Good Timing, Kentucky
I'm not going to say it. No, I will not say a sports betting version of a football-related phrase that has been used too much and for too long. Why not? For one, because there are better clichés to use than that one. Who is not ready for football season this time of year?
But I will say “congratulations” to the great state of Kentucky. Officials in the Bluegrass State have announced that retail sports betting will launch on Sept. 7 at horse racetracks and simulcasting facilities, with mobile betting to follow on Sept. 28.
Oh, and the NFL season opener (Lions vs. Chiefs) happens to be on Sept. 7. State officials began taking applications for Kentucky sports betting licenses on Tuesday and expect 10 to 12 operators to enter the market eventually.
So, yeah, good timing, Kentucky.
We have quite a few other things to discuss this week. So, let's get right to it. It's time to talk about the week in sports betting!
Massachusetts Says ‘No’ to Betting on LIV Golf
The LIV Tour has turned the professional golf world on its head, but bettors in Massachusetts can’t wager on the events even if they want to.
DraftKings recently asked the Massachusetts Gaming Commission if it could add LIV Golf to its sports betting catalog. At Tuesday's meeting, the Commission voted against the idea. The Commission referred to the federal probe into the LIV Tour/PGA Tour merger and concerns about the Saudi Arabian financial backing as reasons for the rejection.
For more on this story, check out Rebecca Hanchett's report:
Major League Baseball
It finally happened. The National League won an All-Star Game, breaking a nine-year run by the American League. But after a riveting Home Run Derby and a surprising All-Star Game, it's time to get back to the season.
Before games get underway on Friday, it's a great time to review the latest odds for things like the World Series and various awards.
It may seem obvious who’ll win many of the awards, but guys get hurt all the time. All it takes is one injury to the front-runner for a new favorite to emerge. Wouldn't you like to bet on him now while his odds are longer?
AL Cy Young Odds 2023: Injuries Coming Into Play for Top Contenders
NL Cy Young Odds 2023: Zac Gallen Remains the Favorite at Sportsbooks
2023 MLB Rookie of the Year Odds: Jung, Carroll Favored Heading Into All-Star Break
While it may look like the Braves' year to win the World Series, betting favorites at the All-Star break have not fared well in recent years. In the last 10 World Series, the favorite at the All-Star break went on to win just twice: the 2016 Cubs and 2017 Astros (but should we even count that one?).
That's why I took a look at a few dark horse contenders this week:
Elsewhere in the Wide World of Sports Betting…
If the MLB break has you itching to get in on some action somewhere, you'll have plenty of options this weekend. With the Women's World Cup starting in Australia and New Zealand next week, it's an excellent time to review the latest odds of winning the 2023 Women's World Cup.
But for events that will play out this weekend, check out:
Kris Johnson has the latest odds for the men's Wimbledon semi-finals matchup featuring Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner.
For the diehard football bettors out there, Week 6 of the CFL season starts with Hamilton taking on Edmonton tonight.
Additional weekend events include the Rugby Championship (South Africa vs. New Zealand and Argentina vs. Australia), the WNBA All-Star game, and the Crayon 301 (at New Hampshire Motor Speedway).
This Week on the Sports Betting Legal/Business Landscape…
The developments in Kentucky have taken center stage on the sports betting legal/business landscape, followed by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission saying no to betting on the LIV Tour. But those stories are not the only noteworthy events.
Maryland made the news this week when the 11th mobile sportsbook app launched in the Old Line State. Crab Sports, a women-and-minority-owned company, launched its app this morning at 8 a.m. ET.
For more on that story, read: Minority-Owned Crab Sports Becomes 11th Mobile Sportsbook in Maryland.
In other news, two professional sports franchises in North Carolina are considering whether they want to open a retail sports betting outlet in their respective stadium/arena. The Charlotte Hornets are deciding between opening one inside the Spectrum Center or at a location nearby the arena.
The Carolina Hurricanes are developing plans for when PNC Arena will be renovated.
Brant James has more:
Sports Betting Promotions, July 13, 2023
The following promotions could come in handy this weekend:
PointsBet: 5 Second-Chance Bets Up to $100 Each. New customers can make a bet for five days up to $100, and if the bet loses, they'll receive their stake (up to $100) back in site credit.
Caesars: MLB Futures Bet & Get: Monday 7/10 – Sunday 7/16. Opt-In and place a wager of $50+ on an MLB 2023 World Series Winner to get a $25 Bonus Bet.
BetRivers: Wimbledon 50% Matched Bet! Place a real money, live wager of $10+ on Wimbledon, and receive a 50% matched Wimbledon Bonus Bet, up to $25 or up to $100 for VIP customers Loyalty Level 7 and up!
FanDuel: 10x Your First Bet up to $200. Bet $20 on your first wager and receive $200 in Bonus Bets; new customers only.
DraftKings: Place a bet of $5+ and get $150 in Bonus Bets instantly!
Terms and conditions apply. Check out our promo page for the best sign-up offers sportsbook apps have to offer.
Fun with Futures: Dalvin Cook and DeAndre Hopkins
If you want to bet on the next team for Dalvin Cook or DeAndre Hopkins, you certainly can. But that is not the purpose of this section. Instead, I want to suggest bettors pay close attention to where those players may end up. Why? Because depending on where they sign, that team could become a solid dark horse to win Super Bowl 58.
The Patriots have a good shot at signing both star players. If they do, Mac Jones will finally have two players he can count on to make plays. Many things will have to go right for them, and just as many could go wrong. But at +6600 (BetMGM), there is value to betting on the Patriots to win the Super Bowl.
Let's say Cook ends up going to Miami. The Dolphins already have a stellar offense (if Tua stays healthy), and Cook will make it even better. Assuming Vic Fangio can get the defense on track, the Dolphins could shake things up.
At +2500 (FanDuel), their odds are not as juicy as New England's, but that's because the Dolphins already have a ton of talent. Adding Cook may not alter their odds right away. But once he helps the team beat the Bills in Week 4 to improve to 4-0, their odds will get much shorter.
That’s it for this edition of the Gaming Today Playbook. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much or more as I enjoyed writing it. If you have any questions or want to request a topic to be covered in a future newsletter, you can reach me via email at travis.pulver@catenamedia.com or via Twitter at @FatManWriting.
Bet wisely, my friends.