1979 stories by Steve Bittenbender
Churchill Downs Buys Most P2E Gaming Properties, Projects for Nearly $2.5B
Churchill Downs Inc. (CDI) made a move Tuesday to significantly expand the size of the Louisville-based gaming company. It announced it would spend nearly $2.5 billion to acquire nearly all of the assets from Peninsula Pacific Entertainment (P2E). The transaction includes a...
Medina Spirit Disqualified as Kentucky Derby Winner, Bob Baffert Suspended 90 Days
UPDATE 4:30 pm ET - This story has been updated to include comments from Bob Baffert's attorney, the impact of the suspension, and reaction from Churchill Downs and animal welfare advocates on the decision to disqualify Medina Spirit as the Kentucky Derby...
Georgia Lawmakers Hear Pros and Cons of Legalizing Horse Racing and HHR
A Georgia state senate committee on Thursday heard testimony on the impact – economic and societal – introducing horse racing would have on the state. The Senate Committee on Regulated Industries and Utilities is currently considering several bills that call for a...
Wisconsin Sports Betting Set for Milwaukee After Potawatomi Gaming Compact Amended
A third tribal nation in Wisconsin is on the verge of offering sports betting at its casinos. On Friday, Gov. Tony Evers announced the state signed a gaming compact amendment with the Forest County Potawatomi. The Potawatomi have the potential to be...
Road to the Kentucky Derby: Smile Happy Faces a Tough Test in Risen Star Stakes
Believe it or not, we’re just 11 weeks until Kentucky Derby 148, and this weekend marks the start of key prep races that will help determine the field for the Run for the Roses. Down in New Orleans on Saturday evening, the...
DraftKings CEO Jason Robins “Confident” Florida Sports Betting Will Be On ’24 Ballot
Although an attempt by commercial sports betting operators to get a measure on the Florida ballot this year failed, at least one supporter of the measure signaled on Friday that they would be willing to try again. However, it may not happen...
DraftKings CEO Jason Robins Talks New York Sports Betting Tax, Lawmaker Says It Could Be Cut
DraftKings cofounder and CEO Jason Robins said the gaming operator and tech company is taking “a wait-and-see” approach on reports that New York state may consider changing the tax rate on mobile sports betting revenue. The comments came during the company’s Friday...
California Tribal Gaming Group Supports Mobile Sports Betting Measure for ’22 Ballot
California tribal gaming leaders have officially endorsed a second sports betting measure that proponents want to put before voters later this year. The California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA) announced Tuesday that its members backed “The Age-Verified Tribal Online and In-Person Sports...
New York Mobile Sports Betting Nearly Hits $2B in Handle in First 30 Days
New York Assemblyman Gary Pretlow believes it’s time to give the state another nickname: “The Sports Betting Capital of the World.” The world might be an exaggeration. However, in the first 30 days, New York has definitely lived up to the expectations...
Indiana Sports Betting Handle Sets New Record, Tops $500M in January
Indiana sportsbooks set another record in January, as they broke the $500 million handle barrier for the first time. The Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC) reported the state’s mobile operators and brick-and-mortar sites took $500.1 million in bets. That broke the previous record,...
