Canada

PlayIndiana.com: Betting volume jumps in August on baseball and early season football

Published

4 years ago

September 13, 2021

Indiana’s sports betting volume began to bounce back in August, as a handful of college football and preseason NFL games drew enough interest from bettors to bump volume up nearly 11% from July. But as Indiana’s sports betting industry turns 2, the uptick to nearly $216 million in wagers offers just a precursor of a fall that is certain to bring fresh growth, according to PlayIndiana, which tracks the state’s gaming industry.

“Even a little bit of football can make a big difference in a month,” said Eric Ramsey, analyst for the PlayUSA.com Network, which includes PlayIndiana.com. “The schedule was still relatively light compared to the fall, but it is a great sign that August brought a nice bounce in wagering.”

Online and retail sportsbooks combined to draw $215.6 million in bets in August, which is up 27.6% from $169.0 million in August 2020 and up 10.9% from $194.5 million in July, according to official reporting released Friday. Bettors placed $7 million per day over the 31 days of August, up from $5.5 million per day in August 2020 and $6.3 million per day in July.

Gross gaming revenue grew to $16.7 million, up 33% from $12.6 million in August 2020 and up 3% from $17.2 million in July. Adjusted gross revenue was $16.5 million, producing $1.6 million in state taxes.

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

Other than the months in 2020 that were marred by pandemic-related shutdowns, year-over-year growth has been the norm since Indiana launched its sports betting industry in September 2019. With just a handful of retail operators in that first month, Indiana’s sportsbooks generated $8.3 million in revenue on $35.2 million in wagers.

In the 24 months since launch, the Hoosier State has produced:

$4.3 billion in wagering
$351.3 million in gross sports betting revenue
$33.4 million in tax dollars for the state

“With the pandemic, sports betting has not always traveled the smoothest road,” said Nicole Russo, analyst for PlayIndiana.com. “Still, Indiana’s industry is maturing more quickly than anyone could have expected, especially considering the obstacles. And the growth is not done. Expect more revenue and wagering records to fall over the next few months.”

Baseball again topped all sports with $68.3 million in wagering, up from $63.5 million in July. But even with just a handful of college football games, in addition to preseason NFL games and futures betting, football drew $13.9 million in wagering in August, up from $2.2 million in July.

Of particular importance to Indiana bettors were three preseason Indianapolis Colts games. And sportsbooks have been gearing up for a surge in action with aggressive promotions ahead of the NFL season.

“Even though preseason games are typically low-volume affairs, there was particular interest in the Colts this August because of the addition of quarterback Carson Wentz,” Russo said. “Add in a light schedule of college football, and there was just enough to draw a significant amount of football wagers. Still, September’s full college schedule and opening weeks of the NFL should dwarf anything we saw in August.”

Online betting accounted for 90.5%, or $195.2 million, of August’s handle. DraftKings topped the market with $74.2 million in online wagering in August, up from $60.2 million in July. The month’s wagering produced $4.4 million in gross receipts, down from $4.7 million in July. FanDuel was second in August with $52.6 million in wagering, down from $54.3 million in July. Those bets produced a state-best $4.9 million in gross receipts.

The leaders were followed by:

BetMGM ($26.2 million handle, up from $25.6 million in June; $2.5 million win, up from $2.2 million).
William Hill/Caesars ($16.9 million handle, up from $7.9 million; $977,286 win, up from $228,927)
Barstool ($8.6 million handle, up from $7.2 million; $347,062 win, down from $463,462)
PointsBet ($5.9 million handle, down from $7.0 million; $574,087 win, down from $747,400)
BetRivers ($5.8 million handle, down from $6.9 million; $409,812 win, down from $659,187)
TheScore ($1.8 million handle, down from $3.4 million; $28,776 loss, down from $73,512 win)
TwinSpires ($1.3 million handle, up from $536,783; $37,866 win, up from $5,043 loss)
WynnBet ($777,706 handle, up from $737,797; $77,443 win, down from $109,614)
Unibet ($775,921 handle, down from $852,852; $22,300 win, down from $80,444)
BetWay ($301,696 handle, up from $30,859; $5,081 loss, down from $1,059 loss)

Meanwhile, retail betting accounted for $20.4 million in bets in August, up from $19.9 million in July. Hollywood Lawrenceburg, nearest to Cincinnati and one of the highest-volume retail sportsbooks in the U.S., led retail books in Indiana with $5.6 million in wagers, down from $5.9 million in July. Ameristar East Chicago was second with $3.4 million in bets, just ahead of Indiana Grand ($3.3 million) Harrah’s Hoosier Park ($3.1 million), and Horseshoe Hammond ($2.6 million).

“The NFL, and to a lesser extent college football, is the best opportunity of the year for sportsbooks to attract new customers, so every operator will be aggressive over the next couple months,” Russo said. “In addition, we expect to see a slew of new operators, such as SBK Sportsbook, launch during the next few months to take advantage of the prime sports betting season.”

For more revenue information on Indiana sportsbooks, visit PlayIndiana.com/revenue.

