hosted by Dr Eyal Loz, there’s no surface-level chatter here, Dr Eyal and his stellar list of guest speakers focus on answering the big questions, and embark on some serious taboo-orientated, myth-busting, and thought-provoking conversations.

In our fifth episode, Alea co-founder Alexandre Tomic and Dr Eyal aim to answer the question: why the shame in iGaming? And why do we say the iGaming industry instead of the gambling industry? The pair unpack the taboo surrounding iGaming. From the professional perspective of those working within the sector to the societal attitudes shaping player behaviour, they unlock why gambling continues to carry shame and what that means for operators, employees, and players alike. Loz and Tomic look to explore the origins of internalized shame, industry perception, and strategies to break the taboo and foster a more honest and inclusive conversation around iGaming.

You can also catch the episode on Apple here.

First up, in the wake of Kevin Mullally stepping down as CEO of the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA), is online gambling in the UAE. Wynn Resorts is projecting revenue of around $3 billion to $5 billion, but how much could interactive gaming contribute?

Ed Birkin has some thoughts, with H2 Gambling Capital estimating the online offshore market share at around $185 million to $225 million currently. Assuming at least one licence per emirate, and the sports/iGaming mix, he’s expecting a bigger contribution from online onshore.

Right to the Source is on Apple Podcasts

Prediction markets and pie eating

Things take a pivot to prediction markets, which, thanks to an incident on the Coinbase earnings call, led to the story of Wayne Shaw. Yes, Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong ended its Q3 analyst call by listing words that Kalshi and Polymarket users were betting he would say. Sorry, were predicting he would say.

Is that different from the former Sutton United goalie eating a pie on the bench during an FA Cup tie with Arsenal?

OPAP-Allwyn: Should we be getting excited?

We end with an argument on Allwyn acquiring OPAP outright. To Ed, there’s nothing to get excited about. To Robin, it’s what Allwyn might do next that’s of interest. 

Ever wanted to hear what the Olsen twins are up to now alongside exclusive data on the UAE online gambling market? There’s only one place you’ll get that.

IBIA is fresh from unveiling new branding and Mission 2030, a new five-year plan for the sports integrity body, and Ali joins Ed Birkin and Robin Harrison to discuss the evolving nature of integrity threats.

But that comes with growing acceptance and engagement from international sports governing bodies, with IBIA taking a seat at the table alongside the likes of Fifa and the International Olympic Committee. 

Ali also shares his thoughts on the unfolding NBA gambling scandal. Even if the sports integrity risk were flagged by licensed bookmakers and the alarm raised, it’s never good for the industry he says. However, the fact there is a licensed and monitored industry meant that the betting element involving Terry Rozier was uncovered. Without regulation, it could have been a very different story.

On iOS? So is Right to the Source! 

Is Banijay’s acquisition of Tipico creating the next industry disruptor?

But before he joins Right to the Source, there’s Betclic owner Banijay Group’s acquisition of Tipico to consider. Ed is dubious as to whether it’s going to move the needle.

Robin, on the other hand, argues that it could herald disruption coming from tightly regulated, highly taxed markets. 

Companies used to working in these conditions could survive and thrive while the current top-tier operators adjust to tax rises in markets such as the UK and the Netherlands, he argues. But is he just saying that to annoy Ed?

We even find time to share some listener stats and read through some of the YouTube comments. After that, we won’t dare to forget Winamax again.

There are plenty of gaming podcasts discussing what’s going on in the industry. This isn’t more of the same. Instead, this iGB series, in partnership with RubyPlay, aims to dig into the philosophical, psychological, economic, technological and societal dimensions of the gambling industry. Hosted by Dr Eyal Loz, there’s no surface-level chatter here, Dr Eyal and his stellar list of guest speakers focus on answering the big questions, and embark on some serious taboo-orientated, myth-busting and thought-provoking conversations.

In our fourth episode, we analyse the concept: players play to play, not to win. But why? Dr Eyal and Kasra Ghaharian explore how iGaming products are deliberately designed to prolong user engagement, sometimes to the point of addiction. The pair discuss what should be done in order to morally and ethically encourage engagement but also what measures need to be enforced for gamers to protect their wellbeing. 

You can also check out the episode on Apple podcasts here

At a time when talk of a Las Vegas slowdown swirls as visitation dips, Stevens isn’t interested in writing Sin City’s obituary. The numbers tell a different story. Even with fewer visitors, Las Vegas gaming revenue continues to rise. The Las Vegas casino market is evolving, not dying, he says.

With properties such as The D and Circa Resort & Casino – the first new hotel-casino development on Fremont Street since 1980 – Stevens is credited as one of the pioneers revitalising Downtown Las Vegas. And others are following his lead. “We’ve got nine construction cranes over downtown,” he notes, proof that development there is booming, not busting.

Listen to the World Series of Politics on Apple Podcasts

Do taxing times for sports betting worry Derek Stevens?

Stevens has also redefined the sportsbook model with Circa Sports, championing a low-hold, value-odds sportsbook that prioritises fair pricing over gimmicks. Circa’s success has been powered by expansion into multiple states. It offers something different, and it even secured one of Missouri’s two untethered sportsbook licences, beating out larger rivals in the process.

But Stevens warns that rising sports betting tax rates, especially like what Illinois has implemented, threaten the industry’s sustainability. In his words, these levies amount to “illegal bookmaker preservation taxes”. These measures hurt legal operators and risk driving bettors to offshore sportsbooks.

For Stevens, smart policy is key. Kentucky’s sports betting framework is “best in class”. Over-taxed markets like Illinois show how governments can “win the short term but lose the long game”.

All this and more in the latest World Series of Politics podcast!

There are plenty of gaming podcasts discussing what’s going on in the industry. This isn’t more of the same. Instead, this iGB series, in partnership with RubyPlay, aims to dig into the philosophical, psychological, economic, technological and societal dimensions of the gambling industry. Hosted by Dr Eyal Loz, there’s no surface-level chatter here, Dr Eyal and his stellar list of guest speakers focus on answering the big questions, and embark on some serious taboo-orientated, myth-busting, and thought-provoking conversations.

In our third episode, Dr Eyal speaks to Greco co-founder Ozric Vondervelden about whether the iGaming industry is shrouded in secrecy? Or is it? Is it so complex that it’s too hard to see the jungle from the trees? The pair discuss what monsters hide in this jungle such as money laundering, bonus abuse, hacking, and fraud, and how iGaming companies can protect themselves and increase trust. 

You can also check out the episode on Apple Podcasts here

There are plenty of gaming podcasts discussing what’s going on in the industry. This isn’t more of the same. Instead, this iGB series, in partnership with RubyPlay, aims to dig into the philosophical, psychological, economic, technological and societal dimensions of the gambling industry. Hosted by Dr Eyal Loz, there’s no surface-level chatter here, Dr Eyal and his stellar list of guest speakers focus on answering the big questions, and embark on some serious taboo-orientated, myth-busting and thought-provoking conversations.

In our second episode, “To buy or not to buy, this is the question…” Dr Eyal chats to AGS VP Interactive Zoe Ebling about how gamification is all the rage. However, many tools that are created by suppliers and operators are there to maximise player’s matrices. For example, turbo mode, boost mode, buy feature, ante bet, opt in jackpots, and other such tools. How do these impact the size of a player wallet? Are they good or bad for players and operators? What are the incentives? Why do regulators and some operators have such a love hate relationship with these tools? 

You can also check out the second episode on Spotify here and Apple Podcasts here.

Ed Birkin and Robin Harrison kick off this week’s episode discussing the NBA betting scandal. Current and former players are under indictment after an NBA-FBI investigation uncovered potential integrity breaches and even Mafia-run poker games. Was it simply greed driving players to get involved? Or is there more to this whole scandal? 

And does the industry need this sort of headache?

Evolution, Playtech and the unregulated market omertà

Next up is the Black Cube report, commissioned by Playtech and looking into Evolution’s business practices. Both sides are claiming some degree of vindication, but how does anyone come out of this looking good?

This ultimately puts a lot more focus on suppliers and where they operate. There has been a lot of talk across the industry over whether regulated markets are simply too difficult for operators. Whether that’s right or wrong, does this suggest that legal gambling is being squeezed too tightly?

This naturally leads into a slightly meandering parallel with non-alcoholic beer, because it wouldn’t be Right to the Source without a few diversions. 

There are plenty of gaming podcasts discussing what’s going on in the industry. This isn’t more of the same. Instead, this iGB series, in partnership with RubyPlay, aims to dig into the philosophical, psychological, economic, technological and societal dimensions of the gambling industry. Hosted by Dr Eyal Loz, there’s no surface-level chatter here, Dr Eyal and his stellar list of guest speakers focus on answering the big questions, and embark on some serious taboo-orientated, myth-busting, and thought-provoking conversations.

In our launch/first episode, Can we spin a Netflix? , Dr Eyal speaks to co-founder of WagerWire Travis Geiger about what lessons can iGaming take from the Netflix model? How is iGaming similar, and how is it different? 
The Netflix model is often seen as the blueprint for online casinos and sportsbooks operators looking to attract and retain customers – they often want to mirror how Netflix has achieved a massive, international subscriber base through a seamless user experience and targeted content. 

You can also check out the first podcast episode on Apple Podcasts here

To kick things off, Ed Birkin and Robin Harrison have a frank exchange of views on Yolo Group’s regulated market pivot. This hinges on whether the move gives the crytpo giant an unfair advantage thanks to its scale and revenue, or simply follows an ongoing industry cycle.  

Yolo Group, Singapore integrated resorts and Golden Matrix discussed on Apple Podcasts

Singapore integrated resorts: Sands on the rise, Genting struggles 

As promised, focus then turns to Singapore integrated resorts where business is booming for Las Vegas Sands’ Marina Bay Sands.  

Genting’s Resorts World Sentosa, on the other hand, is struggling. Will a host of non-gaming amenities, including a Minions theme park, help turn things around? And does Robin look like a Minion as Ed claims? 

There’s also still time to tackle Golden Matrix’s B2C pivot through the acqusition of Meridianbet and the usual chatter about how Ed’s various sports teams continue to underperform.  

Was social casino the precursor to sweepstakes?

We start with a trip down memory lane, to the hazy days of 2012 when land-based operators and suppliers snapped up free-to-play casino operators.

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Zynga was one of the early pioneers of this boom thanks to Zynga Poker, and even went as far as launching a real-money offering on Facebook. Those days are long past. While it still runs apps such as Zynga Poker and a host of slot offerings, it now sits within Grand Theft Auto and NBA 2K publisher Take Two Interactive.

Are there parallels to be drawn between that social casino boom and the rise of sweepstakes today? Don’t be so sure, argues Ed Birkin.

Republic of Congo and Mauritius: Viable regulations, not enough scale?

Next there’s a handbrake turn into two of Africa’s less discussed markets. The Republic of Congo – not the Democratic Republic of Congo, Robin apologises for that error – suffers from the usual hefty tax burdens we have seen across Africa.

Mauritius, meanwhile, has a relatively well-formed market, although a country with a population of 1.26 million people offers limited scope for growth.

All this alongside the usual tangents and diversions in the latest Right to the Source!

