Official betting is wagering on events governed by rules established and enforced by the sports leagues themselves. This includes the leagues’ branded sportsbooks and other gambling products. It also covers activities involving players, coaches, and other team personnel as well as official statistics.
The National Hockey League has extended its partnership with BetMGM, which will continue to be the NHL’s Official Sports Betting and Gaming Partner for a multi-year term, starting in 2023. The deal focuses on the development of league and team-branded casino games, specialized VIP fan experiences, and promotions during national broadcasts.
In November, Maryland’s 13 retail and 12 mobile sportsbooks generated a statewide handle of $550 million. Mobile wagering accounted for $533 million of that total. The total is the largest single-month handle for a US state since the Supreme Court’s ruling struck down PASPA in 2018.
North Carolina is expected to have legal sports betting by early-2024. Governor Roy Cooper signed the state’s sports betting law in June, and the NC Lottery will determine the specific go-live date for online and mobile sports betting.
California still has an uphill battle ahead to pass sports betting legislation. The state has two propositions on the ballot for November 2022, and both broke spending records and have active ad campaigns. Despite the massive spending, both proposals were overwhelmingly rejected by voters. However, the issue could come up again in 2023. It will require at least two-thirds support in both the House and Senate to be passed.