Sportsbooks

Sports Betting in Florida – Will It Be Legalised?

February 22, 2024 William Mcmaster

Sports Betting in the United States became legalized after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA) which prevented citizens from participating in sports betting. Since then, many states have opened their doors to various sports betting platforms for their residents to legally place bets. However, Florida residents haven’t had it so easy.

Is Sports Betting Legal in Florida?

Florida is one of the states where commercial gambling activities are dominated by the state’s Native American tribes. Hence, you’ll find that you’re only allowed to play casino games at tribal casinos. This has extended into the sports betting scene as well as the Florida Legislature has approved a huge gambling deal called a gaming compact (Tampa Bay, 2021). It has also been signed into law by the state governor, Gov. Ron DeSantis.

This gaming compact makes sport betting in the Sunshine State legal, but it will be exclusively controlled by the Seminole Tribe for 30 years. It covers both physical and online sports betting so you should be able to place bets with your mobile device or desktop from anywhere within Florida. But even then, things are not so straightforward yet (Action Network, 2021).

The compact still needs to be approved by the United States Department of Interior, which will ensure that it agrees with already established Indian gambling laws. Also, it can be legally challenged in the court by parties who would rather not have sports betting in Florida yet. Finally, in Florida, residents have a say in what can be allowed regarding casino gambling expansions so they may have to vote to make sports betting legal in the state.

If all goes well, Florida gambling enthusiasts can expect to begin to place bets on sports as early as October this year, according to the compact. If you live in Florida, you’ll be able to bet on international sports, the state’s professional teams, and even college teams as long as you’re 21 years or older. In-play betting will also be offered and although the details of mobile sports betting aren’t clear yet, the compact has made provision for it (Palm Beach Post, 2021).

Legal Gambling Activities in Florida

While you wait for sports betting to be signed into law in Florida, there are other legal gambling activities that you can engage in such as the Florida Lottery, pari-mutuel gambling, and state-approved card rooms. You can also participate in casino games but they can only be played at tribal casinos in the state. They have a decent amount of games and with the newly-signed deal, craps and roulette will now be offered as well.

If you’re bent on sports betting but are restricted by Florida’s laws, your only option would be to go to a state where it is legal and place bets while you’re physically present there. Otherwise, wait for the sports bettings deal to come through so you can bet from the comfort of your home.

Sources:

Tampa Bay, 2021:
https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2021/05/20/florida-lawmakers-approved-legalized-sports-betting-now-what/?outputType=amp
Action Network, 2021:
https://www.actionnetwork.com/legal-online-sports-betting/florida-online-retail-sports-betting-approved-groundbreaking-gaming-deal?amp=1
Palm Beach Post, 2021:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.palmbeachpost.com/amp/4971523001

Online Betting in Kentucky – Will it Be the Next State to Legalise?

February 22, 2024 William Mcmaster

The state of Kentucky is home to the famous Kentucky Derby, one of the biggest horse racing events in the world. Fans of the Derby have a great time watching the horses tear through the race track and placing bets on which horse will win.

However, what many people do not know is that that’s about as far as legal gambling goes in the state. Although many US states have relaxed their gambling laws, Kentucky remains one of the few that completely prohibits betting with real money within the state’s borders.

Legal Forms of Betting in Kentucky

Gambling in the United States is generally legal but the specifics on acceptable gambling forms are defined by each state. This is why legal gambling options vary from one state to the other. Hence, if you’re a gambling enthusiast living in Kentucky, you need to know what is allowed there before engaging in any form of betting.

The Bluegrass State prohibits all forms of real money gambling, both online and offline. As a result, you won’t find any land-based casinos or sportsbooks in the state. There is also no room for online betting in Kentucky because online casino or sportsbook operators haven’t been granted legal permission to operate. Thankfully, residents of the state can still get a form of gambling experience with some legally approved activities.

One of them is parimutuel betting for horse and greyhound racing. This is one form of betting that all Kentucky residents can engage in without any fear of breaking the law as the sport has become part and parcel of the state. For instance, The Kentucky Derby has been held every year for the past century until last year when the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted the streak. Betting can be done in-person at licensed racetracks or online at licensed racing betting sites.

Kentucky also has a state lottery for its residents who are 18 years or older to participate in online or at licensed retail businesses. The closest thing to legal online sports betting in the state is online fantasy sports and for online casino lovers, some games can be played at social casinos where no real money is involved.

Kentucky’s Online Betting Future

Kentucky’s lawmakers have begun to make moves to regulate some forms of online gambling in the state. In 2020, a bipartisan bill for the legalization of sports betting and online poker was approved at the committee level but didn’t advance further. This is certainly a big deal for a state with one of the strictest restrictions on gambling in the US.

If you’re a gambling fan living in Kentucky, you can keep your fingers crossed for some good news in the coming years. In the meantime, take advantage of the legal gambling options available for you in the state for a safe and exciting experience. Good luck!