Director Rebuck was a pioneer in gaming expansion, overseeing the launch of both online gaming and sports betting in New Jersey. But are prediction markets and sweepstakes gaming highlighting the clash between innovation and regulation, or are the operators simply driven by greed?

Listen to the World Series of Politics on Apple Podcasts

Sweeps and predictions facing a crackdown

On the issue of sweepstakes, the former regulator believes states need to follow New Jersey in simply banning the product, arguing tribal efforts in California are key to this process. The companies behind these products could have secured licences in the Garden State, he recalls, only they didn’t. In his eyes they’re getting what they deserve.

Predictions, however, could be a longer battle, according to Director Rebuck, and it could end up in the Supreme Court.

The gloves are off in this episode of the World Series of Politics!

Groupe Partouche benefits from new casino launches

The third quarter results showed Groupe Partouche benefiting from a bigger casino portfolio, with a new venue in Cannes and one further afield in Benin contributing to a 5.3% year-on-year rise in revenue. 

That prompts the question: Can French operators leverage shared language to expand into Francophone Africa? There is evidence of it happening with Spanish businesses in Latin America, so why not French companies in Africa?

And talk of France means talk of iCasino is never far away. Groupe Partouche, with operations in Belgium and Switzerland, could be building up its capabilities. Depending on whether there is any regulatory progress and if it can leverage its land-based database, could it carve out share in France’s future online gaming market?

Right to the Source is on Apple Podcasts

The Georgian gambling market

We’re talking the country not the state, but interestingly gambling in Georgia accounts for 3.5% of GDP. That’s the highest level of any country H2 Gambling Capital tracks, Ed points out. 

And while attractions such as “Black Sea Vegas” Batumi are designed to bring in the players, online is the real story in Georgia, making up the vast majority of revenue. 

Georgian gambling is also dominated by major industry players, with Crystalbet (Entain) and Adjarabet (Flutter) battling for supremacy. However it’s local operator Crocobet that’s growing rapidly. 

All this and the usual diversions into the sublime and the ridiculous in the latest Right to the Source!

Belgian gambling market shrugs off restrictions

In episode 18 Robin Harrison and Ed Birkin start off by discussing why gambling revenue in Belgium continues to grow. Revenue in 2024 rose despite the regulator and politicians constantly tightening controls on the industry. 

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Considering it has been an early mover with deposit limits, advertising bans and deposit limits Belgian gaming growth may embolden other markets to get strict on their licensees. If the market continues to grow, what’s the harm? But Belgian gaming benefits from a unique quirk, and it’s quite a surprising factor that may contribute to that continued growth. 

Zeal for change

Next up discussion turns to Zeal Network, Germany’s lottery brokerage business that could prove a blueprint for companies looking to transition to more sustainable business models. Having successfully executed a pivot from lottery betting to brokerage, the addition of online slots may be building a formidable business. 

And even in one of the more structured episodes of Right to the Source to date there’s still time for wild diversions into Sesame Street, transfer deadline day and French icasino. 

After Cambodian online gambling was outlawed in 2019, the country’s casino market was the only show in town. But Covid-19 and a crackdown on junkets has effectively left operators struggling to return to pre-pandemic revenue levels. 

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That even affects NagaCorp, Cambodian gaming’s local listed giant with a monopoly on casinos in and within 200km of the country’s capital Phnom Penh. Even with Naga 3, a hotel tower under construction, without VIP play it’s going to find growth difficult. 

We’ve got this, we’ve got Ed ranting about data, and we even find time for some cheap shots at Manchester United.

In his new guise as president of Safer Gambling Strategies, Whyte joins Brandt Iden and Brendan Bussmann to discuss the potential for global harmonisation of responsible gambling standards to tech’s role in minimising gambling harms. 

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There’s also discussion of the National Survey on Gambling Attitudes and Gambling Experiences (NGAGE), produced by the National Council on Problem Gambling, an authority Whyte led for 27 years. That actually shows problem gambling rates dipping to pre-pandemic levels. 

There’s also some myth busting about the illegal market, debate on state versus federal approaches to responsible gaming, and a call for transparency, all in the latest World Series of Politics!

The former prime minister and chancellor has thrown his weight behind a proposal to hike gambling duty to 50% of GGR in Great Britain. Only his proposal, and the evidence he puts forward to support it, doesn’t really hold up to scrutiny. 

Right to the Source is debating the GB gambling tax hike on Apple Podcasts

GB gambling tax hike: What do the reformers actually want?

Ultimately, Brown is pitching gambling as a solution to child poverty. Considering gambling is regularly decried as the cause of poverty by the anti-industry lobby, that’s quite the volte-face.

And how can people match up treating gambling as a golden goose with calls for new restrictions designed to reduce gambling revenue in Great Britain?

With Bruford, co-host of The Gambling Files podcast, joining to pick apart Gordon Brown’s claims, it gets interesting. And where else will you hear about launching a competing magazine to Runner’s World as part of the conversation?

As promised in our last episode, Robin and Ed also talk about gambling in South Korea and the scope for Canadian provinces joining Alberta and Ontario in liberalising their lottery monopolies. 

We’ll be taking a break in the coming week, but that leaves you lots of time to listen to this week’s discussion!

A reality check for Brazil gambling licensees

Robin Harrison tries (and fails) to stem the tide amid Ed’s diatribes in this episode. But this reality check, for Brazilian gaming licensees in particular, is important.

By constantly talking up how prevalent illegal gambling in Brazil is, the industry may be setting itself up for higher taxes, further restrictions on marketing and product. That could ultimately turn the Brazilian illegal market conversation into a self-fulfilling prophecy. 

Right to the Source is on Apple Podcasts!

Crypto casinos overcooked?

It’s similar with the crypto market, with Ed particularly incensed by a widely reported figure that he says is simply unmoored from reality. Want to find out H2’s estimate for the true size of the market? It’s all here for you. 

And we promised you Albania, and we deliver with some cold, hard figures. You’ll hear how the Albanian casino market is performing after a 2018 ban on gambling was rescinded in 2024. Just in case you thought Right to the Source had grown up, there’s also some talk about The X-Files and Uno. 

The FAIR BET response to the ‘big, bad, beautiful, bullshit bill’

The Fair Accounting for Income Realized from Betting Earnings Taxation (Fair Bet) Act is Congresswoman Titus’ fiery response to a sneaky Senate move that cuts the tax deduction on gambling losses to 90%. Titus pulls no punches as she calls out the “big, bad, beautiful, bullshit bill” for cutting the longstanding 100% deduction on gambling losses, effectively taxing players on phantom winnings. 

Listen to Congresswoman Titus talking the Fair Bet Act on Apple Podcasts

And bipartisan momentum is building, including backing from gaming giants, tribes and the American Gaming Association (AGA), for Titus’ bill to reverse the provision before it hits taxpayers in 2026. 

The congresswoman’s message is clear: This goes beyond protecting the industry, and it’s vital for players, communities and the future of regulated gambling in the United States. 

Land-based gambling in Slovenia rules the roost

In the Slovenian gambling market online gaming licences are linked to brick-and-mortar properties, meaning the channel remains smaller than casinos and gaming halls. Land-based gaming, with 12 casinos in Slovenia and 25 gaming halls, continues to perform well, and Ed has the figures to shed more light on revenue it’s generating.

But the online tethering and small market size is stunting online growth. Where other Eastern European gaming markets are transitioning into ominichannel operations, Slovenian gambling remains an in-person proposition. 

Right to the Source is on Apple Podcasts

Why can’t Chile regulate online gambling?

A long-haul flight later, we touch down in Chile, where legislative progress for online gambling has stalled. A bill introduced in 2022 and passed by the Chamber of Deputies in 2023 is now stalled in the Senate. As ever, offshore operators are thriving, with potential licensees unable to gain a foothold. 

We’ve also got some commentary on rap beefs in relation to New York downstate casinos. There’s also a few words on Brazil, and Ed complaining about Sheffield Wednesday falling into disrepair. 

The choice of markets may seem somewhat random, but it’s at least somewhat deliberate. We want to offer listeners a truly global view of the gaming market with the numbers to back it up. 

Panama online gaming: A springboard for challenger brands?

We kick off in the Panama gambling market. It’s a small country where regulated online gambling GGR per capita is just $8, compared to $48 in Brazil or $27 in Mexico. Yet companies such as Codere Online see significant potential there.

And with taxes going up in larger territories, does that make smaller regulated markets such as Panama more attractive, to use as a springboard for larger markets further down the line?

Listen to Right to the Source on Apple Podcasts

Liechtenstein casinos count the cost of self-exclusion

Next we move to Liechtenstein, where a self-exclusion passporting scheme with Switzerland is taking its toll on local casino operators. 

Liechtenstein casinos are required to exclude players that have signed up to Switzerland’s self-exclusion scheme. The government expected this to prompt a 30% drop in gaming revenue, but within two weeks Liechtenstein casino revenue fell 85%. The market is now on track for a €50 million year-on-year decline in gambling tax revenue with one casino in Eschen already shutting its doors permanently. 

The kicker for the Liechtenstein operators is the self-exclusion passporting doesn’t apply to German or Austrian casinos, so players can just cross the border and gamble. Ed manages some outstanding off-the-cuff calculations to size up the market in a matter of seconds. 

Italian gambling: Now that’s resilient!

Finally we touch on Italy, where Ed spent last week conducting a market research project (definitely not a holiday). Despite Italian gambling operators facing an advertising ban and a pandemic, the market continues to grow. It’s also increasingly consolidated, with Lottomatica building up a strong position to establish a leading position in the market. 

Coincidentally, remember Panama’s online gaming GGR per capita of $8? Italy’s is $118 for contrast. 

Get all these stats and more in the full episode!

This week Ed is testing formats, so from last week’s random country generator Peru and Niger are up for discussion.

Is Peru Latin America’s hidden gambling gem?

Peru online gambling regulation passed last year, and while Brazil stole the spotlight, it’s a stable market and even the introduction of a 1% tax on turnover was shifted to GGR. However there’s a big presence from local brands, so can international operators carve out share without M&A activity?

The Niger gambling market, after some hasty research, is reasonably sized but suffers from the same drawbacks that hold back some other African countries’ gaming markets, namely a lottery monopoly.

Right to the Source on Apple Podcasts

Is there any hope for legal casinos in Brazil? 

And last week Brazil’s omnibus bill to legalise a range of land-based gaming products, namely jogo de bicho, bingo halls and casinos failed to progress to a Senate vote. Does that mean the dream of regulated casino gambling in Brazil is dead? 

Our special guest – you’ll have to listen to find out who it is – says in its current form, yes. Legislators supporting Brazil casino legalisation are now likely to apply what worked for sports betting, namely splitting out the casino proposal from the omnibus bill. But will that push things forward any time soon? Don’t hold your breath. 

Once we get through the usual diversions – Ed’s footballing prowess, Christina Aguilera’s first number one single and famous people from New Zealand – we get down to the important stuff. 

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Are politicians trying to shut down the Dutch gaming market?

First up is the Netherlands online gaming market, in the wake of a ban on gambling sponsorship in sports and new player data from the Kansspelautoriteit. This leads into a discussion on lotteries, in particular whether a vertical driven by instant win games can be considered totally distinct from commercial peers. 

