How will President Trump and Joe Biden greet, who will hone in on China, and will they discuss Bernie Sanders? These are among the questions proposed by DraftKings in the DFS operator’s free-play contest for tonight’s presidential debate. The contest features a $50,000 prize pool, with $5,000 going to first […]
Law and Politics
Tuesday’s Presidential Debate Prop Bets Include Drinking Water, Cursing
The first presidential debate is Tuesday between Democratic candidate Joe Biden and Republican Donald Trump, and while political pundits have been handicapping who will win, oddsmakers are presenting gamblers with a myriad of prop bets. Two Internet sportsbooks, BetOnline and MyBookie, are offering debate props on everything from what the […]
Kentucky Supreme Court Rules Against Purse-Fueling HHR Machines
While horseplayers and horse connections from Santa Anita to Belmont Park were prepping for a huge weekend of stakes races, a decision by the Kentucky Supreme Court ruled some historical horse racing (HHR) machines are illegal, sending a chill through Kentucky racing. A chill that depressed Churchill Downs Inc. stock […]
Appellate Court Upholds Maximum Security’s Derby Disqualification
On the cusp of the 2020 Kentucky Derby, the US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit upheld a lower court decision validating Maximum Security’s disqualification in the 2019 Derby. In a unanimous 14-page decision handed down Friday, the three-judge appeals court upheld a November 2019 decision by a lower […]
Legislative Roundup: Canada Sports Betting Bill Delayed, Tennessee Aiming for Fall Launch
A bill that would legalize single-game sports betting in Canada stalled last week as the Canadian Parliament entered a recess that will halt all progress on the legislation. Parliament prorogued – or discontinued its session – meaning that lawmakers will have to reintroduce any bills they were discussing when the […]
Officials Scratch Fans from Suddenly Spectator-Free Kentucky Derby
Churchill Downs officials announced on Friday that the 146th Kentucky Derby will run without fans, doubling-back on its fervent desire to run America’s most iconic horse race with a semblance of Derby atmosphere. The decision came in the wake of a spike in COVID-19 cases in Kentucky. The state reported […]
Saudi Cup Purse Money Released to All but Maximum Security
Nearly four months from its initial announcement to withhold Saudi Cup purse money, the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia announced it will award prize money to the horses finishing second through 10th. That conspicuously excludes race winner Maximum Security. The JCSA said it will withhold prize money from Maximum Security […]
Wanna Bet on When Donald Trump Leaves Office? There’s a Prop for That
One of the tweets on President Donald Trump’s Twitter feed is a cover of Time magazine with various Trump campaign signs going off into the distant future. “Trump 2024,†followed by “Trump 2028,†“Trump 2032,†“Trump 2036,†and so on. The October 22, 2018, cover story in Time centered on […]
Legislative Roundup: Massachusetts Fast Tracks Sports Betting, Illinois Ends Remote Signups
Massachusetts lawmakers are attempting to fast-track a jobs bill that includes nearly 500 amendments, including two that would legalize both in-person and mobile sports betting in the state. The goal is to include sports betting with a wide range of other economic development proposals, a move that could attract votes […]
Betting Global Warming 101 — A Primer
He once set odds on where a tracking-device-enabled shark would be in a given body of water. So while David Strauss was playing with numbers in the water, the chief oddsmaker for MyBookie indulged his passion for creating real-life odds markets on a global scale. Make that a global warming […]
Eldorado Caesars Merger Gets Final Approval After Surprise Concession
New Jersey gave its approval for the Eldorado Resorts and Caesars Entertainment merger on Friday, but with one surprising condition. Given the current environment, however, the casino companies are lucky they made it through the lengthy approval process. The New Jersey Casino Control Commission was the last regulator to review […]
Legislative Roundup: Virginia Releases Draft Rules, Rhode Island Approves Online Registration
The Virginia Lottery released its proposed sports betting regulation this week, allowing the public to comment on the rules before they become official in September. Under the current regulations, the Virginia Lottery will issue up to 12 mobile sports betting licenses. Virginia Sports Betting Won’t Include Minimum Hold The proposed […]
Second Samples Come Back Positive for Two of Baffert’s Star Horses
More than a month after two of Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert’s star horses failed post-race drug tests at Oaklawn Park, the split samples of both tests both came back positive. The “B” sample tests confirmed the initial findings that showed undefeated Charlatan and Gamine both tested positive for […]
Under Armour Wants to Back Out of UCLA and Cal Contracts
Under Armour is trying to ditch its long-term contracts with two of California’s best-known college sports programs. This appears to be yet another desperate attempt by the fading apparel company to stem its mounting losses. Under Armour was struggling even before the global pandemic. Since then, things have only gotten […]
Sports Betting Legislative Roundup: California Push Comes Up Short Again
California lawmakers failed to broker a compromise on sports betting in the state, admitting this week that there’s no chance of getting the issue on the ballot in November. Both houses of the state legislature needed to pass a constitutional amendment by a two-thirds majority by Thursday in order to […]
15 MiLB Teams Sue Insurance Companies to Collect Virus Claims
Fifteen minor league baseball teams filed a federal lawsuit against their insurance companies. The lawsuit, filed on Tuesday, alleges the insurers breached their contracts when they failed to pay claims related to MiLB’s business interruption. It’s been a difficult year for all sports leagues, but probably none more difficult than […]
Vice Dice: Handicapping the Shifting 2020 Democratic Veepstakes
With Joe Biden virtually assured to be the 2020 Democratic nominee for President, a frenzy of speculation surrounds who he’ll select for a running mate. Will Biden pick one of the well-known betting favorites, or instead, go with a less visible long shot? The former Vice President says he’ll announce […]
Sports Betting Legislative Roundup: Bills Advance in California, Ohio
A bill seeking to legalize sports betting in California cleared its first hurdle on Tuesday, passing through the Senate Governmental Organization Committee. That’s the first step of many for the legislation, which will ultimately require a constitutional amendment approved by California voters. Tribes Oppose Concessions to Card Rooms State Sen. […]
Louisiana Voters to Likely Decide on Sports Betting in Their Parishes
It seems likely that voters in Louisiana will decide in November whether they want to legalize sports betting in the state. House Gives Overwhelming Approval On Wednesday, the state House of Representatives approved Senate Bill 130, which allows for a local option election on sports betting, by a 71-24 vote, […]
Charlatan, a Baffert-Trained Kentucky Derby Hopeful Tests Positive for Banned Drug
Multiple published reports confirmed Tuesday that Bob Baffert’s star 3-year-old Charlatan was one of two horses from the Hall of Fame trainer’s barn testing positive for lidocaine in a post-race sample taken on Arkansas Derby Day May 2. The New York Times reported the second horse was Gamine, a filly […]