BetMGM
PlayIA.com: Iowa sportsbooks set per-day betting record during $144 million February
Iowa sportsbooks took in nearly $144 million in bets in February and took in more bets per day than in the state’s history, even as the state’s month-over-month handle fell from January’s surge. The bottom line is that the Hawkeye State’s sportsbooks continue to reap significant benefits of no in-person registration requirements, according to analysts for PlayIA, which tracks regulated online and retail gaming in the state.
“Iowa remains perhaps the most compelling case study yet on the effects of in-person registration requirements,” said Jessica Welman, an analyst for PlayIA.com. “February is a short month with only one NFL game to bet on, the Super Bowl, so the relatively flat month-over-month results can be misleading on the surface. But another strong showing still places Iowa in a class of states that are either larger or have far more mature gaming markets. And that would not be possible under the old requirements.”
Online and retail sportsbooks generated $143.6 million in wagers in February, according to official data released Friday. That is down 3.9% from the record $149.5 million handle in January. But betting per day in the 28 days of the month was a record $5.1 million, which was up from the $4.8 million per day bet in the 31 days of January.
February’s handle pushed Iowa’s lifetime handle to $1.1 billion, surpassing an eye-catching milestone.
The biggest reason for the two-month surge is the removal of in-person registration requirements in January. In fact, FanDuel reported new customer registrations multiplied by nearly a factor of seven from December to January, a direct result of the easing of registration requirements. And DraftKings said that by Jan. 5, it had registered more customers via mobile registration than through all of 2020.
Net receipts for sportsbooks did fall 32% month over month, to $7.7 million in February from $11.3 million in January. The month’s revenue still yielded $520,444 in state taxes.
As immediate and significant an effect as the removal of in-person registration requirements has been, it is not the sole reason the state’s sportsbooks remained busy in February. The Super Bowl brought in $16.2 million in wagers, most of which came in February. Bookmakers also benefited from robust interest in men’s college basketball, particularly No. 5 Iowa and Drake, which sits just outside the Top 25.
“When local teams enjoy strong seasons, as both Iowa and Drake are, interest in betting on their games goes up. We see that in every regulated sports betting market in the U.S.,” said Dustin Gouker, analyst for PlayIA.com. “With March Madness on the horizon, more growth almost certainly lies ahead. And sportsbooks should get an even bigger boost if Iowa or Drake can manage a prolonged run in the NCAA Tournament.”
For the month, online sports betting accounted for $143.6 million, or 87.2%, of the state’s overall handle. That brings it closer in line with markets with more mature online sports betting and no on-site registration requirements. In those states, about 90% of all bets are made online.
The surge in online sports betting continues to heat up the race for market share among operators. Iowa’s first online operator in August 2019, William Hill — which partners in Iowa with Prairie Meadows, Horseshoe Casino Council Bluffs, Isle Casino Hotel Waterloo, Isle of Capri Bettendorf, Lakeside, and Harrah’s Council Bluffs — retook the online market lead with $45.2 million in online wagers in February. That netted a market-leading $2 million in receipts.
The Wild Rose license, which is anchored by DraftKings but includes BetRivers, took in $38.9 million in online wagers and $1.5 million net receipts. FanDuel, the nation’s largest sportsbook brand, helped put Diamond Jo in third place with $28.4 million in online bets, up from $26.9 million in January. Diamond Jo’s license, which includes BetMGM, netted $1.5 million on those bets.
Still emerging from COVID-related restrictions, retail betting generated $18.4 million, down from $28.8 million. Ameristar topped the retail market with $4.5 million in wagers, just ahead of Diamond Jo Worth’s $4.2 million.
William Hill and its partners lead across all betting platforms, with a combined retail and online handle of $50 million, or 34.8% of the state’s handle. In a U.S. market dominated by FanDuel and DraftKings, Iowa and Nevada are the only two states in which William Hill is the market leader.
“William Hill is still proving that early entry into a market is critically important,” Welman said. “But DraftKings and FanDuel are investing heavily in Iowa, and with their brand recognition, they are seeing a rapid return on that investment. We’ll see how long William Hill is able to hold them off.”
For more information and analysis on regulated sports betting in Iowa, visit PlayIA.com/news.
BetMGM
Octoplay Launches Jackpot Blitz with BetMGM in Ontario, Accelerating North American Expansion