But the key question remains; do Dutch politicians essentially have buyer’s remorse and want to pull back from regulated operations?

Will New Zealand igaming bill bring players onshore?

And online casino in New Zealand will be regulated, with a bill introduced in the country’s parliament. But considering there’s a monopoly in place for sports betting, Ed is doubtful about whether that’s going to bring players into the regulated market, with data to back it up.

Former chair of the Republican National Committee, chair of the Presidential Debates Commission, Caesars board member and the first president of the American Gaming Association, Frank is an iconic figure in the industry.

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Frank Fahrenkopf’s life in gaming

You’ll hear Fahrenkopf’s reflections on establishing the industry’s first association and coordinating player protection efforts, discussions about iGaming with Sheldon Adelson, dealings with Tony Blair, Joe Biden and Donald Trump, as well as his thoughts on the current AGA administration.

Everything about the industry today, from the man who played a key role in building its foundations.

And a huge thank you for listening for 50 episodes! We’ve come a long way since our debut in August 2022, and that’s down to having such an engaged audience.

Robin Harrison and Ed Birkin bring in Clarion Gaming brand director Jody Frost to keep them on topic. 

The show is making its London debut at ExCeL, with the show doors swinging open on Wednesday. Jody joins to explain the work, thought and preparation that has gone into this year’s iGB L!VE.

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From replacing Strandzuid with a new dockside networking area to the host of parties taking place, he explains that things go beyond the show as London iGaming Week takes over the capital.

Don’t forget, Ed Birkin is speaking at iGB L!VE

And as ever, it’s worth throwing in yet another mention of Ed’s panel. He’ll be talking Brazil with Eduardo Ludmer of BetMGM Brazil and Super Affiliados’ Pedro Lucas at 3.40pm on 2 July.

Make sure you’re registered and we’ll see you there! 

True to form, the conversation quickly diverges, to take in the current state of the Spanish market where GGR continues to go up in spite of advertising spend declining.

Right to the Source is available on Apple Podcasts

That of course leads onto Italy, and some arguments around the Premier League’s front-of-shirt sponsorship ban. If this all sounds like Robin trying to find gaps in Ed’s data knowledge, that’s exactly what it is. 

So don’t miss Ed’s session on the Brazilian market, where he’ll be joined by Eduardo Ludmer of BetMGM Brazil and Super Affiliados’ Pedro Lucas at 3.40pm on 2 July.

Of course to get in, you’ll have to register – but we’ve got you covered, make sure your name’s on the door for iGB L!VE here: https://tinyurl.com/44py9reb

The Gambling Act white paper finally saw the light of day in April 2023 after a four-year process that took in three prime ministers, five culture secretaries and six gambling ministers. Since then the government has been working its way through 62 measures to overhaul UK gambling regulation, of which two-thirds have been implemented so far, Betting and Gaming Council advisor Himes explains.

The perfect storm brewing over the UK gambling market

However there are signs the illegal market is growing in strength and Himes is worried about the impact on the regulated sector, especially considering the UK’s status as a global leader in the online gambling market.

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A consultation on merging the three gambling taxes – general betting duty, pool betting duty and remote gambling duty – further exacerbates his worries for the UK gambling market. All signs point to a single, higher tax rate, leading to a perfect storm of tighter regulation and higher taxes.

Leading the charge against tighter controls

Last episode the World Series of Politics tackled the Illinois tax hike (part two), and Himes’ advice for UK gambling licensees should echo across the pond. “So my [advice] to operators is you’ve got to get your house in order,” he says.

Pull the data together, look at whether customer behaviours are changing because of the change. “That is the real story. Everything else is theory, everything else is qualitative reviews, it’s anecdotal, but the data doesn’t lie.”

Mark’s business Xgenia started out using AI to power game development, before pivoting to create “AIs building AIs”. The focus is providing the tools for clients to build their own artificial intelligence, train it and ultimately create something bespoke for themselves. 

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And for an early adopter he’s remarkably clear eyed on its potential, and skeptical of the wave of products described as revolutionising AI in gaming. The vast majority are just wrappers for ChatGPT, he points out. 

That’s not to say he doesn’t believe in the potential. “We’ve just discovered fire, and we’re still learning how to cook with it,” he says. 

Will he break down Ed’s skepticism towards AI in gaming? Can Robin fit a few more buzzwords in? Watch or listen to find out in the latest episode of Right to the Source! 

Are gaming regulators stuck between a rock and a hard place?

Robin and Ed discuss how these industry referees are caught between political pressure from lawmakers and industry expectations and whether regulatory goals actually reflect market realities.

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There’s also the catch-22 situation regulators find themselves in, when channelisation remains the ultimate goal despite any signs of the overall market growing being met with concern by many stakeholders. 

There’s even time to list some of the best referees. We recorded this last week, before the sad news of Uriah Rennie’s passing over the weekend. Take the episode as a tribute to one of the Premier League’s best referees.

But of course, there’s a purpose to this, harking back to H2’s research on optimum gaming regulation. You’ll hear a lot more about this in coming episodes.

Is Illinois against tech innovation?

Does the Illinois sports betting tax grab essentially say the state is not a supporter of technological innovation? That’s Brandt Iden’s take and he warns it goes beyond gaming to target other technology innovators. How is that a sustainable strategy in the long-term?

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To Brendan Bussmann, the sports betting tax grab is just further evidence of Illinois as a problem state for the gaming industry, especially in the wake of the Chicago casino project. “Illinois is just not a friendly space to go do business, plain and simple,” he says. 

Ohio springs an icasino surprise

After the Illinois fire has died down, attention turns to igaming in Ohio. It’s been a session of surprises, considering Hawaii’s unexpected charge to third on sports betting but, in a state where the governor has been particularly unfriendly towards sports betting, could we actually see something cross the line?

They talk through the continent’s biggest markets and the growth prospects for gambling in South Africa, the rising popularity of virtual sports in Nigeria and why gambling tax in Kenya limits the market.

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Ultimately it’s a look at what holds the African gaming market back. Many in the industry see it as a sleeping giant, but the prevalence of withholding taxes in particular is limiting growth.

Prefer Amazon Music? We’re there too!

US grey market gaming and competition across Argentina and Mexico

It’s not all a story of what the guys did on holiday however, kicking off with talk about the impact of sweepstakes and predictions on the US sports betting market.

There’s a deep dive on the fragmented Argentinean gambling market and Mexico’s highly competitive nature.

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Is France’s online market underrated?

We finish with a short hop, skip and a jump across the Atlantic to look at France’s prospects of passing iCasino legislation.

The French online gaming market continues to grow despite tricky conditions, with its former monopolies PMU and FDJ United leading the way. But does local success story Betclic show it’s possible to compete?

JK to his friends, Kinchen is an experienced handicapper and pundit featured on Fox Sports so there’s no one better to set out the current runners and riders in the race betting game. 

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Is fixed-odds horse race betting the future?

He tells our dynamic duo about how racing missed the first wave of US gaming expansion, but explains how it could make a comeback. Kinchen unpacks pari-mutuel wagering and the case for fixed-odds betting on horse racing, as well as explaining how the sport can attract a new generation of fans and bettors.

International inspiration

You’ll also hear how JK sees sports betting partnerships with racetracks working, and what international horse racing markets such as Hong Kong and Dubai do better than any other market, and ultimately why a day at the races is a live experience on a par with events like the Super Bowl. 

We’ve also got some tips on Preakness but, with a shifting field, things may have changed.

This episode also has more on other potential power players in the US, as the major players’ growth trajectory slows.

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iGB’s Robin Harrison and H2 Gambling Capital’s Ed Birkin then discuss who’s winning in Latin America thrown in for good measure.

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Speaking live from Sao Paulo, Ed and Robin discuss the first few months of legal gambling in Brazil and how the competitive landscape is shaping up. 

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Indiana iGaming: See you in 2026?

Indiana iGaming is not moving forward for another year and the question remains: Why are legislators leaving revenue opportunities on the table? As Ali Bartlett said in our last episode, thanks to sweeps there are companies on hand to hoover up players in the state.

No online for Nebraska sports betting

The Huskers have also suffered a defeat, as a constitutional amendment for Nebraska online sports betting is shelved for the year. Does this make a ballot measure, bypassing the legislature, more likely in 2026?

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Predictions are hard

Finally, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s predictions roundtable has been cancelled just days before it was to take place. Amid the rise of sports predictions markets, the hope was that the CFTC’s planned 30 April hearing would bring much-needed clarity as to whether these markets were financial instruments or sports betting.

Now, with the likes of Kalshi growing aggressively and batting away cease-and-desist orders, can predictions be stopped?

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Fresh from her move to Greenberg Traurig, Ali joins our dynamic duo to talk about Indiana igaming. However it’s not coming in the current session, after a bill sailed through the public policy committee, but failed to get a hearing in ways and means. 

Are sweepstakes blocking Indiana igaming regulation?

What is frustrating, she says, is igaming legislation in Indiana stalled while products such as sweepstakes proliferate. And lawmakers aren’t making a distinction between the two, so Ali is battling concerns about advertising and a lack of consumer protection in this grey market. 

Ultimately, she says, it’s a matter of consumer protection and it’s going to be a question of when, not if, Hoosiers can spin the reels online.

First up, the trio tackle the call for submissions sounded by the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) ahead of its roundtable on predictions markets, scheduled for late April. 

The submissions revealed the battle lines; on the opposing side sit the Indian Gaming Association and American Gaming Association. On the pro side, the Campaign for Fairer Gambling? Yes, the body looking to significantly ratchet up restrictions on regulated operators has come out in support of futures contracts. 

In John’s eyes there’s a whiff of hypocrisy around this stance, especially since these products feel remarkably similar to sports betting? After all, if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, isn’t it… a duck?

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NAAiG-ing concerns

Brendan points out some additional hypocrisy in the opposition to igaming regulation, too. After all, several of the members of the National Association Against iGaming (NAAiG) are active in online gambling, yet still oppose it? 

It doesn’t work that way, the guys point out. You can’t only support igaming when your business directly benefits, while opposing it when it doesn’t serve business interests. 

Who had Hawaii on their bingo card?

And we’re still in the depths of the legislative session, so there’s time for a whistlestop tour of the latest developments across the states. And who had Hawaii as this session’s best bet?

All this and more on the latest episode of the World Series of Politics!

After a whistlestop tour of Illinois, where igaming legislation is in play, and another attempt at sports betting in Hawaii is on the move through the legislature, Evripidou takes the stage to talk cryptocurrency in gambling.

She tells hosts Brandt Iden and Brendan Bussmann how cryptocurrency can become a fundamental part of the gambling ecosystem. 

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Is crypto the future of gaming transactions? How can regulators keep up? And could the US finally embrace digital currency in mainstream markets? Andria breaks it all down for the dynamic duo. 

Which states have sports betting bills in play? 

It was an early mover in sports betting, but since 2018 Mississippi sports betting is only allowed in the state’s casinos. With a mobile betting bill sailing through the Magnolia State’s house, could 2025 finally be the year betting comes to citizens’ smartphones?