Ben Clemes

High Roller Submits Gaming License Application in Ontario

Published

1 month ago

May 30, 2025

GamingAmericas.com

high-roller-submits-gaming-license-application-in-ontario

High Roller Technologies, operator of the premium online casino brands High Roller and Fruta, announced the submission of its Internet Gaming Operator license application in Ontario, Canada, targeting the launch of its flagship brand HighRoller.com in the second half of 2025.

“The submission of our licensing application to access Ontario’s regulated online gambling market is an important milestone in our Company’s journey. Once our application is approved, we anticipate that we will have the opportunity to launch our online casino product into the market later this year,” said Ben Clemes, Chief Executive Officer at High Roller.

Ontario is one of the largest regulated online gambling markets in the world as measured by gross gaming revenue. In 2024, regulated online gambling operators within the province generated approximately $2.3B in gross gaming revenue, and growth continues to be recorded in the first half of 2025. Recently, the province of Alberta passed enabling legislation to establish a regulatory framework for online gambling. Once available, the Company also intends to pursue licensure in Alberta to expand its regulated market footprint in Canada.

“Ontario is missing an elegant brand like High Roller. We’re excited to roll out the red carpet for our new customers, and we’re looking forward to showcasing our tremendous product,” said Clemes.

The post High Roller Submits Gaming License Application in Ontario appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

Canada

IAGR announces program for IAGR2025 conference in Toronto

Published

1 month ago

May 29, 2025

GamingAmericas.com

iagr-announces-program-for-iagr2025-conference-in-toronto

The International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR) has released the program for its upcoming annual conference, to be held in Toronto from 20-23 October.

With the theme ‘Resilient regulation: Exploring what works, why and what’s next’, the event brings together global regulators and thought leaders to examine how regulatory frameworks can evolve to meet today’s challenges.

The four-day program explores timely issues, including the rise of AI and behavioural analytics, the impact of converging technologies, cross-border collaboration and the continued push to strengthen responsible gambling policies.

IAGR President Ben Haden said the program offers a strong preview of the content and conversations delegates can expect in Toronto.

‘This year’s program showcases the breadth and complexity of the challenges facing gambling regulators worldwide, from protecting player wellbeing to tackling illegal markets and understanding new technologies,’ Haden said.

‘I encourage regulators, researchers and policy professionals from around the world to join us in Toronto. The conference is a space to learn, share experience, challenge assumptions and shape the future of effective, collaborative regulation.’

Confirmed speakers and panellists include:

Andrew Rhodes, CEO, Gambling Commission, Great Britain
Anders Dorph, Director, Danish Gambling Authority, Denmark
Dr Karin Schnarr, CEO and Registrar, Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, Canada
Mark Vander Linden, Director of Research and Responsible Gaming and Carrie Torrisi, Chief of Sports Wagering Division, Massachusetts Gaming Commission, United States
Bashir Are, CEO, Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority, Nigeria
Teo Chun Ching, Chief Executive, Gambling Regulatory Authority, Singapore
Ladipo Abiose Akolade, Founder, GamblePause Initiative Africa, Nigeria
Rasmus Kjaergaard, CEO, Mindway AI, Denmark
Tracy Parker, Senior Vice President, Accreditation, Advisory and Insights, Responsible Gambling Council, Canada
Pedro Romero, Chief of Safer Gambling Partnerships, BetBlocker, Gibraltar
Sonia Wasowska, Head of Supervision, General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority, United Arab Emirates
Steven Blackburn, Partner, Ashurst Risk Advisory, Australia

The event will be held at The Westin Harbour Castle on Toronto’s waterfront.

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Alberta Gaming

Edmonton Elks, Play Alberta Connect on New Partnership

Published

1 month ago

May 21, 2025

GamingAmericas.com

edmonton-elks,-play-alberta-connect-on-new-partnership

Home field advantage has a new name, as the Edmonton Elks announced that Play Alberta Field at Commonwealth Stadium is now the home of the Elks.

The field naming rights are part of a broader multi-year agreement between Play Alberta and the EE, making Play Alberta the official sports betting partner of the Club.

“We couldn’t be more excited to expand our partnership with Play Alberta. This partnership is about more than just putting a name on the field – it’s about building something meaningful for our fans and our community. Play Alberta is an Alberta-based organization that shares our values and our commitment to giving back. Together, we’re creating new ways for fans to connect with our team and experience the game day atmosphere in a whole new way,” said Elks President and CEO Chris Morris.

The expanded relationship between the Elks and Play Alberta will allow the game day experience to continue to grow. Fans can look forward to unique activations and promotions around the stadium, including the chance to win game tickets and memorabilia.

“Since Play Alberta’s launch five years ago, our team has made it a priority to connect with the communities where our players live and work. We are very excited to join the Edmonton Elks on the field on game days during upcoming CFL seasons. Play Alberta Field at Commonwealth Stadium allows us to partner with the Elks and showcase two brands built for Albertans in a historic Edmonton location,” said Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Chief Executive Officer Kandice Machado.

The Elks open their 76th season on Saturday, June 7 in Vancouver when they take on the B.C. Lions. Edmonton’s home opener at Play Alberta Field at Commonwealth Stadium is slated for Thursday, June 19 against the Montreal Alouettes.

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