BetMGM

PlayIA.com: Sports betting volume falls to less than $90 million

Published

4 years ago

August 9, 2021

Iowa’s sportsbooks extended a streak of month-over-month declines in betting volume, taking in less than $89 million in bets in July in what was the 24th month of sports betting in the state. July’s betting volume decrease is historically the single slowest month for sports wagering in the U.S., and even the Olympics and NBA Finals couldn’t reverse the trend in Iowa, according to PlayIA, a leading source for news and analysis of the Iowa gaming market.

“The Olympics and the later-than-usual NBA Finals gave bettors more opportunities to place a bet than what would be a typical July, but neither were able to move the needle much,” said Jessica Welman, analyst for the PlayUSA.com Network, which includes PlayIA.com. “Bettors simply check out in July, when summer vacations and other pursuits take precedence. But a surge in betting will certainly come with the beginning of the football season.”

Iowa’s online and retail sportsbooks took in $88.9 million in July, down 20% from $111.2 million in June to extend a streak of month-over-month declines to four, according to official data released Friday. July marked the lowest handle in the state since November 2020, as bettors placed $2.9 million per day over the 31 days of July, well short of the $3.7 million per day in June.

The betting volume results followed a historical trend. The pandemic skewed 2020 data, but the lowest volume month across the U.S. in both 2018 and 2019 was in July. The boost in volume pushed net operator revenue to $7.1 million in June, down 15.7% from $8.4 million in June. That resulted in $479,479 in tax revenue for the state.

Prague Gaming & TECH Summit 2025 (25-26 March)

Baseball and basketball held most of Iowa’s betting water in July. Iowa put in place a cautious framework for Olympics betting, which barred wagering on individual events that feature athletes under the age of 18. That took some of the betting inventory off the board.

“Mainstream sports such as basketball and golf, along with a handful of high-profile events, have drawn the most Olympics interest,” said Eric Ramsey, analyst for PlayUSA.com and PlayIA.com. “But there was no wave of action from the Olympics. Bettors aren’t as comfortable wagering on Olympic events. And partly it’s because betting on many high-profile events in swimming and gymnastics, which took center stage in the early part of the Olympics, were barred because minors were competing.”

Sports betting launched in Iowa on Aug. 15, 2019, which made July 2021 the 24th month of operation. It has been a winding road with the pandemic that hobbled the industry in 2020 and the removal of in-person registration requirements that has rocketed the market forward in 2021.

In 24 months, Iowa sportsbooks have generated:

$1.7 billion in wagering
$122.8 million in gross gaming revenue
$8.3 million in tax revenue

“Iowa has experienced so many twists and turns over the last two years, but the state’s sportsbooks find themselves in a good place,” Welman said. “Sportsbooks will hit more than $1 billion in wagering by September at the latest, nearly doubling the handle for all of 2020 before football kicks off. That is staggering growth.”

In July, $77.9 million in bets were made online, representing 87.6% of the state’s handle. Retail betting accounted for the remaining $11.0 million.

Caesars Sportsbook, which was rebranded from William Hill, generated 35% of Iowa’s handle in July with $31.1 million in total wagers. That is down from $36.65 million in June. $28.7 million of July’s wagers were made online. In all, July’s wagering yielded $1.0 million in net receipts.

Wild Rose, which includes DraftKings and BetRivers, took in $25.2 million in online and retail wagering, down from $31.5 in June. July’s handle included $25.0 million in online wagering. The wagering was enough to produce $2.6 million in revenue, topping the market.

Diamond Jo, fueled by FanDuel and BetMGM, was third in the state with $21.4 million in combined wagers, down from $26.6 million in June. $18.4 million of July’s wagering came online. That was enough to net a market-leading $2.4 million in revenue.

Bally Bet, the state’s newest operator, collected $1.1 million in wagers and $111,157 in revenue in its first full month of operation.

AJ Mazza

Jamie Foxx Spotlights BetMGM Casino in New Commercial

Published

1 month ago

March 6, 2025

GamingAmericas.com

jamie-foxx-spotlights-betmgm-casino-in-new-commercial

BetMGM, a leading sports betting and iGaming operator, is premiering its first online casino commercial featuring company brand ambassador Jamie Foxx. The 30-second spot entitled “Vegas Lights” showcases the relationship between the award-winning online casino and MGM Resorts International, with Foxx using the BetMGM mobile app to illuminate iconic Las Vegas experiences with each successive tap.

“BetMGM has been a phenomenal company to work with the past few years and creating this new commercial for their online casino was no exception. I love the way the spot turned out,” said Foxx.

“Vegas Lights” follows Foxx as he travels to several of MGM Resorts’ Las Vegas destinations including Bellagio, ARIA Resort & Casino and MGM Grand. The commercial emphasizes the connection between playing online and earning in-person rewards, such as show tickets and resort accommodations. Created by BetMGM’s award-winning agency of record, Highdive, the spot was directed by the award-winning duo, The Malloys, with Superprime, and shot with renowned cinematographer Jeff Cronenweth.