Meanwhile in Minnesota a legislative standoff seems to have resolved. Does this mean lawmakers can turn their attention to getting Minnesota sports betting out of the starting gates?

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Oh no Ohio

Ohio was an early mover, but not the good kind, doubling its sports betting tax rate. Now for the second budget cycle in a row there’s a tax increase in the offing, as part of a wider hike for all ‘sin industries’. The golden goose is going to stop laying if this squeeze continues. 

Where is US icasino looking likely?

Beyond sports betting, icasino bills are being shuffled across the US, including (another) push in New York. But with delays to the downstate casino process, unresolved agreements with the Seneca tribe AND an icasino pitch, will this create a legislative logjam?

Meanwhile Maryland online casino is in play, as the state faces a $2.3 billion budget deficit. It went to the wire without passing icasino last year, so the need for new revenue could push things forward in 2025… cannibalisation questions notwithstanding.

But on the flip side, the Indiana igaming debate is focused on whether the state actually needs to legalise. That doesn’t mean it won’t happen but it may not have the sort of urgency that could drive progress in Maryland. 

We’ve got all this and more in another episode of the World Series of Politics, with your hosts Brandt Iden and Brendan Bussmann!

On 1 January, Brazil sports betting and gaming officially launched following a lengthy legislative process and Hugo has been involved at every step of the way.

With Aposta Ganha now offering legal sports betting in Brazil, he talks our dynamic duo through the challenges of complying with the various KYC hurdles and the last minute rush to secure certification before sports betting and online gaming launched in the market. 

After years of unregulated activity, they also discuss efforts by the government to stamp out illegal gambling and leveraging the popularity of local payment solution Pix to effectively curb unlicensed operations. 

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And is the launch of sports betting and igaming the last major development for gambling in Brazil? With plans to legalise land-based casinos, bingo halls and even jogo de bicho, the market could soon become much more competitive. 

And did you know the podcast is now 40 episodes old? Neither Brendan, Brandt nor their producer realised until after we’d put the episode out. We’ll celebrate properly in #41.

New city, new layout

It’s a particularly special edition as ICE makes its debut in Barcelona, the culminations of months of hard work behind the scenes to make the industry’s best show bigger and better than ever. 

Five alive!

There are tailored show floor zones, there is a wave of new product launches and even some pretty iconic sportspeople roaming the show floor. Then, in the recently rebranded World Gaming Forum, speakers will set the tone for the year ahead, with leading CEOs, lawmakers, politicians and even ex-presidents taking the stage. Johnny Five is even making an appearance. 

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It’s always a big show, but this year is going to be even bigger and better than ever before. If you haven’t sorted your travel, the clock is ticking. Register here to make sure you don’t miss it. It’s going to be an “I was there” moment in years to come.

Wait, what’s this about water buffaloes?

Everyone is so excited we forgot to acknowledge that this is our fortieth episode of the World Series of Politics – what started out as a fun little side project among friends has shown remarkable staying power. Brendan has even joined the Loyal Order of Water Buffaloes to mark the occasion. 

It’s a packed final show, kicking off with the big win of 2024. Yes, Washington DC finally has a competitive sports betting market and revenue is around 15x higher than it was under the previous single-operator model. 

Anything but a SAFE Bet

However last week’s congressional hearing on sports betting was arguably one of the low points of the year. Before it became truly surreal – apparently Amazon now sells spines, who knew? – it was beset by witnesses peddling outdated misconceptions to prop up their anti-prop bet argument.

If the hearing was meant to show that the Supporting Affordability and Fairness with Every Bet Act (SAFE Bet Act) would provide a firm federal hand on the tiller, it failed. In short, leave sports betting to the states.

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Heavens alive, it’s (almost) 2025

And next we move onto predictions, where Brendan Bussmann and Brandt Iden pit their wits against one another with a friendly bet on what happens in the 2025 legislative session.

It’s everyone’s favourite spectacle and throughout the World Series of Politics’ run ultimately translates to Brendan Bussmann buying Brandt Iden a case of Paul Hobbs pinot. 

Could this finally be Brendan’s year? Or will Brandt make it four cases of pinot in 2025? And who on earth is that interloper jumping in at the end calling for progress in igaming?

We kick off with Brandt’s home state of Michigan, where state senators Sam Singh and Jeremy Moss are seeking to bump up betting and igaming tax rates. There’s a modest 0.1% increase proposed for sports betting, but SB1194 aims to add 1% to the current tiered rate for igaming. 

Just when we thought the year’s nasty surprises were done with, Brandt has a found a lump of coal in his stocking. As ever it’s a case of lawmakers trying to flog the golden goose. 

Is Florida’s tribal sports betting framework the model to follow?

Abbey and Sara also take on the knotty issue of Florida sports betting. With the Seminole tribe taking tentative steps towards welcoming others into the monopoly, could this set out a blueprint for other tribal-led gaming states?

Not so fast, they say. The Seminoles hold the Sunshine State’s gaming monopoly – how can that model be applied to the likes of California or Oklahoma where multiple tribes run gaming?

Litigating the coming year in US sports betting

And we’re almost done with 2024, so 2025 promises a whole host of new challenges. We’re going to see a lot more consumer-based litigation and disputes, Abbey and Sara warn, especially around deceptive advertising practices. To date DraftKings and Hard Rock are facing down lawsuits and it’s an issue that could hinder other operators in the market. 

Sweeping changes?

The grey market is also dealing with the threat of litigation, most notably in the sweepstakes market. Michigan has been the most effective in stamping out sweepstakes operators, but that’s really coming down to the fact they can conclusively say it is illegal under state betting and igaming regulations. 

Does that mean the most effective form of attack against sweeps is regulating the vertical?

We’ve got Missouri, which is no longer the state of misery after a sports betting ballot measure squeaked through. Such a narrow margin – just a thousand votes in it – suggests there’s scope for a legal challenge.

The dynamic duo also talk through Arkansas rescinding a casino licence in Pope County and better news from Petersburg, Virginia where voters embraced Cordish’s casino plans.

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The top of the ticket is also up for discussion. The presidency, senate and most likely the house are all under Republican control.

Does that mean the federal regulation bill filed by Democrats Richard Blumenthal and Paul Tonko is dead in the water?

We’re back from G2E, Brandt is out of his pink suit and we’re getting down to the gritty business of polling, with Harrison Hickman of Hickman Analytics. While the top of the ticket is obviously dominating headlines, for the industry there’s a lot more at stake, especially in the state of misery – sorry, Missouri – where Amendment 2 is on a knife edge.

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However in Virginia, he’s much more bullish on the prospects for a casino in Pittsburg. The make up of the population and the attitudes towards gaming would make that much more of a slam dunk if the question on the ballot was a simple yes/no answer.

And then there’s the elephant in the room, the ballot at the top of the ticket. If the Harris-Walz ticket prevails, that removes Tim Walz as Minnesota’s governor. Does that change prospects for gaming advancement in the state? Listen on for Hickman’s assessment.

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Essentially it’s all about growth Maloney tells Brendan and Brandt, and this year that of course touches on artificial intelligence. However there’s much more innovation happening across the industry, in particular with the socialisation of online experiences and technology will be a key discussion topic he says.

Gaming expansion under the spotlight at G2E 2024

Then there’s new a lot of new expansion opportunities Maloney tells the World Series of Politics. The UAE is opening for business. Key US states such as Texas may move on casino and sports wagering regulation. There’s also emerging products such as sweepstakes, responsible gambling and even athlete harassment to discuss.

“The G2E education track is not just some echo chamber where everyone pats themselves on the back and just says ‘Wow, great, you’re doing a great job’,” Maloney says. “There’s discussion, there’s debate.”

And there’s an opportunity to see Joe and the World Series of Politics’ caped crusaders Brendan Bussmann and Brandt Iden in action at G2E.

Joe will be leading a discussion on athlete harassment, which is taking place at 2pm on Tuesday 8 October. Brandt, meanwhile, is also in action that day, discussing igaming legalisation at 3.10pm.

And Brendan is so eager for G2E he’s taking part in a master class with the International Masters of Gaming Law (IMGL) before the show floor opens on Tuesday. This takes place from 12pm to 5pm on Monday 7 October, although it’s now fully booked. You’ll just have to catch him on the show floor.

If that’s not enough we’ve also got Missouri sports betting confirming its place on the ballot and some rumblings about Arkansas igaming. Arkansas sports betting – limited to one casino and two racinos – hasn’t quite hit the numbers so will replicating that model work for online casino?

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We’ve got all the latest regulatory wranglings in this episode. Brendan even finds time to solve a Rubik’s cube live on air.

Last week Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft confirmed voters would have the final say on Missouri sports betting, potentially breaking an impasse that has seen legalisation efforts run into a brick wall in the statehouse. 

Path to legal betting isn’t fully cleared

The ballot measure, which tethers online sportsbooks to sports venues, was put forward by Missouri’s professional sports teams with backing from FanDuel and DraftKings but no buy-in from the state’s casinos.

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And early polling suggests voters are not yet on side. A Remington poll in May showed 60% were opposed to legal sports betting. However more recent numbers from Emerson suggest differently; their figures show 38% in favour and 35% against, with a lot of undecideds. 

There’s also a highly contentious abortion measure on the ballot, which may drive voter turnout. Could that be beneficial for Missouri sports betting?

Of course, we start with the ongoing election betting scandal, the highlight – or lowlight – of a short but still chaotic campaign. But, as Dan points out, it’s not entirely clear whether anyone has done anything wrong. And should the investigations have been leaked?

And with signs pointing to a potential Tory wipeout on 4 July, Dan talks Brendan Bussmann and Brandt Iden through what could come under a Labour government.

It’s less the political parties to watch out for and more organs of state that seem determined to treat gambling as a public health issue he warns.

As if we’d forget about DC!

And Brandt is fresh off his victory in DC, where he played a key part in shepherding legislation that finally forms a competitive market in the US capital.

After years of a single-operator model hindering growth, there’s now room for all major brands to play in DC and already huge interest. Just as it looked as if 2024 would finish without a significant win for the industry, it finally has a new state on the board.

It’s a big win – in more ways than one as Brandt triumphantly tells Brendan. The World Series of Politics loves a wager over a bottle of pinot? Mr Bussmann has to pay up again….

But Hugo argues there’s the will and the momentum to hit those dates – after a long wait, the legal market is almost here he says.

Land-based gaming headed to Brazil?

And the market is set to get even bigger, if movement in the Justice and Citizenship Commission (CCJ) is anything to go by.

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PL 2,234/2022, which paves the way for legal casinos, bingo and jogo de bicho among other products passed the committee by 14 votes to 12 a few days back. It’s now headed for the senate plenary and should pass unchanged as it sails straight through to the president’s desk.

Essentially Brazil’s online betting opportunity could be about to blossom into something much, much bigger for the gaming industry.

We begin in Minnesota. Hopes were high for the state to legalise sports betting before the close of the legislative session, but it inevitably ended without sports betting being considered. Minnesota had been one of four US states that stakeholders thought might pass sports betting legislation, alongside Alabama, Georgia and Missouri. None of them did.

