LA Clippers owner Steve Ballmer will fork over $400 million in cash for the Forum in Inglewood, California. The purchase, announced Tuesday, paves the way for the Clippers’ new arena at a nearby location, but most of all, it ends Madison Square Garden’s (MSG) contentious legal battle with the City […]
Business and Commerce
Coronavirus-Related Wagers Creative, Not Terribly Profitable
With major sports canceled, sportsbooks are losing money. As a result, oddsmakers are looking for new revenue streams and are trying to get creative by offering coronavirus-related wagers. Several offshore books are scrambling to provide bets for their customers, and some of the offerings are imaginative, to say the least. […]
Coronavirus Complicates $17.3 Billion Eldorado, Caesars Merger
To protect its merger with Eldorado Resorts, Caesars Entertainment was among the last casino companies to close during the coronavirus outbreak. But even if the deal goes through, there could be tough times ahead for Caesars — and the banks financing the deal. Last June, Eldorado Resorts agreed to acquire […]
Jockey Club Reports Horse Fatalities at Lowest Point in a Decade
The incidences of horse fatalities at American thoroughbred racetracks are now at their lowest point in a decade, according to statistics compiled by the Jockey Club’s Equine Injury Database (EID). The 2019 rate of fatal injuries to horses is at its lowest number since the EID began collecting data in […]
MGM and Wynn Temporarily Close All Las Vegas Properties
MGM Resorts and Wynn are closing their Las Vegas properties due to coronavirus concerns, effective Tuesday, March 17. Sunday night’s announcement followed days of incremental changes to the casino companies’ services. Both MGM and Wynn had reduced operations at their Las Vegas properties prior to Sunday’s announcements. MGM closed down […]
Ohio, Illinois and Pennsylvania Casinos Close as Coronavirus Spreads
Casinos across Ohio, Illinois, and Pennsylvania are closing in an attempt to contain the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). The casino closures are mostly in response to new state health policies. After the 2007-08 financial crisis, states embraced the casino industry with open arms. For many, the industry was a […]
Wynn Las Vegas Shuts Down Poker Room and Sportsbook
Wynn Las Vegas announced its race and sportsbook will, along with its poker room, be closed as of Sunday. Friday’s announcement follows Wynn’s closing of its entertainment venues and buffets in its Las Vegas and Boston properties due to coronavirus concerns. The is no mystery behind Wynn’s closure of its […]
What’s Left to Bet On? Options Dwindle as Coronavirus Sparks Cancellations
By and large, the coronavirus has shut down the world of sports, with competitions across the globe canceled or postponed in an effort to slow the pandemic. And while sportsbooks remain open – and online betting sites likely will even in the most heavily impacted areas – the menu of […]
Are Vegas Sportsbooks Becoming Coronavirus Ghost Towns?
The coronavirus scare is sports gambling’s worst nightmare. Virtually all major American sporting events have been canceled or postponed indefinitely, which means sports gamblers won’t have much to bet on, at least for a while. So, how long will this last and how bad will things get? On most afternoons, […]
MGM Mirage Las Vegas Guest Tests Positive for Coronavirus
A guest at the Mirage casino resort tested positive for the coronavirus, MGM Resorts International announced on Wednesday. The guest, a New York woman, was in Las Vegas to attend the “Women of Power Summit.” MGM issued a press release on Wednesday, stating that it had informed guests and employees […]
FanDuel to Livestream NHL Games in Mobile Sports Betting App
FanDuel Sportsbook will begin streaming National Hockey League games on a daily basis as part of a deal between the NHL and IMG Arena. The sportsbook will stream up to two games a day through its mobile app, with feeds available only to those who have funds in their sportsbook […]
NFL’s Two-Minute Drill to Renew Broadcast Rights at Risk
The NFL is eager to renegotiate its television rights on the heels of a good season. But improving ratings may not impress media buyers who worry the coronavirus could hurt advertisers. The NFL had a relatively good year, with television ratings up roughly 5% during the 2019 regular season. As […]
NBA Franchises and XFL Forge New Sports Betting Partnerships
Three NBA franchises and the XFL all announced new partnerships last week, continuing the hookup frenzy between major sports leagues and the sports betting industry. The Indiana Pacers, Philadelphia 76ers, and Boston Celtics all signed deals with DraftKings, while the XFL and The Action Network inked a content deal. Once […]
William Hill Signs Sports Betting Data Partnership with CBS Sports
CBS Sports and bookmaker William Hill announced a partnership on Tuesday, making the oddsmaker the official sportsbook and wagering data provider for the network. William Hill gains the exclusive rights to promote its sportsbook brand on CBS Sports’ digital platforms, beginning with March Madness. William Hill Targets Huge CBS Audience […]
Penn National Gaming and NASCAR Hook Up in Multi-Year Partnership
Penn National Gaming and NASCAR announced a multi-year partnership deal on Friday. This is the second sports-related deal for the regional casino operator this year, after taking a stake in Barstool Sports just last month. Penn National Gaming has been a sponsor of a NASCAR Cup Series race, the Hollywood […]
Spotify Buys The Ringer in Latest Sports Media Grab
Audio streaming company Spotify Technology announced on Wednesday that it agreed to buy the sports media outlet, The Ringer. And while much of the recent sports media acquisition frenzy is tied to the spread of legal sports betting, this latest deal may be motivated more by fit. The details of […]
World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen Signs Controversial Sponsorship with Unibet
Unibet continued strengthening its ties to the chess world, announcing Thursday that it had partnered with World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen on a two-year sponsorship deal. The agreement makes the Kindred Group – parent company of Unibet – Carlsen’s primary sponsor for the next two years. Carlsen will act as […]
Penn National Gaming Acquires Stake in Barstool Sports for $163 Million
Penn National Gaming became the latest gambling operator to get into the sports media business, announcing Wednesday that it was purchasing a 36 percent interest in Barstool Sports. Penn National paid $135 million in cash and $28 million in stock to close the deal, bringing the total purchase price to […]
Barstool Sports Could be Acquired by Penn National
Barstool Sports is reportedly in talks to be acquired by the regional casino company, Penn National Gaming. As legal sports betting expands across the United States, sports media companies are becoming hot commodities. In November, The Big Lead reported that The Chernin Group was looking to sell its interest in […]
New WNBA Contract Could Triple Maximum Player Salary (VIDEO)
A proposed contract between the WNBA and its players’ union could boost the maximum player salary to more than $500,000 per season. The eight-year deal, which has yet to be ratified by either side, will give more to players, but will also ask them to do more. Cathy Engelbert was […]