Sports Betting Week in Review (1/18-1/22)
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Fireworks are happening left and right in the sports betting industry to start in 2021. This week, Michigan and Virginia launched online sports betting, becoming the 19th and 20th states. States like Connecticut, Georgia, and Texas could soon be in the mix of passing sports betting in 2021. Also, the injury status of Patrick Mahomes had bettors speculating leading up to the AFC Championship Game this Sunday. Here are this week’s biggest sports betting stories.
Monday: Connecticut Could Pass Sports Betting in 2021
Connecticut could be one of the many states that pass sports betting this year. 17 lawmakers helped file a bill into the state looking to pass online and in-person sports betting with the Connecticut tribal casinos leading the way. After much back and forth between lawmakers and tribes, it looks like the state will finally get something done this year. Tribal groups will be at the industry’s front, while the state could allow more sportsbooks to enter a non-tethered partnership. Lawmakers and tribal groups will begin to hash out details of a betting bill this year.
Tuesday: DraftKings & Bleacher Report to Host Super Bowl Show
On Tuesday, DraftKings and Bleacher Report announced that they would be hosting a Super Bowl Prop Bet Show leading up to the Big Game. The show will take place Monday after the Championship Games are complete. This year, DraftKings will be releasing over 200 prop bets for the Super Bowl, and the sports betting operator and Bleacher Report will have all the big bets covered. B/R coverage will be on all social media and streaming platforms and have celebrity guests and analysis to bring down all the prop bets.
Wednesday: Trump Pardons Casey Urlacher & Billy Walters
On his last day in office, President Doland Trump pardoned Casey Urlacher and Billy Walters. Both were accused of high profiled crimes. Casey, brother of Hall of Fame linebacker Briand Urlacher, was indicted on felony gambling ring chargers. He and many others created an offshore gambling ring in Costa Rica. Walters, a long time sports bettor in Las Vegas, was arrested and sentenced to five years in prison for insider trading. Trump cut Walters’s sentence short, making him a free man this week.
Thursday: Patrick Mahomes Injury Status Has Major Betting Impact
Last Sunday, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes left the game vs. the Browns after suffering a pinched nerve and what looked like to be a concussion. Mahomes did not return to play and was in concussion protocol until Friday. Bettors were speculating on the possibility of what would happen if Mahomes were unable to play in the AFC Championship Game. Oddsmakers opened the game vs. the Bills at Chiefs -2.5 before quickly going to -3, where it stayed all week. Now, Mahomes is cleared and betting markets should begin to settle with the news. There is a chance that more Chiefs money comes in and money also come in on the over.
Friday: Louisiana Could See DFS By Spring
After two years of deliberation, Louisiana is finally set to start taking applications for daily fantasy sports. This comes after DFS was approved by 47 parishes in the Bayou State in the November 2018 election. Now, the Louisiana Gaming Control Board will start taking applications in February. There is a chance that the process will be completed by as early as the Spring. Now, lawmakers will be able to focus on launching sports betting in Louisiana after it was passed in the 2020 election. There is hope that the process won’t take as long as it did with DFS.