A number of elements factored into Minnesota falling at the final hurdle, Bussmann highlights, one being the arrest of state senator Nicole Mitchell for burglary.

“In the end, one of the downfalls off of this was just, you had, you know, a bunch of people, some are some Ds that just didn’t want to get along at the end,” he says. And although a result was achieved in the form of a package – a compromise agreed in the chamber by both parties and from both houses – this was not advanced because it didn’t appear on the agenda.

“We got killed by the process this year.”

Market ramps up in DC

We hurtle over to Washington DC, which has kicked off its budgeting process. Iden takes us through a bill from Councilmember Kenyan R McDuffie, which would authorise a mobile market in the district.

“The language that McDuffie has crafted calling for an open competitive sports betting market in the district is now inserted into the budget,” Iden explains. “That process will unfold over the course of the next three weeks or so while council debates the overall budget package.

“At which point in time, the budget package will eventually be passed with certain language in it.”

The next step is for the budget package to be sent to congress and be approved there within 30 days. Whether this language – which would permit an open and competitive sports market – stays in the budget, or is removed to be a standalone piece of legislation, remains to be seen.

Iden adds that commissioners and council members are in opposition to the model put forward by Intralot, which chose FanDuel as its new subcontractor in March following middling results with GamBetDC.

“This DC sole-sourced lottery-run contract has failed the district,” he continues. “Just simply putting a band-aid on this with a new operator in the market simply coming in and taking over for the last failed programme of Intralot in the past… isn’t going to solve the problem.”

Last but not least, Delaware and Illinois

Third in the lineup is Delaware, which is facing a similar situation. Like DC, Delaware has a sole source operator through the lottery and operators are sniffing around for a competitive market. But Delaware also has igaming, which DC does not.

Bussmann says Delaware’s model has always been fractured. But House Bill 365 is aiming to fix that.

And, at the end of the day, an open and competitive market would duly challenge the illegal market.

Speaking of the illegal market, we make our final stop in Illinois – the state on everybody’s mind. Last week the state’s house of representatives passed a controversial heightened tax rate. The new rate would see certain operators be taxed at 40%, a far cry from the original 15%.

“Bad tax policy should never be followed,” Bussmann implores. “It’s one of the challenges, as we’ve talked about before, that I saw with the report in Maryland that the state did, that they layer on more bad tax policy and what that should end up with.

“Let’s look at the economics of the market, let’s look at the economics of operators.”

But we don’t quite end there. Iden gives a shoutout to his home state, Michigan, and the Michigan Gaming Control Board’s (MGCB) decision to give Curaçao-based Bovada the boot. The MGCB alleges that Harp Media BV – which operates Bovada – allowed Bovada.com and Bovada.lv to be accessible to Michiganders. This was despite Harp Media BV not having the appropriate licence.

Proponents of a Missouri wagering initiative announced they have collected 300,000 signatures with hopes of collecting 325,000 by the 5 May deadline. The group, “Winning for Missouri Education”, needs 180,000 verified signatures for the proposal to get on the November ballot. The initiative would allow for statewide mobile sports betting.

Backed by the state’s professional sports teams, the Missouri wagering initiative would circumvent the general assembly, which has been at a logjam about how to legalise online wagering for several years.

In 2020, it looked like Missouri would be a first mover in its region. However its general assembly has not yet reached a consensus, while its neighbours Kansas, Kentucky and Nebraska have legalised some form of wagering. In total, seven of Missouri’s eight border states offer sports betting.

NFL reinstates five players

On Thursday (18 April) the NFL reinstated five players it suspended last summer for violating the sport’s gambling rules. The Philadelphia Eagles’ Isaiah Rodgers was not among them.

The reinstatements came a day after the NBA banned its first player, Jontay Porter, who shared proprietary information with bettors and bet on the NBA.

According to NFL.com, the only active player reinstated was Commanders defensive end Shaka Toney. The league also reinstated former Lions wide receiver Quintez Cephus, safety CJ Moore, defensive lineman Demetrius Taylor and former Colts linebacker Rashod Berry.

Despite brief revival, Maine doesn’t legalise online gaming

The bill to give the Wabanaki Nation online gaming failed in the Maine house and senate last week, only to revive, gain passage in the house and then fail in the senate.

The bill was brought back from the brink when the assistant senate majority leader, Mattie Daughtry, requested it be revisited. The tactic is oft used in Maine, according to the Portland Press-Herald. In hopes that the vote count will change, legislators will vote with the winning side, even if they aren’t on it, so they can bring the bill back.

Maine’s legislative session closed on 17 April and bills from this session cannot be carried over.

DraftKings sued over “risk-free” language

On Thursday (17 April) DraftKings was sued in New York federal court in a class-action lawsuit over its use of the phrase “risk free”.

According to Bloomberg Law, bettors were promised that if they lost a “risk-free bet”, the amount of the bet would be returned to their account. However bettors claim that winning bets netted them a credit equal to less than half of what they would have won making a real-money bet.

Over the last year, many major operators have backed off using the terms “risk-free” and several US jurisdictions have banned the use of the phrase.

NY gaming commission lauds NCAA

Brian O’Dwyer, the chairman of the New York State Gaming Commission, sent a letter to the NCAA on 15 April supporting its call to ban college player prop bets nationwide. New York already prohibits such bets.

In his letter, O’Dwyer wrote that the reason New York initially adopted the ban was to “insulate student-athletes from potential harassment regarding their performance”.

About 15 US jurisdictions prohibit college player props. Louisiana was the most recent to adopt a ban.

Mississippi online sports betting bill heads to conference

HB 774, the bill that would allow for statewide mobile betting in Mississippi, is headed to conference committee.

Representatives Casey Eure, Jay McKnight and Henry Zuber III and senators David Blount, Mike Thompson and Chuck Younger will make up the committee, which plans to meet next week. With the session set to adjourn on 5 May, lawmakers have a little less than three weeks to reach a compromise.

The bill passed the house in February and the senate passed an amended version on 9 April. The amended bill is a “strike all”, that replaces the house proposal with existing state law.

The move was made to keep the conversation alive. The bill was sent back to the house for concurrence and the expected result is a conference committee that could hammer out a compromise.

In other news…

… On Thursday (18 April) New York’s city council approved zoning changes that would allow anyone who wins a bid for a downstate casino to get a wavier to build in high-density or commercial manufacturing districts.

… On Friday (19 April) Caesars Entertainment announced the debut of its NHL-branded blackjack game on its online gambling platforms in Michigan, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

… On Monday (15 April) Lottery Geeks broke the news that MegaMillions is poised to vote on a price increase from $2 to $5 per ticket.

… The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe announced plans to build a new casino in Texas.

… Virginia lawmakers approved legislation that could put the decision to build a Petersburg casino on the ballot in November.

… Alabama’s gambling bill, which started as a comprehensive expansion of gambling including digital sports betting, has been referred to a conference committee. The proposal has been significantly pared down and Senator Arthur Orr told a local radio station that he puts the odds of a consensus at 20%-30%.

ICYMI on iGB

Mess in Minnesota might mean no legal sports betting this year

North Carolina bettors wagered $659m in first three weeks

Ontario’s second year: $63bn in handle

Connecticut bill following trend in proposing stringent ad guidelines

FanDuel may be getting a two-year head start on DC competition

Ontario regulator halts betting on WBA

National self-exclusion list coming to US

The case against cannibalisation in Maryland

Essentially mobile gaming is a very different product to in-person gaming, Ferri and O’Laughlin tell the World Series of Politics. That means it’s not likely to grow at the expense of casinos and instead complements land-based revenue – which may even modestly increase. 

For Maryland, there’s an added incentive. Currently 30% of those surveyed in the state are travelling out of state for a casino visit. Of this number, 45% of Maryland players are considering igaming while out of town – that’s a huge opportunity for growth. 

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Maryland igaming: What’s at stake?

It’s the final day before the Maryland General Assembly adjourns today (8 April) and while the igaming bill HB1319 passed the house in March, it remains caught up in the senate budget and taxation committee.

As Jill Dorson reports, that suggests it doesn’t have enough votes to progress. However Delegate Vanessa Attabeary, the bill’s sponsor, has attacked fears of cannibalisation. She has also warned the bill is crucial in replacing offshore igaming with a legal alternative, saying it is “incumbent on [lawmakers] to capture that market and regulate it”.

HB 1319 would allow for statewide online casino in a state that has a mature retail casino market and which introduced digital sports betting in November 2022.

If online wagering is any indication, online casino has the potential to be wildly successful. Maryland is already ranked among the top states for sports betting handle despite being the 14th biggest state by population to launch wagering and set a record for its first five days.

However time is running short this session. The General Assembly is set to adjourn 8 April but, after the bill passed the house on 14 March and reached the senate two days later, it has since stagnated in the Budget and Taxation Committee.

The delay likely means that the committee doesn’t have enough votes to move Maryland online casino and that lawmakers continue to negotiate.

“We already have igaming going on in the state of Maryland,” sponsor Delegate Vanessa Atterbeary told the committee. “It is illegal. You have folks going on their phones or their computers and doing igaming with somebody in Curaçao or somewhere far away, not here in the state of Maryland. It is incumbent on us to capture that market and regulate it.”

Bill earmarks 1% of taxes for PG and RG programmes

HB 1319 was one in a long list of bills introduced to the committee Tuesday and there was no verbal public testimony. Bill sponsors were allowed to describe their bills and committee members asked questions. The committee’s chair, Guy Guzzone, did not indicate when or if a vote would be scheduled.

Atterbeary outlined the bill, including sharing that there would be money set aside for responsible and problem gambling issues and that fears of cannibalisation are overstated.

Atterbeary quoted multiple studies, saying that 1% of the population has or is at risk for a gambling problem. That number is on point for those will develop a “severe” gambling problem, according to the National Council for Problem Gambling, but the organisation projects another 2%-3% of Americans are at risk.

The bill sets aside 1% of tax dollars to fund problem and responsible gambling initiatives.

Maryland online casino likely last one standing

Atterbeary addressed concerns about cannibalisation and also pointed out that the bill includes $10m for a fund for existing casino workers.

Advocates for online casino argue there is a synergy between online and retail products and that lost business is minimal. Opponents say that this may be true for major companies that offer both options but, for retail-only operations, they say the cannibalisation rate may be higher.

Senator Joanne Benson referred to a new study from Morgan State University’s Data Analytics and Sports Gaming Research department that she called “devastating for people of colour” in terms of job loss.

Legalising online casino has proved a heavy lift in 2024 for myriad reasons. Lawmakers in Illinois and New York, among other states, have already abandoned the effort.

The effort in Maine stalled in late February after lawmakers in a work session were split on support versus opposition.

Whether it’s Georgia going to the voters or Minnesota taking its sweet time, we’ve got all the latest happenings in US regulation ready to review.

Tackling the excise tax

Representative Titus is also leading the charge to repeal the 0.25% federal excise tax on sports betting handle. 

The money is deposited into the General Fund, rather than being used to tackle illegal gambling. Why not cut the tax and allow legal businesses to better compete against offshore operators by offering a more attractive product, she asks. 