Sources:

The State of Online Gambling in Kentucky, Mar 16, 2021 – https://www.state-journal.com/sponsored/the-state-of-online-gambling-in-kentucky/article_a3ed64a6-867c-11eb-b35d-6385f64bc041.html
Kentucky Gambling Laws, FindLaw, June 20, 2016, https://statelaws.findlaw.com/kentucky-law/kentucky-gambling-laws.html
Despite majority support in Kentucky House, odds were against sports betting bill | Louisville Courier Journal, April 8, 2020 https://amp.courier-journal.com/amp/2970078001

Michigan Online Casino v Online Sports Betting – Which Is Performing Best?

February 22, 2024 William Mcmaster

Michigan now has a clean slate when it comes to online gaming and sports betting, thanks to the state’s recent introduction of internet gaming. Michigan hopes to measure up against the competition, even though a few other states have been in the business for a long time. Michigan is tasked to live up to the players’ expectations and to bring Michigan’s online gambling market to a level that equates to that in other US states.

Thanks to a decline of the sports calendar in April, Michigan was among the first US states to see the first month-over-month drop-in sports betting revenue since introducing online sports betting earlier this year. Michigan is now a haven for online casinos.

The region’s online casinos and poker rooms did well in April, taking in $94.9 million, a slight decrease from March’s $95.1 million. For March, revenue per day rose to $3.16 million per day, up from $3.07 million a day in February (Michigan Gaming Control Board, 2021).

Michigan Sports Betting Lags Behind Casino

Michigan sportsbooks admitted $249.9 million in online handle in April, down 30.5 percent from $359.5 million in March, owing to a heavy reliance on regular-season baseball and NBA games to produce a play.

Michigan’s online and offline sportsbooks raised $274.2 million in bets, 91.1 percent of which were placed online when combined with the state’s $24.2 million retail handles, which were released last week. The total handle was down 28.5 percent from March’s $383.7 million in bets (Mitech News, 2021).

Michigan will remain in fifth place in the United States, behind New Jersey, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Illinois, based on the overall handle. However, from the start of online sports betting on January 21 to April 30, Michigan was the first state to cross $1 billion in online wagers, with $1.03 billion (Jordyn Grzelewski , 2021).

Michigan’s sales in April should keep it close to Pennsylvania and New Jersey, the country’s two largest iGaming markets, but none of those states has yet posted April results. The most significant distinction is the maturity level of the states.

The Michigan Gaming Control Board established regulations that enable players to open online gaming accounts without visiting a land-based casino. This ease of access to Michigan’s iGaming services is critical in the state’s huge industry. This is why Michigan is ahead of states such as Illinois, which require a visit to a casino in person.

Michigan Casino & Sports Betting FAQ

What age do you have to be to gamble in Michigan?

To lawfully bet in Michigan, you must be at least 21 years old.

Should I join a Michigan casino’s loyalty program?

Yes, especially since loyalty programs are free to join. They were created to give you the best experience.

References

Jordyn Grzelewski (2021). Michigan’s internet betting revenue takes off. https://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/2021/04/20/online-bettors-wager-hundreds-millions-michigan-march-madness/7300125002/
Michigan Gaming Control Board (2021). Revenues and Wagering Tax Information. https://www.michigan.gov/mgcb/0,4620,7-351-79127_82898-244408–,00.html
Mitech News (2021). Michigan Online Gaming Revenue Gains Momentum. https://mitechnews.com/internet-technologies/michigan-online-gaming-revenue-gains-momentum/

The Future of Gambling in Arizona – Will They Legalise Online Gambling?

February 22, 2024 William Mcmaster

Given its proximity to Nevada, the world’s hub of gambling, one would expect that Arizona would embrace gambling full-on but that’s not exactly the case.

Residents of the Valley of the Sun state are very much interested in gambling, as is seen in the state’s lottery system which is the most popular in the United States of America. Nevertheless, the state is gambling-friendly to a large extent with some legal gambling activities that keep players engaged and generate revenue for the state.

Some of the legal forms of gambling in Arizona are casino gaming, lotteries, and dog and horse racing. Most of the land-based casinos in the state are tribal casinos. Internet gambling is also popular in other US states and legal in some but, there are no strict laws addressing this in Arizona.

Change in Arizona

Thankfully, this year saw the most significant improvement in Arizona’s online gambling space in almost two decades. Governor Doug Ducey, the current state governor, signed agreements with the native tribes, legalizing sports betting, daily fantasy sports, keno, and mobile sports. This agreement also lets existing tribal casinos in the state expand their game offerings by including more table games and permits the creation of new ones in metropolitan Phoenix.

Based on the agreement, the sports betting licenses will only be issued to tribal gambling operators and Arizona-based sports teams. Betting on college teams will be permitted but no prop bets will. The Keno games will also be hosted on horse race tracks and in their fraternal organizations only.

