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Reporter: Steve Bittenbender

Steve Bittenbender covers Midwest and Gulport news for Casino.org. He also specializes in sports betting and horse racing. Steve is a veteran reporter and brings more than two decades of experience covering sports, business and politics. He joined Casino.org in 2019.

Steve has also covered major collegiate and professional sports for the Associated Press and the Louisville Courier-Journal and is frequently featured on local network TV newscasts and podcasts for his horse racing business and legislative expertise. A Reuters contributor, he has also previously served as editor for Government Security News.

Steve lives in Louisville, Kentucky -- the epicenter of the US horse racing industry -- with his wife and son. He is also an avid poker player, having learned from his uncle as a wholesome after-school pastime with cookies and milk.

Contact Steve at stevebittenbender@casino.org.

Areas of Expertise

1979 stories by Steve Bittenbender

Beto O'Rourke

Beto for Betting — Texas Candidate for Governor Open to Expanded Gaming

Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke told reporters in a Dallas neighborhood Wednesday that he would consider backing efforts to expand gaming in the Lone Star State. That would include legalizing casinos and sports betting. O’Rourke made his comments during a press...

Steve Bittenbender April 21, 2022
Golden Gate Bridge

California Sports Betting Debate Not Waning as Petition Deadline Nears

The battle for control of sports betting in California is heating up. In the past few days, a number of organizations have issued statements of support or opposition to the various initiatives being proposed in the Golden State. The crossfire of commentary...

Steve Bittenbender April 20, 2022
Charlie Blackmon

MaximBet Signs Colorado Rockies’ Charlie Blackmon, First in MLB to Endorse a Sportsbook

Charlie Blackmon, a Colorado Rockies outfielder, has officially become the first Major League Baseball player to partner with a licensed sportsbook. MaximBet announced on Wednesday its deal with the four-time All-Star. The deal comes a little more than a month after the...

Steve Bittenbender April 20, 2022

Kentucky Derby Update: Epicenter, Taiba Top Picks Two Weeks Out

With Tawny Port racing to victory Saturday in the Lexington Stakes at Keeneland, the Road to the Kentucky Derby prep series is now complete. Now, the Run for the Roses is less than three weeks away. While we don’t know the actual...

Steve Bittenbender April 19, 2022
Spectacle Indiana Gaming

John Keeler, Ex-Indiana Casino Executive, Avoids Federal Trial with Plea

John Keeler, a former executive with two Indiana gaming companies, entered a guilty plea in an Indianapolis federal court Monday. His action came on a charge of causing a false corporate tax return to be filed. With the agreement, Keeler avoided going...

Steve Bittenbender April 19, 2022
Trump inauguration

Trump Inauguration Photos Could Be Displayed at Indiana Casino Exec’s Trial

The trial of a former Indiana casino executive is expected to start in an Indianapolis federal court on Monday. On Friday, as the judge in the case ruled on whether certain evidence could be presented, prosecutors sought to quash efforts to get...

Steve Bittenbender April 16, 2022
NASCAR Race

NASCAR Pact with Sportradar to Include Betting Handle Reports

NASCAR this week announced it signed an integrity agreement with Sportradar Integrity Services. Under terms of the pact, the stock car racing association will receive regular reporting on betting trends in the sport, which it will look to leverage in order to...

Steve Bittenbender April 16, 2022
Kentucky Capitol

Kentucky Sports Betting Bill Fails to Pass on Legislative Session’s Final Day

Kentucky lawmakers ended the 2022 session of the General Assembly on Thursday evening. They were unable to pass legislation that would legalize sports betting in the Bluegrass State. House Bill 606, which would have legalized sports betting and online poker and regulated...

Steve Bittenbender April 14, 2022
Waltz

Ex-Indiana Pol Pleads Guilty to Taking Contributions from Casino Operator

A former Indiana state lawmaker entered a guilty plea in federal court Monday that he made and received illegal campaign contributions. The charges stem from a run for a congressional seat that eventually led to the downfall of two casino executives. According...

Steve Bittenbender April 13, 2022
Kentucky sign

Kentucky Sports Betting Update: 530K Attempts In State Reported Blocked

Data from GeoComply provided to Casino.org shows the IT vendor to mobile sports betting operators blocked more than a half-million “geolocation transactions” from people in Kentucky trying to access a mobile sportsbook in another state over a recent 30-day period. Geolocation transactions...

Steve Bittenbender April 11, 2022