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GRIT is not the solution

However the representative is an opponent of the Gambling Addiction Recovery, Investment and Treatment Act (GRIT Act), which aims to reallocate that tax to treating problem gambling. 

The bill’s sponsors haven’t consulted with the Gaming Caucus, she tells the World Series of Politics, and disregards state legislation which almost always mandates problem gambling funding. 

Listen to the full episode to hear directly from Representative Titus on gaming expansion, tackling the black market and raising player protection standards. 

It’s a case of maintaining the momentum from the 2023 edition he explains. That was the biggest on record but ICE 2024 is on track to emulate last year’s show in terms of attendees, exhibitors and deals struck. 

Education at ICE

Kicking off ICE week is the ICE VOX conference with the World Regulatory Briefing and International Casino Conference. This brings together leading operators, key regulators and out of industry companies including Netflix. 

The production team have done a tremendous job of putting together an agenda that hits the key industry talking points, Hunter says. There’ll be sessions on AI, safer gambling and cybersecurity, but curated in a way that provokes proper debate.

In particular Hunter is excited to hear from headline speaker Bill Hornbuckle, CEO of MGM Resorts International. “Working with the MGM team has been fantastic, they’re really excited to come over to ICE and share their experience, and I know Bill is as well.”

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Bridging the gap between Europe and the US

ICE bridges the gap between Europe and the US, Brendan says. It acts as the platform for newly regulated markets in North America to tap into expertise from more mature regions, but how has this changed the makeup of the show floor?

It’s significantly bigger, Hunter says, taking up over a million square feet in ExCeL London with around 650 brands covering every corner of the industry. There will be attendees from more than 150 countries around the world, but that means the Clarion Gaming team has to carefully curate the show floor to reflect the product needs of the industry. 

Each and every event has to analyse what attendees are seeking out and match that with the demand from prospective exhibitors. It’s similar to curating a retail store, Hunter says. 

The road to ICE Barcelona

ICE 2024 will serve as a fond farewell to London, after an exhaustive process to assess options for the show’s future that resulted in next year’s move to Barcelona. 

This opens up huge opportunities – It was a case of looking for a platform the next five to ten years, ensuring the show can continue to grow. Its new venue in Barcelona is twice the size of ExCeL London, giving customers scope for greater flexibility and creativity in what they bring to the show. 

“It’s going to put ICE on another set of tracks, like it did when it moved from Earl’s Court to ExCeL,” Hunter says. “A new set of tracks, a new evolution, new growth, loads of excitement, loads of opportunity, this is the next iteration from 2025 onwards.”

Happy new year listeners! Brendan Bussmann and Brandt Iden are back to discuss a Festivus miracle in Brazil, as well as setting out their predictions for US sports betting growth and whether 2024 will finally be the breakthrough year for US igaming.

We come back after Brazil sports betting and igaming finally makes it over the finish line, giving the industry an early Christmas present. The market has potential to be huge, Brendan Bussmann says, especially after the 18% tax rate was cut to 12% of GGR.

There’s one thing missing, he adds. Integrated resorts are not part of the mix. This could bring billions in revenue into the local economy and, after the sports betting saga, we know Brazil isn’t one for rapid progress.

Regulatory predictions for 2024

A new legislative session is underway and that means it’s time for some predictions on where US sports betting and igaming goes next. All the low hanging fruit has been picked, Brandt Iden says, so there’s going to be a battle to find room to grow.

Let’s start with what’s not going to happen. Missouri remains unlikely, Brendan and Brandt agree, but there’s still prospects for mobile sports betting expansion elsewhere. Mississippi may finally go digital, having been an early mover post-PASPA, and further north the stars are aligning in Minnesota, Brandt says.

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Mississippi may finally go digital, having been an early mover post-PASPA, and further north the stars are aligning in Minnesota, Brandt says.

It’s not only states beginning with M, however. Could we see progress in Alabama and Georgia in 2024? In an election year, November’s ballot at least provides an option to push legislation through in more states. Washington DC may also be back into the mix for mobile sports betting after a botched launch through the lottery – could we see more operators move in?

Is 2024 the year for US igaming?

After years of dashed hopes, will 2024 finally bring a breakthrough for igaming? New Hampshire, unfortunately, was taken out of contention between recording and release for this episode, but New York and Maryland are both in the mix.

And there’s another bottle of wine on the line as Brendan and Brandt place a bet for US gaming regulation in the year ahead. Brandt is 2-0 ahead, but can Brendan cut the deficit this year?

“Smoke and mirrors”

“It’s insulting,” Rocha says of the new ballot measure, arguing it looks to drive a wedge between Californian gaming and non-gaming tribes. A set of amendments doesn’t make it any more palatable. “It’s all smoke and mirrors.

“These guys are not listening, because they don’t care. They want to go forward and they are shocked they don’t see Indians running towards them throwing flowers at their feet.”

California sports betting: All roads lead to the tribes

Gaming tribes aren’t trying to be obstructionist, he explains, in fighting for a deliberately slow ramp up to California sports betting. 

Support for in-person betting in the Golden State is weak at best and there’s even less enthusiasm for mobile. 

Slow and steady, starting with mobile then revisiting the mobile issue later, is the only way to ensure a safe and sustainable market, Rocha warns. 

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If not now, when?

And the new ballot measure pushes the tribal plans off kilter he adds. Tribes planned to use 2024 as a runway year for a renewed push in 2026. Another looming ballot battle could push California sports betting back.

There’s an ongoing culture clash, where “a sound approach to sustainable gaming” is mistaken for blocking measures he argues. California tribes own gaming in the state. Rocha, along with his business partner Gene Johnson, is starting to work to determine a viable model for sports betting and they have a finger on the state’s pulse. 

“We have a plan,” he says to the commercial industry. “Shut up, get in the back seat, let us drive.”

2024: The year of US igaming?

One of the biggest topics on the show floor was igaming, which made its presence felt at G2E 2023. 

There’s a desire to keep building momentum around US igaming in 2024, but Brendan admits it’s not an easy topic in the legislature. At this point he thinks it’s a matter of when, not if, legalisation passes. 

The industry is working to educate lawmakers, Brandt says but he believes state finances will be the biggest variable. Federal Covid funding is drying up so states are on the hunt for new revenue – could igaming be the solution?

Michigan shows the potential benefits. It has raced to $1bn in state tax revenue from gaming expansion. Igaming revenue is 2,700% higher than sports betting GGR, so it’s contributing the majority of taxes. If only we knew who passed that legislation…

The risk, Brendan adds, is lawmakers see igaming as the golden goose and impose hefty tax rates. Companies stay out of the market when states ramp up taxes, reducing potential revenues – just look at Ohio. 

Florida sports betting saga takes a turn

Next we move onto Florida, where a Supreme Court stay blocked the relaunch of mobile betting. Obviously events have moved quickly and that’s now been lifted with the Supreme Court not taking up the case. 

That doesn’t mean it’s a victory for Hard Rock and the Seminole tribe. The case is still in play in the state Supreme Court, so there’s still a risk things grind to a halt and force a total rethink. 

Listen on for the latest on everything you could possibly want to find out about regulatory affairs in the World Series of Politics!

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But change could be on the horizon. The St Louis Cardinals is part of a coalition of professional sports teams in Missouri that filed new petitions last month to bring sports betting to the Show-Me state.

“We’ve been trying and using our best efforts to move this thing along in the legislative process for some time now,” says Whittle. “It was pretty much on the league level initially to push it in the early years.

“I think in the last three years or so, we kind of got together with the other sports teams in Missouri and we’ve been trying to push this forward.”

Sooner rather than later

With such slow progress for sports betting in the state, it’s no wonder teams like the Cardinals have taken on the challenge themselves. And they’re not the only people set to benefit, argues Whittle.

“Our coalition believes sports wagering is a good way to increase engagement with our fans and it is also a new source of tax revenue for the state.”

But with just over a year until the all-important 2024 US elections, how do the Cardinals intend to bring their wants to fruition? It comes down to the fans, who ultimately have the power to drive sports betting out of the park.

“We have a lot of faith in the Missouri citizens and we have a lot of faith in our fans. We feel like we need to do them a service, to move this forward, and not be in this weird spot where it’s legal in every state around us.”

Money money money

Ultimately, the coalition’s proposals are not a world away from what the Missouri House had previously approved.

“What we’re proposing isn’t much different than what was passed by the Missouri House; there are some little structural things here and there,” Whittle explains.

“For the most part, including the tax rate that is proposed it’s the one that was passed by the House at 10%, and the fees, they actually might be a bit higher.”

In the weeks since, West Flagler filed an en banc rehearing. Instead of dismissing this petition, the court has asked the Seminoles for a response – which is due on 31 August.

With so much red tape, it’s assumed that sports betting in Florida will not come any time soon. However, the idea that it could launch during the upcoming NFL season is not out of the realms of possibility.

What’s on the cards for Brazil?

Meanwhile, in Brazil, Neil Montgomery says “anything’s possible”.

The country regulated sports betting in July, after president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed the Provisional Measure.

This officially implemented the sports betting regulations that had been approved in Law No 13,756 in 2018. But the regulations included a few “surprises”, says Montgomery, including heightened GGR tax, more marketing restrictions and an increased licence fee.

Although the regulations represent a conclusion of sorts, not everyone is pleased with the outcome. Hopes are now set on it being amended in Brazil’s National Congress, where it will need to be approved to become permanent.

“We still have a lot of opposition from certain sectors of society, certain sectors of congress,” says Montgomery.

“There’s a lot of activity going on in Brazil, but we need to see what will actually happen.”

Some progress being made

Regardless of any political tension over sports betting in Brazil, Montgomery says progress is being made in implementing the regulations.

“In parallel to the federal law discussion, certain states and municipalities have already spearheaded the process and have implemented their own products locally.”

For Hugo Baungartner – the first returning guest to the World Series of Politics – the regulation of sports betting is a mammoth step forward for the country.

“From my perspective… I think it’s a big step for Brazil,” he says “The Provisional Measure is something really really really positive. It’s the first step.”

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After two years of legal action the DC Circuit Court reversed the decision, paving the way for the Seminoles and Hard Rock Digital to relaunch. That may come as soon as this month. 

Does Florida sports betting face further challenges?

But how deep does the ruling go? The case clears the way for a relaunch, but steers clear of ruling on whether the compact should have been permitted without a constitutional amendment. That issue goes back to the Florida courts to decide. 

What this ultimately means, and whether it grants the Seminoles a monopoly over betting in Florida, remains to be seen. There are contrasting views on what may happen next, as you’ll hear from our guests Professor Bob Jarvis of Nova Southeastern University and Jeff Ifrah of Ifrah Law. 

Professor Jarvis, for example, feels any legal challenge will fail as the state constitution only refers to constitutional amendments for casino gambling. Sports betting, he says, doesn’t fall into this category. 

There could be a delay in relaunching sports betting, Jarvis admits, but not as long as the two year gap they faced between 2021 and 2023. In short, he believes any challenge is just delaying the inevitable. 

Can the Florida sports betting case impact other states?

Jeff Ifrah, meanwhile, is doubtful the case is going to reach the Supreme Court. At least, as a “narrow, nerdy issue”, he’s unsure it would even pick it up. 