What can we hope for?

The last compact update before this was seen in 2003 and the negotiations that birthed these new adjustments lasted for five years. More progress is expected to be made in the state such as the introduction of licensed online poker rooms and online casino sites. This may take a while but this recent development has created hope that Arizona gamblers can hold on to.

The future of gambling everywhere in the world is online and Arizona is not left out here. There aren’t many indications to show that this is something that could happen anytime soon but it is inevitable. The internet has made gambling more accessible and online gambling itself has become a massive global market. The total revenue generated by the global online gambling space alone in 2019 was USD 53.7 billion. As a result, more governments are becoming more open to exploring this aspect of gambling.

Keep your eyes open…

If you’re an Arizona resident, this is certainly something to look forward to with more options to choose from and more opportunities to win, right from the comfort of your home. While you wait, explore as many legal options as you want, maximizing available chances to cash out in the state. The future just may be closer than you think!

Resident From IN & PA Can Get a $100 Free Bet on March Madness!

February 22, 2024 William Mcmaster

The 2021 March Madness has been unlike any other we’ve seen before, with all games played in the same state. Many features of the world-famous college basketball knockout tournament remain consistent, however. The usual suspects have blasted through the rounds towards the later stages, and followers haven’t been short on upsets either.

One of the biggest shock results in recent times came in the previous round of March Madness when UCLA rallied to knock number one ranked Michigan out of the running. Very few pundits predicted that one, but it likely wouldn’t be the last surprise result.

March Madness is down to the final four teams who battle it out on Saturday for a place in Monday’s final. Houston Cougars meet Baylor Bears, then UCLA Bruins aim to continue the fairytale against Gonzaga Bulldog.

Are you planning on placing a bet on the upcoming matches? And do you feel like you haven’t witnessed enough madness yet? Then we’ve got a special treat for you, only for our sports fans of CompareCasino based in either Pennsylvania or Indiana:

Online sports betting giant Unibet offers customers the chance to earn a stunning $100 free bet before the final.

Here’s how you get it done:

Open an account at Unibet through the exclusive link on this page.
Place a bet of $20 or more on any of the semi-finals.
And here comes the kicker: if there is a dunk scored in either match, you will bag a $100 free bet. Your free bet will be rewarded regardless of who wins, as long as the game has at least one dunk scored.

This promotion gives backers an extra chance to celebrate. One cheer for your winning bet and one for the dunk that nails you the $100 free bet.

Terms and conditions apply.

How Gambling Can Improve Tax Revenues India

February 22, 2024 William Mcmaster

Gambling has been part and parcel of India’s culture for a long time now. Whether it’s wagering on online betting or playing card games to appease the goddess of wealth or playing casino games, gambling isn’t a new trend in India – it has existed since time immemorial. The citizens enjoy the big odds on cricket and can’t just help but stake to try their luck.

It doesn’t matter whether it’s cricket, a game of skill or game of chance, online poker, or football stakes, Indians have made gambling part and parcel of their lives and it seems like they won’t stop it any time soon – the irony is that betting is mostly unregulated in India.

In other words, there are no steadfast laws or a comprehensive framework to guide Indian’s online gambling industry at the moment. Most of the gambling is underground, even though the authorities don’t know about it.

While this is massive for Indian punters adding something to their kitties, it’s a concern for the Indian government who hasn’t started imposing taxes in the gambling industry. And this is why this question – how can imposing tax help India improve their revenues?

There’s Incredible Tax Potential

According to a report by the KPMG on sports betting in India, the sports betting industry in India was worth $130 billion and could rise even more. In other reports, it is said that India’s turnover from gambling was about 7.5 percent of the country’s GDP.

So what could this mean for India if the government decided to get serious on taxation? For example, a 30 percent tax on all betting winnings could result in lakhs of ten million rupees that the government could use to better the country.

Additionally, making gambling legal and taxing the gambling industry means that you’ll be taking people from what’s perceived as illegal and now letting them indulge in it freely while also protecting and respecting their interests. What’s more, doing this would curb bad practices, such as money laundering, black money, and reduce illegal activities in sports.

The best of all is that legalizing this will increase sporting events viewership, increasing its overall revenue. It will bring a ripple effect that will benefit many interested parties like the broadcasters, viewers, etc.

What Next?

Sadly, there are still no taxation laws to regulate India’s gambling, making it a flat 31.2 percent, inclusive of cess. Without a proper legal framework to regulate gambling in India, the Indish government can never realize the gambling potential. Maybe, India should emulate what countries, such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy, Australia, etc., where gambling taxation helps improve their GDP.

Developing an improved legal framework to guide online gambling has brought massive gains to different governments regarding tax revenues. India is probably halfway through this process, courtesy of KYC stringent measures.