In 2018, the federal ban on sports wagering was rescinded. The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act was a 1992 law that made sports betting illegal everywhere but in Nevada. Since the Supreme Court struck down that law, sports leagues have embraced gambling as a way to connect with fans and as a significant source of revenue for themselves as well as the local economy.
From the NFL to the PGA, sports organizations are now attempting to enhance the gameday experience—both in person and on TV—with new business partnerships as more states welcome gambling operators such as Caesars and MGM.
For example, New York launched mobile betting at the beginning of the month. And Ohio is expected to start placing wagers this year, joining 29 states where sports betting is already legal.
Plus, plans are moving forward to open a new sports betting facility at the XL Center in Hartford, Conn., where sports betting was legalized back in October. The 16,000-seat arena is the off-campus home of the University of Connecticut’s men’s and women’s basketball teams and the men’s hockey team as well as the American Hockey League’s Hartford Wolf Pack. In addition to sporting events, the venue hosts trade shows, exhibits and concerts.
The venue will have sports wagering kiosks and counters, along with TVs and video screens displaying live sporting events and betting odds. Spectra Venue Management, the current operator of the XL Center, would run the sportsbook’s restaurant and bar. It’s expected to accommodate up to 150 people.
“Expansion of the amenities at the XL Center has been discussed for several years, including the establishment of a sports bar,” explained Michael W. Freimuth, executive director of the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA), the agency that oversees the arena’s operations. “With the passage of sports betting by the state, new revenue to operate this new amenity became possible.” The CRDA is currently working with the Connecticut Lottery Corporation to develop the concept.
For November, the state reported close to $16 million in revenue from sports betting. Freimuth said the newly proposed sports betting venue will help the XL Center meet its operating expenses, offer new amenities for those attending events as well as those who are seeking a downtown entertainment option when the Center is “dark.” The venue would operate seven days a week, even when events aren’t taking place at the XL Center. It is expected to open by September of this year.
BetMGM recently unveiled renderings of a sportsbook at State Farm Stadium, home to the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals.Photo: Courtesy of BetMGM
Set to open ahead of the 2022 NFL season, this sportsbook would be the first at an NFL stadium. While teams are allowed to have sportsbook-sponsored betting lounges, the bets can't be physically placed there. The BetMGM sportsbook will not be part of the stadium; it will be on separate land adjacent to the complex.
“The Arizona Cardinals and BetMGM are both committed to enhancing the gameday experience for fans in new and creative ways. The BetMGM Sportsbook at State Farm Stadium will be one of the most unique and innovative additions to a venue that the sports and entertainment industry has ever seen,” BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt said in a statement.
The two-story, 16,800-square-foot venue will house a 265-square-foot video wall in addition to 38 televisions, more than 25 self-service kiosks and staffed teller windows, with a 500-person capacity.Photo: Courtesy of BetMGM
In-person wagering in Arizona will also be available at the PGA’s TPC Scottsdale course. DraftKings and the PGA Tour are collaborating on plans for a sportsbook with the City of Scottsdale and the Thunderbirds, a special event committee that hosts the Waste Management Phoenix Open, which is held annually at TPC Scottsdale. Additionally, DraftKings will be the official sports betting partner of the Waste Management Phoenix Open.
The “19th hole” experience will allow fans to gather year-round to place wagers, watch sports and enjoy food and beverage options. Several locations are currently being considered for the retail sportsbook.
