During his testimony in the ongoing hearing regarding his eligibility to run at New York Racing Association tracks, trainer Bob Baffert confirmed Thursday that the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission has scheduled a Feb. 7 hearing involving Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit. Baffert testified for three hours during the fourth day […]
Law and Politics
North Carolina Sports Betting Bill Likely to See Debate in 2022
Lawmakers will probably turn their attention to a North Carolina sports betting bill this year that couldn’t cross the finish line in 2021. Rep. Jon Hardister, R-Gulliford, one of the sponsors of Senate Bill 688, said recently he believes the legislation has enough bipartisan support to pass the state’s Legislature. […]
Judge Tosses Baffert Suit Against NYRA, Suspension Hearing Forthcoming
Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert’s lawsuit against the New York Racing Association was dismissed Friday, clearing the way for his pre-suspension hearing from the organization to go forward. Judge Carol Bagley Amon of the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York threw out Baffert’s attempt to […]
Oklahoma Sports Betting Bill Filed
The Oklahoma Legislature will consider a bill this year that would authorize in-person sports wagering in the state. Rep. Ken Luttrell, R-Ponca City, filed House Bill 3008, which could permit sportsbooks in tribal casinos in Oklahoma, with federal approval. The legislation doesn’t broach the issue of online wagers. “I have […]
Sports Betting Bill Likely in Alabama in 2022
Alabama lawmakers will take another crack at passing sports betting legislation this year. Last year, legislators attempted to pass a wide-ranging bill that would have authorized not only sports wagers, but also a lottery and casinos. It didn’t make it through the House before the end of the session. Pushing […]
Longtime Senator Harry Reid, Key Voice in Gaming Legislation and Expansion, Dies at 82
Former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid died Tuesday after a four-year battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 82. Reid began his political career in Nevada, starting in the state assembly before becoming Lieutenant Governor in 1971. Reid joined Congress after Nevada Gaming Commission stint In 1977, he took on the […]
HISA, USADA Fail to Reach Agreement on Drug Testing, Enforcement
The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) announced Thursday that it suspended talks with the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) to help enforce HISA’s Anti-Doping and Medication Control program. The two entities broke off negotiations on Thursday after failing to reach terms on an agreement. The USADA was seen as an […]
California Senator Feinstein Calls Out CHRB on Medina Spirit Investigation
California Democrat Senator Dianne Feinstein, one of the Senate co-sponsors of the Horse Racing Integrity and Safety Act of 2020 and a frequent critic of horse racing, wrote a letter to the California Horse Racing Board seeking transparency in the sudden death of Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit. In the […]
US Government Won’t Send Diplomatic Delegation to the 2022 Winter Olympics; US Athletes Will Still Attend
The US government will stage a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics held in Beijing, China in February. In her daily press briefing at the White House, press secretary Jen Psaki announced that the US won’t send an official delegation to the Beijing Games because of concerns regarding human […]
Baffert Attorneys: Test Proves Cream Caused Medina Spirit’s Positive Test
The attorneys for Medina Spirit’s owner and trainer, Amr Zedan and Bob Baffert, issued statements late Friday claiming that tests performed by a New York laboratory confirmed their position that the Kentucky Derby winner’s positive test for the corticosteroid betamethasone came from the ointment Otomax and not an injection. Baffert’s […]
Junket Operator’s Arrest Drives Macau Casino Stocks Down
Macau casino stocks tanked this week after the arrest of 11 junket operators. Alvin Chau, Suncity Group Holdings’ CEO, was among those detained. The region’s casino stocks were already struggling due to new virus concerns, but the specter of more regulatory crackdowns pushed them lower still. During the ’08-’09 financial […]
North Carolina Sports Betting Likely Dead This Session, Could Arise in 2022
A bill that would legalize sports betting across North Carolina probably won’t receive passage by the full Legislature in 2021, but advocates hope to push the bill next year. Senate Bill 688 got the OK by a 12-4 vote from the House Commerce Committee two weeks ago, but the session […]
UK May Ban Gambling Ads on Jerseys Just as US Introduces Them
The UK is considering a ban on gambling company ads on the front of Premier League soccer jerseys. Meanwhile, Caesars Entertainment just announced it would advertise its sportsbook on the front of the Washington Capital’s NHL jerseys. The news highlights the countries’ contrasting sports betting history. Bookmakers have been legal […]
Casino Stocks Crash as Macau Considers Tighter Regulations
Shares of casino stocks tanked on Tuesday after Macau announced it will revise its gambling regulations. In just one day, casino companies operating in the world’s largest gambling center lost roughly $18 billion in stock value. On Tuesday, Macau’s Secretary for Economy and Finance announced a 45-day consultation period for […]
Sports Betting Bill Passes North Carolina Senate
The North Carolina House of Representatives now holds the future of sports betting in the state in its hands. Months after it was introduced, Senate Bill 688 passed the state Senate last week and was sent to the House. That legislation was read for the first time in the House […]
Mickey Mantle’s Hall of Fame Bat Sparks Lawsuit
The bat Mickey Mantle used to launch his 500th home run has been in the Baseball Hall of Fame for decades, but a recent lawsuit filed by Joe Pepitone claims he’s the bat’s rightful owner. Granted, the bat does have his name on it. The dispute over the bat’s ownership […]
North Carolina Sports Betting Bill Clears Next Hurdle
Legislation that would permit sports betting both online and in professional sports venues in North Carolina passed a second state Senate committee this week. Senate Bill 688 cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, which heard the legislation because of its prohibition on underage betting and forbidding of betting collusion. […]
North Carolina Sports Betting Legislation Clears Committee Hurdle
The possibility of statewide sports betting in North Carolina received a boost this week when a legislative bill passed a Senate committee after months of delays. Senate Bill 688, sponsored by Sen. Jim Perry, R-Lenoir County, passed the state Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday following debate of the issue. Sports […]
Connecticut Seeks Sports Betting by Football Season
Connecticut sports betting is coming into form, with the two biggest players in the American industry partnering with the state’s two Native American casinos. DraftKings will partner with Foxwoods Resort Casino and FanDuel will partner with Mohegan Sun to operate both brick-and-mortar and online sportsbooks. Industry leaders enter Connecticut sports […]
Loss of Gaming Chairman Delays Louisiana Sports Betting
Due to a staffing issue at the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, the state’s sports bettors may have to wait until after football season begins before placing wagers. The Louisiana Legislature and state voters legalized sports betting last year, and advocates hoped that wagers could begin by the kickoff of college […]