He does expect challenges at a state level, although these are by no means guaranteed to get to a judge. 

But what does this mean for tribes in other states? In Texas it’s unlikely to result in statewide compacts, but Californian tribes will be watching with interest. Florida, Texas and California, incidentally, are the biggest markets for offshore books. 

It’s unlikely to have an impact in California, Ifrah adds however. The case was very specific to Florida and the DC court only assessed the compact as a contract. There wasn’t any attempt to legalise off-reservation mobile betting, he points out. 

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This, he explains, has levelled the field when it comes to advertising. That hasn’t prevented the naysayers from massing, however.

One of the opposition parties in the Ontario parliament has put forward a bill to ban gambling advertising – even though gaming only accounts for 3% of total ads shown in the country.

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Looking forward, Burns assesses the future of Canadian gaming, examining the potential of sports betting and igaming in Ontario and beyond. With a foundation of responsible gaming standards and a commitment to player protection, there’s a strong case for other Canadian provinces to consider a regulatory rethink.

The former chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Betting and Gaming dissects the white paper, its implications for the industry and for the punters.

Affordability under the spotlight

Davies delves into affordability checks, one of the most hotly debated elements of the Gambling Act white paper.

The MP warns of the potential impact on punters, a group he feels is being left out in the reform debate. 

He questions the practicality and potential consequences of new checks, including the potential impact on credit records and an individual’s finances. 

Questions for the Gambling Commission

Davies also shines a spotlight on the role of the Gambling Commission. He raises concerns about the regulator’s understanding of the industry. There’s a need for more education and better engagement between industry and regulators. 

But what does all this mean for GB gambling? Is the sector on a path to becoming a pariah industry?

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From a provisional measure to a bill in Brazil

Brazil sports betting looked set to pass through a provisional measure (PM) which Hugo Baumgartner outlined in episode 16.

However that PM is likely to be turned into a bill, which sets up even more legislative hurdles. Other forms of gambling such as integrated resorts may be incorporated into the process.

While this could expand the market, it could also result in the bill failing to pass. Brendan says “it’s clear as mud” as to what’s likely to happen now. There’s plenty more to discuss in a future episode of the World Series of Politics.

More pain for Missouri sports betting

Next we pivot to US sports betting, where Missouri has once again ended up without any resolution on betting regulation. Once again, Brandt says, senator Denny Hoskins remains an immovable object on the process. 

Brendan points out the house has sent Hoskins a clear message on its appetite for legal sports betting in Missouri.

But thanks to his refusal to budge, it’s only going to benefit neighbouring stakes with legal betting such as Kansas and Arkansas.

Minnesota betting bill comes up short

Hopes for Minnesota sports betting regulation have been dashed for 2023. Brandt argues other political priorities, coupled with some reticence from the tribes, ultimately killed the bill. 

What does this mean for Minnesota going forward? With the house up for reelection in 2024, Brandt points out passing sports betting will be ten times harder.

Brendan isn’t convinced that lawmakers should be so wary. As he says, what legislators can pinpoint an election loss on a gaming vote?

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Hope in Texas and progress for North Carolina sports betting

Texas sports betting, meanwhile, is dead for another year. However, efforts by Brandt took the bill further than it ever moved previously, passing through the house with bipartisan support.

The senate, as predicted, ultimately blocked its progress and shows the need for more education in the upper house. With casinos also in the works, both guys are hopeful of progress by 2025.

But there’s still a final state in play for 2023. Both Brendan and Brandt are confident North Carolina sports betting regulation will pass.

The bill has to make its way through three committees in the senate, which Brandt expects to result in changes. That, in turn, means it may head back to the house.

Even if that happens, the Tarheel State looks poised to expand its legal market to mobile wagering.

We’ll be back very soon, with yet another special guest joining the World Series of Politics!

“It’s the giant,” he says. “Everyone is talking about it. Everybody wants to come to Brazil.”

He notes that law has been in place to allow sports betting in Brazil since 2018, but that there has been no regulation yet, and nothing was made official by then-president Jair Bolsonaro.

But this regulation is imminent, Hugo insists, with ministers working for Brazil’s newest president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva preparing a law that could be signed in the coming days.

What can Brazil expect?

Hugo says Brazil’s government will impose a 15% tax on sports betting gross gaming revenue (GGR), as was announced last month.

But he points out that this will be on top of other Brazilian taxes already in place, which would bring the total percentage to 26% of the GGR. This worries Hugo, who has heard whisperings about white labels that would allow operators to have “twenty, thirty, forty, fifty brands” under one licence.

Another concern is a rumoured $6m annual fee, which may be allowed to be paid over five years. He says thousands of people could enter the market – which could be good or bad.

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Go-live date?

Hugo believes that the market could go live in as little as thirty days.

This would mark the end of an arduous process that has had three presidents oversee it. Hugo says that the categorisation of sports betting as lottery in Brazilian law helps it seem more appealing to the public, as well as the government.

“It’s lottery, so it’s easier right now to pass this law, this regulation,” he says.

Looking much further ahead, Hugo says he is already sensing pressure for Brazil to have full-scale integrated resorts. But whether this will happen, or whether sports betting will be officially signed into law at all, remains to be seen.

Kentucky sports betting’s passage was “a classic case of bipartisanship”, he adds, with the governor, Republicans and Democrats coming together to make it happen. 

Missouri and North Carolina sports betting set for photo finish?

Next up is North Carolina, a state with tribal sports betting already live, where a bill to expand the market is working its way through the legislature. 

Brendan is increasingly bullish on the Tar Heel State. He says attitudes on gaming are changing  as more southern states look at legislation, with more efforts to tackle illegal gambling and introduce consumer protections. 

He’s especially hopeful on Missouri, but Brandt points out the senate remains a key hurdle in legal sports betting’s passage. Could it finally be the year that we have a breakthrough?

“The Show Me State needs to show us it’s ready for sports betting,” Brendan adds. 

Sports betting in Texas not such a long shot?

It was an historic day for Texas, where sports betting and casino bills have moved out of committee. 

Governor Rick Perry was bullish on the prospect of mobile betting passing in 2023, but in Brendan’s view “all roads lead to the senate”. If it is able to work its way through the upper house, and garner support from lieutenant governor Dan Patrick, we may have a major state legalise. 

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2024 for mobile betting in Mississippi and expanded betting in Kansas?

Mississippi was quick to pass in-person betting legislation following the repeal of PASPA, but there are signs that a study launched in 2023 may lead to legal mobile betting next year. 

There’s also movement in Vermont, so we’ve gone from searching for wins to dealing with a potential wave of new states. There was even a positive change of policy by the National Football League to have in-stadium sportsbooks open on gamedays. Listen in for the full breakdown of what’s happening.

There’s been a wave of criticism of the industry, and that has arguably ended any hopes of igaming expansion for this year. Sports betting progress has also been stilted so far.

Massachusetts may have launched mobile, and Kansas is live, but where might the industry expand next?

Remember, we’re now live on Spotify!

Hope for sports betting regulation

As Brandt says, sports betting legislation always makes it through at the end of the session. There’s still hope for progress in multiple states. 

There’s plenty of potential still out there, perhaps most notably for Texas sports betting.

Last week’s guest Governor Rick Perry is a strong supporter of a constitutional amendment to allow mobile betting. There’s been one committee hearing to date, with contrasting voices arguing for and against mobile wagering in the Lone Star State.

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Prospects in the Peach State

Georgia sports betting remains in play thanks to the lieutenant-governor who Brandt feels is making sports betting regulation a priority. 

Sports betting in Kentucky should be a “no brainer” Brendan says. But with a 30-day legislative session it’s going to be tight. It’s the closest the Bluegrass State has come to regulation in recent memory. 

There’s also potential in states such as Missouri and North Carolina. In Missouri, the big question is whether a bill makes it through the senate.

In North Carolina Brandt remains confident, although Brendan fears it’s going to be Groundhog Day, again. 

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About Rick Perry:

Rick Perry is a former United States secretary of energy, serving under US president Donald Trump from March 2017 to December 2019.

As the fourteenth secretary of energy, Perry led an agency tasked with overseeing the United States’ energy supply, nuclear defense capacity, and the 17 national laboratories, home to many of the country’s best scientists.

Prior to joining the administration as secretary of energy, Perry served as the 47th governor of Texas. As governor of the Lone Star State, Perry championed conservative principles that helped Texas become America’s economic engine.

Legal sports betting in Texas will also generate significant new revenue, he continued. The full podcast can be heard below.

It could net half a billion dollars according to recent estimates, the longest-serving governor in the state’s history said. This could pave the way for lowering other taxes, and generate more for infrastructure spending. 

Plans for Texas mobile betting

Senate Bill 715 and its House counterpart HB1942 set out the framework for regulated betting. 

The bills set out plans for a mobile market, with the state’s professional sports franchises serving as master licensees. Sports teams, golf courses accredited to hold professional tournaments, plus Class 1 racetracks, would be eligible for one master licence each. 

Each would be required to pay a $500,000 licence fee, and would be taxed on 10% of adjusted gross wagering revenue. 

The legislation would be enabled through a constitutional amendment, set out in Senate Joint Resolution 39 and HJR 102. As a result the bills must pass the Texas legislature with a two-thirds majority in each chamber. 

The proposal would then go to voters on 7 November, 2023. Governor Perry told hosts Brandt Iden and Brendan Bussmann this approach was “as democratic as you can get”.

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Texas teams present a united front

Governor Perry, the 14th secretary of energy, went on to highlight the widespread support for the legislation. It was backed by every professional sports team in Texas, he noted.

He is a spokesman for Texas Sports Betting Alliance which has brought together some of the state’s leading teams including the San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets, Dallas Cowboys, Houston Astros, Texas Rangers and FC Dallas. They are joined in the alliance by betting operators Fanatics Sportsbook, DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM and Penn Entertainment’s Barstool Sportsbook. 

“There’s never been this coming together, to work on one issue [before],” Governor Perry explained on the podcast. “I’ve been in politics since around 1984, so I’ve seen a lot of interesting efforts but this one caught my attention for a number of reasons.

“Not least, that it is abundantly clear to me that the people of the state of Texas enjoy their sports. They are fanatical about it.”

The effort was less about expanding gambling, and more about legalising an activity that has been going on for decades.

Bettors’ private information would be protected, their bets would be honoured, and they would have safeguards to ensure they gambled sustainably.

Put it to the people

The Kolkhorst and Leach bills still face a number of hurdles, including opposition from the casino sector. It may also face opposition from some lawmakers. 

To legislators unsure whether to support Texas wagering, Governor Perry said: “Just ask, if the voters were smart enough to elect you to your job, don’t you think they’re smart enough to decide whether this issue should be legal in the state of Texas?”

Ultimately, Perry added, he was confident that the Texas legislature would close in May with the proposal passing. 

“I feel comfortable that once it becomes a constitutional amendment and the people of the state have a chance to look at it, it will pass,” he said. “And I think it will pass rather overwhelmingly.”

Momentum building in Missouri?

The dynamic duo kick off with Missouri, where multiple attempts to regulate betting have been made over the past five years. 

