LSR Sports Betting & News Podcast

LSR analyst Eric Ramsey rejoins the podcast to discuss his Super Bowl revenue and handle projections throughout the legal US sports betting market. Also, a promising step forward in Georgia (13:39) and one of the most notable partnerships to date, between LeBron James and DraftKings (19:58).

The new app on the block made waves with unusually generous limits and boosts for the NFL Divisional Playoffs and the crew speculates about why. Plus, the latest California sports betting effort quietly dies (11:14), a wild story about the Iowa sports betting investigation (15:38), the official launch date arrives in North Carolina (18:23), and Nevada takes another step into the present (22:50).

A new bill to address problem gambling drops in Congress, as well as iGaming legislation in New York (6:43) and sports betting license applications in Arizona (12:20). Plus, Pat Evans joins the crew to preview 2024 state-by-state legislation efforts throughout the country (18:02).

An olive branch from sportsbooks to California tribes (3:46). When MLB-affiliated reporting indicated Shohei Ohtani was joining the Blue Jays, baseball odds shifted dramatically - and it turned out incorrectly, when he landed with the Dodgers. (14:30)

What were the biggest stories of 2023 in the US sports betting and DFS markets? What twists and turns does 2024 hold for the industry's biggest names? Join Matt Brown and Adam Candee for a look back and a peek forward as they wrap the year.

Maverick Carter, one of LeBron James's closest associates, admitted to betting on the NBA with an illegal bookie in California. But he's not alone in betting in the shadows, which highlights the need for change. Plus, DraftKings launches a pick'em game with a twist (10:50) and California's sports betting initiatives get changes that do not impress tribal leaders (17:10).

The Adelson family is making a major move into professional sports by buying controlling interest in the Dallas Mavericks, and the play likely means revived discussion of casinos and sports betting in Texas. Plus, California joins the list of states looking into the legality of fantasy sports (14:44), Unibet pulls the plug in North America (19:25), and North Carolina pushes back its launch date ag...

After months of buildup, ESPN and Penn Entertainment launched ESPN Bet into the wild this week. What did the crew think of the revamped app and how ESPN promoted it? Also, Ohio bans two of the most comically bad criminals in the sports world (14:28), DFS companies score a temporary win in North Carolina (17:53), and Hard Rock takes some massive bets in Florida (20:18).

The Hard Rock Bet app reopened in Florida for mobile sports betting, but it already faces a fresh legal challenge from a familiar opponent. Plus, Arizona and Mississippi join the list of states banning DFS pick'em games (7:17) and an in-depth discussion of the PGA Tour's problems with banning a player for betting, and ways to fix it in the future (13:03).

A mysterious ballot initiative to bring online sports betting to California just appeared, but its prospects look dim from the start. Also, a big DFS operator pulls its pick'em games from a big state (12:36), Florida gets ready to open in-person sportsbooks (15:49), and a long-awaited launch in Maine finally arrives this week (20:41).

Controversy is swirling among bettors and fantasy players after a key injury went undisclosed last Sunday. The crew discusses how to fix the problem, as well as the latest state to ban DFS pick'em games (15:13), a major trend reversing in New Jersey (20:45), and Mississippi's latest moves on mobile wagering (26:42).

Social media lit up this week with opinions about the new ESPN Bet logo, which departs quite a bit from the well-known color scheme. The crew also talks about the latest state to ban pick'em games that mirror sports betting (7:16) and why LSR's legal expert is cautioning the industry about news coverage (14:45).

With most of the sports betting industry descending upon Las Vegas for the G2E convention, a slower news week allows the crew to take stock of the state of the industry, as well as a thank you and farewell to podcast founder Dustin Gouker.

LSR writer Sam McQuillan makes his podcast debut to talk about the latest moves by gaming regulators in two of the largest states. Plus, Pat Evans recaps the first two weeks in Kentucky (9:06), and the crew talks about the latest NCAA betting rule changes (15:32) and a potential delay in North Carolina online sports betting (23:12).

A new challenge in a state court means Hard Rock Bet will not be coming back to Florida as soon as some hoped. Plus, the latest on the launch of online sports betting in Kentucky (13:27) and why a mysterious change to the law in North Carolina could slow down its path to online wagering (18:29).

What should happen when a sportsbook leaves up a line too long and bettors take advantage of the situation? Also, Fanatics begins streaming NFL games live inside its app (7:05) and Florida regulators crack down on Underdog, PrizePicks, and Betr for "illegal bets" (9:52).

Another court decision goes the way of those seeking legal sports betting in Florida, but one potentially large hurdle remains. Also, the crew reacts to a 9-11 promo in poor taste from DraftKings (4:40) and the latest scuttlebutt on social media around fantasy sports operators offering sports betting products (13:13).

As the NFL season starts, the crew highlights how the lines between legal, regulated sportsbooks and offshore competitors become blurrier for the media. Also, UFC takes a step to prevent future betting scandals (19:24) and the guys talk expectations for handle and revenue during the prime time of the sports calendar (28:07).

We had the latest update in the federal court case involving sports betting in Florida; are we any closer to actual bets being taken? We also look at Fanatics' plans for the start of NFL season (3:40), some fascinating data about sports betting commercials so far in 2023 (8:17), and the latest on the Kentucky launch (15:21).

State regulators are already talking about what to do with the next wave of sports betting advertising ahead of the 2023 NFL season. Also, the crew talks about whether the NFL is doing enough to educate players about gambling rules (14:27), which sportsbooks will launch next week in Kentucky (19:47), and why a small player in the US is weighing in on the ESPN Bet deal (23:56).

With the announcement of ESPN Bet now a week old, what has the crew heard from the rest of the industry about its chances? Plus, an update on Florida sports betting (16:40), the disappearance of No House Advantage (22:04), and an ode to the death of William Hill Nevada (26:25).

ESPN ended years of speculation about its sports betting future by announcing a partnership with PENN Entertainment for ESPN BET. The deal not only brings the global media brand into the US sports betting market, but it also ends the run of Barstool Sportsbook as well. Enjoy a full episode of talk about the future of ESPN BET.

Fantasy sports companies offering prop-style products are facing a fresh wave of scrutiny from state gaming regulators who compare the products to sports betting. Also, what's going on with the Iowa college betting investigation (22:38), the NFL's ask to a congresswoman on offshores (30:00), and earnings season producing profits (36:21).

Former LSR reporter and Eilers & Krejcik analyst Brad Allen joins the crew to recap the past few weeks of news and look forward to the future of the US market. What the PointsBet acquisition means for Fanatics (3:03), the shuttering of PlayUp (12:02), DFS prop betting rants (15:17), and the top storylines of the legal era (26:25).

Just when it looked like Fanatics would buy PointsBet, DraftKings came in with a bigger offer. The crew talks about how the competition will play out, plus Ontario looking at betting sports betting ads (14:39), a Congresswoman looking for answers (19:30), Ohio looking for more money (22:27), and Bally's looking for a total do-over (25:45).