Octoplay continues its expansion in North America by launching Jackpot Blitz with BetMGM in Ontario, building on the company’s continental growth strategy following its Michigan provisional license approval.
This strategic launch builds on the growing momentum with BetMGM, marking a significant milestone in Octoplay’s North American expansion, introducing the bespoke opt-in jackpot solution built in collaboration with BetMGM. The decision to expand the partnership with BetMGM demonstrates the strong relationship between the companies and sets a strong foundation for Octoplay’s continued growth across North America.
The Ontario launch builds on Octoplay’s rapid market entries over recent months, including Microgame’s network of 50 operators in Italy, Slovakia’s leading operator Niké, and Sweden’s state-owned Svenska Spel Sport&Casino. With active licenses in the UK, Sweden, Malta, Greece, Romania, Slovakia, Italy, and Belgium, Octoplay continues its accelerated expansion across both European and North American markets.
Jackpot Blitz has achieved a remarkable 88% player opt-in rate since launch. This performance, combined with BetMGM’s extensive player base, sets a strong foundation for Octoplay’s North American growth as the company prepares for launches in Michigan and additional US states in 2025.
“The launch of Jackpot Blitz with BetMGM in Ontario accelerates our North American expansion plans,” says Carl Ejlertsson, CEO at Octoplay. “Our strong partnership with BetMGM has enabled us to bring this innovative product to their Ontario players. With our proven track record of collaboration with top tier gaming operators like BetMGM, we’re ideally positioned to drive significant growth together in regulated markets across North America.”
Oliver Bartlett, VP of Gaming Product & Content at BetMGM, said: “Ontario is a key iGaming market for BetMGM, and adding Jackpot Blitz strengthens our vast collection of games. Octoplay is part of our strategy to collaborate with top-tier partners to bring the best content to our players.”
As Octoplay prepares for its Michigan launch in 2025, followed by entries into additional US states, this expansion with BetMGM represents another milestone in the company’s accelerated growth. The partnership reinforces Octoplay’s momentum as the company continues its rapid advancement in North America.
The post Octoplay Launches Jackpot Blitz with BetMGM in Ontario, Accelerating North American Expansion appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Adam Greenblatt Chief Executive Officer of BetMGM
BetMGM 1Q 2025 Business Update

Strong start to 2025 affirms strategic approach and confidence of positive EBITDA in 2025
BetMGM LLC , one of the leading sports betting and iGaming operators across North America, jointly owned by Entain plc and MGM Resorts International, is providing an update on its 1Q 2025 performance.
Adam Greenblatt, Chief Executive Officer of BetMGM, commented:
“2025 is off to an encouraging start for BetMGM as we execute our revised strategic plan. The momentum we built in the second half of 2024 continued into the first quarter as we implement our powerful iGaming strategy, enabling us to grow faster than the market and at scale. In Online Sports, we are elevating our brand and delivering improved performance, even in the face of unfavorable sports outcomes during key moments in the quarter. As we approach May, we remain confident in achieving full year positive EBITDA in 2025, supported by solid underlying activity trends and our successful delivery of positive EBITDA in the first quarter.”
1Q 2025 Key Financial Highlights
1Q 2025 BetMGM Financial Summary1,2,3
Three months ended
March 31
$ millions, unless otherwise noted
2025
2024
YoY Change
Net Revenue
iGaming
$443
$348
+27%
Online Sports
$194
$116
+68%
Handle
$4,088
$3,174
+29%
GGR Hold %
8.2%
8.7%
(50)bps
NGR Hold %
4.8%
3.6%
+110bps
Retail / Other
$20
$26
(22)%
Total Net Revenue
$657
$489
+34%
Contribution
$116
($38)
+$153
EBITDA
$22
($132)
+$154
Average Monthly Actives (thousands)4
1,067
1,009
+6%
Financial Highlights
Operational highlights
Outlook
The post BetMGM 1Q 2025 Business Update appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
BetMGM
BetMGM Poker Championship Returns to ARIA Resort & Casino in Las Vegas June 30 – July 4

BetMGM, a leading sports betting and iGaming operator, announced the BetMGM Poker Championship returns to ARIA in Las Vegas Monday, June 30 to Friday, July 4, highlighting the ARIA Poker Classic Summer Series. The no-limit hold ‘em tournament has a $3,500 buy-in and offers participants a $3 million guaranteed prize pool. For the fourth consecutive year, the BetMGM Poker Championship will begin in ARIA’s Poker Room and conclude with a live-streamed Final Table at the PokerGO Studio. The ARIA Poker Classic runs May 29 through July 13 with the full schedule available at ARIA Poker on X.
“BetMGM’s relationship with MGM Resorts is our differentiator and the BetMGM Poker Championship presents a unique opportunity to connect our online players with one of the premier properties and events that Las Vegas has to offer. We are preparing to use our brand ambassadors – Darren Elias and Abby Merk – as well as our media partners, to engage with the poker community in new ways throughout the summer,” said Angus Nisbet, VP of Gaming at BetMGM.
Online qualifiers for the BetMGM Poker Championship run at 9:15 p.m. EST every Thursday and Sunday through Sunday, June 22. More than 100 players from BetMGM Poker markets including New Jersey, Michan, Pennsylvania, and Ontario (Canada) will win BetMGM Poker Championship packages that include a $3,500 Championship entry, a five-night stay at ARIA, travel credit, and a BetMGM swag bag. A full online qualifier schedule is available at BetMGMPoker.com.
Ryan Kirk, ARIA’s Director of Poker Operations, said: “ARIA has long been recognized as the epicenter of poker in Las Vegas and we’re proud, once again, to host the BetMGM Poker Championship during our ARIA Poker Classic. This event continues to raise the bar, bringing together the prestige of our world-class poker room with BetMGM’s innovative online platform. We look forward to welcoming players from across North America to experience the energy, excitement and hospitality that ARIA delivers.”
The post BetMGM Poker Championship Returns to ARIA Resort & Casino in Las Vegas June 30 – July 4 appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
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