Casey Hurbis, Chief Marketing Officer, BetMGM, said: “Jamie Foxx is an extraordinary talent and a pivotal part of the way we showcase the best of BetMGM. This spot brilliantly captures BetMGM’s major differentiator of blending online and in-person casino experiences.”

Mark Gross, Highdive Co-Founder and Co-CCO, said: “No one lights up Vegas like BetMGM and Jamie Foxx. Our new ‘Vegas Lights’ spot showcases how BetMGM Casino, and its real-life connection to Vegas, can make every moment feel like a win.”

The commercial will air in the five markets across North America where BetMGM Casino currently operates including Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ontario.

AJ Mazza, Brand Director of BetMGM, said: “Jamie is a fantastic ambassador and opens up so many creative ways to unleash our brand. His energy and humor on set was irresistible, and it was an honor to collaborate with him.”

The post Jamie Foxx Spotlights BetMGM Casino in New Commercial appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

BetMGM

BetMGM Launches “Gretzky Light the Lamp” Slot Game

Published

2 months ago

February 18, 2025

GamingAmericas.com

betmgm-launches-“gretzky-light-the-lamp”-slot-game

BetMGM, a leading iGaming and sports betting operator, has launched its latest slot game “Gretzky Light the Lamp” at the BetMGM Casino. The new slot features NHL legend and BetMGM ambassador Wayne Gretzky. Gretzky Light the Lamp is now available at BetMGM Casino in New Jersey and Michigan and will be available in additional iGaming markets where the operator is live pending regulatory approval.

“The ability to bring ‘Vegas Magic’ to its players is one of the biggest reasons BetMGM is so unique. Gretzky Light the Lamp is a great combined example of my role as a BetMGM ambassador and the company’s constant innovation,” Wayne Gretzky said.

Developed by Spinberry, an omnichannel game development studio, Gretzky Light the Lamp is a 25 line, 5×3 slot game with a hockey theme that includes free spins and wild re-spins. The game is the first to showcase Spectacular Link and Spectacular Link Frenzy. Players will see Wayne Gretzky wearing a gold and black jersey adorned with a BetMGM logo.

“Wayne Gretzky’s historic legacy in hockey makes him a wonderful ambassador for BetMGM. We are honored to create a game that showcases his likeness and brings the excitement of lighting the lamp to iGaming,” Oliver Bartlett, VP of Gaming Product & Content at BetMGM, said.

The post BetMGM Launches “Gretzky Light the Lamp” Slot Game appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

Adam Greenblatt

BetMGM Secures Exclusive Online Casino Content Rights to “Family Feud” and “The Price is Right” with Fremantle Partnership

Published

3 months ago

January 21, 2025

GamingAmericas.com

betmgm-secures-exclusive-online-casino-content-rights-to-“family-feud”-and-“the-price-is-right”-with-fremantle-partnership

BetMGM, a leading iGaming and sports betting operator, announced a new and exclusive online casino rights partnership with Fremantle, a world leader in creating, producing and distributing entertainment content for over 100 years. The multi-year agreement secures the intellectual property rights for iconic game shows “The Price is Right” and “Family Feud” for slots, table games, and non-traditional casino games. The partnership establishes the foundation for BetMGM to create customized online casino content around both game show brands.

“This partnership unlocks various ways for BetMGM and Fremantle to collaborate and expand our brand. ‘Family Feud’ and ‘The Price is Right’ are two of the most popular game shows in North America, and we look forward to bringing their fun and excitement to our online casino in various exciting ways,” said Adam Greenblatt, Chief Executive Officer of BetMGM.

During select weeks throughout the upcoming seasons, BetMGM will be featured as a sponsor with exclusive, never-before-seen partnership integrations for “Family Feud” and “The Price is Right”. Throughout 2025 BetMGM and Fremantle will reveal additional details on these planned partnership activations.

Suzanne Lopez, COO of Fremantle North America, said: “Our exclusive deal with BetMGM and our premier game show IP represents a significant milestone for us both. This innovative collaboration paves the way for in-game branding across diverse online casino categories, while also providing opportunities for integrated TV sponsorships. It’s all about enhancing how fans of ‘The Price Is Right’ and ‘Family Feud’ connect with the shows in fresh, immersive ways.”

The company’s award-winning online casino is home to over 3500 titles across North American markets and one of the largest state-by-state exclusive jackpot networks. BetMGM’s jackpot network currently consists of more than 20 game titles including popular games such as MGM Grand Millions, Bison Fury, and Loot’En Khamun and the Dead Sea Scrolls.

The post BetMGM Secures Exclusive Online Casino Content Rights to “Family Feud” and “The Price is Right” with Fremantle Partnership appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.