Areas of Expertise
1979 stories by Steve Bittenbender
New York Budget Includes Downstate Casino Licenses, Seneca Money for Bills Stadium
It took into the early hours of Saturday morning, more than a week past its due date. But the New York state legislature officially approved a $220 billion state budget that includes three casino licenses for the downstate region. Gov. Kathy Hochul...
Kentucky Senate to Take Temperature on Sports Betting Bill Next Week
FRANKFORT, Ky. – The Kentucky General Assembly’s 2022 session wraps up in one week. Legislators are currently on recess as Gov. Andy Beshear considers signing or vetoing several bills, But there still remains a few pieces of legislation that could receive votes...
Ontario Online Gaming Begins with Toronto’s Rivalry Among First to Start
Monday is the start of a new era in Canadian Gaming. It’s the first day commercial gaming operators can launch their sports betting and iGaming apps in Ontario, Canada’s most-populous province. According to iGaming Ontario, 13 operators have been approved to launch...
Bob Baffert 90-Day Suspension Begins Monday After Kentucky Court Decision
Horse racing trainer Bob Baffert will begin serving his 90-day suspension handed down by Kentucky stewards on Monday. That’s because a state appellate court on Friday refused to issue a stay to the Hall of Fame trainer as he appeals his case...
California Vets Groups Say Tribal Sports Betting Measure May Harm Cardrooms
A consortium of veteran organizations in California is opposing an initiative by tribal gaming operators to introduce sports betting in the state. In a statement this week, the vets groups say they’re concerned about other parts of the initiative that’s eligible for...
New York Budget Talks Go Into OT, Proposals Include Gaming Measures
Friday was supposed to be the deadline for New York to pass its fiscal year budget. But as was the case last year – and in other years as well – the state will not start the new year immediately with a...
Kansas Jayhawks the Chalk for Title After Tar Heels Rock Duke in Final Four
Kansas and North Carolina, two of college basketball’s most storied programs, will meet up at the Caesars Superdome for Monday’s 2022 NCAA championship game. Oddsmakers believe the Kansas Jayhawks are a solid favorite to cut down the nets in New Orleans. Sportsbooks...
Duke-North Carolina Final Four Matchup May Become Most Wagered-on Hoops Game Ever
The Final Four is typically college basketball’s biggest weekend. But when it comes to the games in New Orleans this weekend, one of them, Duke vs. North Carolina, may wind up as the biggest ever – at least from a sports betting...
FanDuel Announces Pending Launch of Mobile Sports Betting, iGaming in Ontario
Sports betting and iGaming are about to launch in Ontario, and one of the biggest operators in the US announced on Thursday that it will launch in Canada’s most populous province in the coming days. FanDuel announced that it will offer mobile...
Seneca Nation Gives $564M to New York, Pagels Calls for ‘Fairness’ in Next Compact
More than two months after it appeared that the Seneca Nation of Indians had settled its long-running legal dispute with New York officials, the sovereign nation finally paid the state $564 million earlier this week. However, as Seneca Nation President Matthew Pagels...