Senator Denny Hoskins has long been a champion of the industry, but could 2023 be the year Missouri sports betting finally crosses line? Once again there’s a bottle of wine on the time, as to whether it beats North Carolina in regulating. 

Remember, we’re now live on Spotify!

All systems go in Georgia?

There’s also renewed hopes for Georgia sports betting, although it’s looking likely to go to a ballot, Brendan says. After its missteps in Florida and California, the industry will have to learn from each of those failures if it is to enjoy a successful campaign. 

However Brandt argues sports betting should be treated as a new lottery product, something that would avoid a public vote on the matter. The guys are split on whether a bill makes it through by the end of March; Brandt is confident, but Brendan is more circumspect. 

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Empire State has igaming in mind

The US igaming market may be expanding, with senator Joseph Addabbo filing a proposal to legalise online casino in New York. A 30.5% tax rate is tough, Brandt says, although it would allow up to 20 licences. 

New York differs from others states in that the prospect of new revenue, rather than consumer protections, are front of mind. But a focus on generating revenue may result in a model that isn’t fit for purpose, Brendan warns. Just look at the state’s mobile sports betting controls.

Federal controls on the horizon?

Episode 12 ends by looking at moves in Washington DC, with the government seeking to bring in the FCC to monitor industry advertising.

But is this sort of intervention justified, when gambling has been treated as a state issue for so long? 

Over the New Year weekend alone, GeoComply recorded more than 11.3 million geolocation transactions, and Slader says around 1.2 million accounts were set up in the first week of activity.

This episode also marks the World Series of Politics’ debut on Spotify! You can also listen on Apple Podcasts, and directly from this page.

Ohio betting flies out the blocks

There’s also a wider range of betting options than ever before, with 1,000 kiosks rolled out across Ohio, and it’s going to be interesting to see how this works in tandem with a widespread mobile offering. If it keeps up its early pace the Ohio sports betting framework could become a blueprint for other states. 

Lawmakers elsewhere are launching renewed pushes for legal betting, with a flurry of bills filed across the US. There are three already in Missouri, so could it be fifth session lucky for sports betting backers there?

Macau’s grand reopening and unrest in Brazil

Macau’s casinos. There are no Covid restrictions – for the first time since February 2020 – new concessions have been awarded, and visitors are flocking back, but with moving money now significantly harder will the return of visitors be enough to restore Macau to the pinnacle of the industry?

And there are yet more twists in Brazil, where former president Jair Bolsonaro’s failure to ratify sports betting regulations has been followed by civil unrest earlier this month. Does this mean the prospects for gaming expansion are more distant than ever?

Light & Wonder’s Glaser goes as far as calling igaming the most successful product in the history of gambling in the US, even in its infancy.

“Consumers and players love to play online and it produces significant tax revenue for states that far exceeds sport betting,” he explains. “The only hurdle right now is the industry persuading state legislatures that opening up the digital channels makes sense.”

As he says, the evidence is there. The onus will fall on the industry to communicate that to lawmakers, and address any questions or concerns they have. 

2023 predictions

Brendan and Brandt then dust off their crystal ball for some 2023 predictions. Aside from further igaming and sports betting expansion, there’s also bricks-and-mortar to consider.

Brendan is sure at least two states will look to break ground on casino development in the coming year. 

And after Brandt won the wager on Maryland sports betting, there’s another bottle of Pinot at stake, over Missouri and North Carolina. 

Remember, the World Series of Politics is available on Apple Podcasts.

Las Vegas: The sports and entertainment capital of the world?

With NFL and NHL franchises in the city, and rumours of a MLB franchise joining, not to mention the conventions and conferences in the city, Las Vegas sets out the benefits that gaming can bring to a jurisdiction.

Macau’s concession process

Next conversation turns to Macau, where the long-awaited licensing renewal process has come to an end. Despite a late challenge from Genting, the six incumbents have prevailed. As Brendan says, Macau has effectively been shut off for the past three years, the influence of junkets has been largely removed, and moving money is subject to significant new conditions. The salient point remains – we don’t yet know how Macau is going to recover.

Illegal gambling and negative press

The focus then turns to illegal gambling, in the wake of the American Gaming Association’s study which estimates $510.9bn is wagered offshore each year. This is an existential threat to the industry, Brandt says, something that AGA chief executive Bill Miller has previously raised on the podcast.

This follows a flurry of negative coverage of the industry in the US press. Is this simply growing pains for the sector, as Brandt says?

In Brendan’s eyes, it’s just another evolution of the industry – for a sector that’s paying a special tax on top of its sales tax, income taxes, property taxes, it’s creating a lot of value and economic development. Just look at Las Vegas.

Remember, the World Series of Politics is available on Apple Podcasts.

California sports betting hopes crash land

Our dynamic duo start off by picking over the wreckage of California’s sports betting ballot measures, reflecting on what went so disastrously wrong.

Is Minnesota in play?

Next they run the rule on the other states where the Midterms have heralded change. Brandt is surprised by the Democrats’ clean sweep in the Gopher State, but that could create opportunities for the industry.

The party’s strong relationship with the tribes facilitate legal Minnesota sports betting in 2023. Remember, there’s more on the Midterms from Brendan, Brandt and experts such as John Pappas, Stacie Stern and Brianne Doura-Schawohl here.

Lone Star hopes

Brendan is optimistic that 2023 will bring regulatory progress in Texas.

What remains unclear is what form this will take. As Brandt says, all eyes – and industry efforts – are likely to be focused on the Lone Star State next year.

And with Maryland launching mobile sports betting last week, there’s a bet on the line – who wins?

The World Series of Politics is available on Apple Podcasts

Ahead of the elections, Brendan and Brandt take a look across the US, including a final examination of whether there’s any hope of the people of California voting to legalise sports betting.

In Texas, there may be less clarity as the industry may have to consider whether to prioritise betting or casinos, while Brandt is “optimistic” that sports betting legislation could be passed in Georgia once a new legislature is elected.

There’s also a look at Washington DC’s efforts to fix what has been a struggling sports wagering regime, and at efforts to get legal betting up and running in Massachusetts.

The pair look further afield as well, pondering the impact of Lula da Silva defeating Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil’s presidential election while, in the UK, Brandt throws his name into the ring as a prime ministerial candidate, but Brendan has other ideas.

Remember, the World Series of Politics is also available through Apple Podcasts.

And if you can’t wait for your next fix of Brendan and Brandt after you’ve listened to the episode, don’t despair. Both gave their instant reaction to the midterm election results in an iGB webinar on 10 November, looking at the fallout for US sports betting, online casino and land-based gaming.

American Gaming Association, G2E and illegal gambling

Miller discusses this year’s Global Gaming Expo after almost 25,000 visitors descended on the Sands Convention Centre earlier in October. He also talks about the US gaming industry’s post-Covid recovery and the threat of the illegal market. 

Read his interview, published earlier this week, with iGB for more from the AGA.

Maryland sports betting

This episode also features Maryland, where lawmakers have taken a step towards launching mobile sports betting after a fraught process. There’s a wager on the line between our hosts on this one, just to up the stakes further.

Brendan also discusses the state of play for Macau casinos, where recovery has been hindered by China’s zero Covid policy. 

And there’s even more intrigue around Brazil sports betting with the presidential run-off closing in.

Remember, the World Series of Politics is also available through Apple Podcasts.

This is likely to impact gambling across multiple channels. Not only sports betting may be on the line, but a reshuffling of the country’s lottery sector and even integrated resorts are being held back.

Indiana online casino is also up for discussion in this week’s episode, as US states look for new ways of finding revenue. Could this lead to a wave of igaming legislation in the remainder of 2022 and into early 2023, especially after commentators were disappointed by a lack of action in 2021?

It’s a question of tax, Brendan says. If they set the rate too high, states risk stifling the market before it can get going.

Remember, The World of Series of Politics is available on Apple Podcasts.

Finally we head further north, to Ontario, where the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) aims to push offshore operators out of the market. But with a lack of detail on what is actually at risk if they fail to comply, is this going to be an effective deterrent?

Listen on Apple Podcasts

However, there are some issues emerging on where bets can be placed – the league is trying to prevent betting on match days. 

There’s also some intrigue around the Wire Act, in the wake of a Rhode Island District Court judge ruling that the Department of Justice must formally state that it only applies to sports betting. Could this provide much-needed clarity after an attempt to enforce the act across all forms of gambling?

Does this mean the issue is dead and buried? Brandt is confident, but Brendan is not so sure. 

Further afield, Brazil is preparing to go to the polls in a vote that could have huge consequences for gambling regulation. Find out what to watch when the results start rolling in. 

They also ponder the National Football League kick-off, as well as assessing the first year of legal sports betting in Arizona, one year on from its launch.

There’s even time for Brendan to return one of his favourite subjects, New York’s mobile sportsbook tax rate.

Remember, the World Series of Politics is now available on Apple Podcasts.

Brendan and Brandt also look to California, where interest groups have already spent $350m on campaigning for and against ballot initiatives that could bring sports betting to the Golden State, with plenty of time for campaigning to ramp up before voters go to the polls in November.

Brandt sets the over/under for total spend on the measures when all is said and done at $500m.

The World Series of Politics is now available on Apple Podcasts.

In future episodes, the World Series of Politics will move across the globe, taking in developments from US states before jetting off to key markets such as Brazil, Thailand, and Great Britain.

Brendan Bussmann, founding partner at B Global Advisors, has an expansive background in government affairs, communications, crisis management, strategy and business development across the gaming, sport, and hospitality sectors.

He has played a leading role in smoothing the progress of legislative and regulatory developments and led licensing processes for some of the industry’s biggest operators, as well as working on multi-billion dollar integrated resort developments.

Brand Iden, meanwhile, is the architect of the Lawful Internet Gaming Act during his tenure as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee in Michigan, which brought online gaming, sports betting, advanced deposit wagering and fantasy sports contests to the Spartan State. 

The winner of the American Gambling Awards Golden Eagle 2020 Legislator of the Year award, he has since moved to sports data giant Sportradar, where he serves as head of government affairs, US. 

“Brendan and Brandt regularly amaze me with the depth of their knowledge and breadth of their connections across the industry, and we are delighted to have them join us regularly to give iGB’s audience the inside track on what really happens behind the scenes of legislatures around the world,” said Clarion Gaming head of B2B content Robin Harrison. 

“We’re looking to take the mystique out of the regulatory process with the World Series of Politics, and it’s an honour to be able to do it with such an incredible duo.”

Listen to the podcast here.

Guy’s journey started back in 2008 when he applied for “a normal, regular job” at Playtech after being so exhausted by a shoot of a science fiction movie he’d written.

He followed this up with a stint as content manager at the company that nailed the secret sauce for social slots, Playtika.

“The people who created it came from the industry, came from 888. They couldn’t figure out why this worked either”, he admits.

As for the much-targeted but never-executed conversion of this now 27.5 million-strong daily audience to real-money:

“I’m guessing that most of the first two exits, Playtika and DoubleDown, were because they thought they could turn the social players into real-money. The fact it hasn’t happened yet doesn’t mean it can’t”.

Enjoy the podcast!

Listen online here!

Listen online here!

Listen online here!

Listen online here!