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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

1982 stories by Steve Bittenbender

Obi Toppin Knicks dunk

New York Mobile Sports Betting Handle Exceeds $600M in First Nine Days

The New York State Gaming Commission released its first batch of weekly financial figures for mobile sports betting on Friday. The numbers show the state generated $24.6 million in tax revenue for the first nine days since the first apps launched. BetRivers,...

Steve Bittenbender January 21, 2022
PlayUp

PlayUp gets $35M Investment from FTX to Spur Growth in US Gaming Market

The company that backed away from purchasing PlayUp outright has instead decided to invest in the Australian-based gaming company that has a presence in the United States. PlayUp announced Thursday that crypto-exchange FTX agreed to invest $35 million into the company during...

Steve Bittenbender January 21, 2022
Sightline cashless gaming app

Nevada Gaming Commission OKs Mobile Verification for Cashless Gaming Accounts

The Nevada Gaming Commission (NGC) on Thursday approved a new regulation that will allow individuals to set up their cashless gaming accounts remotely. It’s a change that Omer Sattar had been wanting for a long time. Sattar serves as the co-CEO of...

Steve Bittenbender January 20, 2022
PGCB

Pennsylvania Bans Four from Casinos for Leaving Kids Unattended to Place Bets

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) voted at its monthly meeting Wednesday to banish four people from all of the commonwealth’s casinos. That's after they were caught gambling while leaving one or more children unattended. They were among 10 people PGCB commissioners...

Steve Bittenbender January 19, 2022
NY Sen. Joe Addabbo

New York Sen. Addabbo: Upstate Casinos Need Support as New Casinos Get Approved

A key legislator has told Casino.org that the licensing process for the state's last three commercial casinos cannot come at the expense of the existing venues. That's as New York lawmakers look to pass legislation this year expediting the licensing process. State...

Steve Bittenbender January 19, 2022
Josh Bailey Islanders

New York Sports Betting Data Shows New Players Signing Up, Little Impact on Jersey

Mobile sports betting has been operational for just 10 days in New York. However, we’re starting to get an idea of just how big the market will be and what kind of impact it will have on its neighboring states. On Tuesday,...

Steve Bittenbender January 18, 2022
Downstream Casino

Downstream Casino Implements Global Payments’ VIP Mobility for Cashless Gaming

Cashless gaming took another step forward on Tuesday, as Global Payments Gaming Solutions reported its VIP Mobility Platform has been fully implemented at the Downstream Casino Resort, an Oklahoma tribal casino. VIP Mobility is billed as a system-agnostic cashless gaming platform. It...

Steve Bittenbender January 18, 2022
Robert Mujica

New York Budget Calls for Issuing Three Casino Licenses Early, Downstate Sites Likely

New York will proceed with a plan to award up to three outstanding casino licenses this year. That’s according to the 2023 fiscal year budget plan Gov. Kathy Hochul released on Tuesday. While Budget Director Robert Mujica told reporters the licenses could...

Steve Bittenbender January 18, 2022
New York BetMGM

BetMGM Launches in New York, Becomes Fifth Mobile Sports Betting Operator in State

There are now five mobile sports betting operators live in New York. On Monday, BetMGM became the latest to gain approval to launch in the Empire State. The joint venture between MGM Resorts International and Entain joins BetRivers, Caesars Sportsbook, DraftKings, and...

Steve Bittenbender January 17, 2022
Ben Murr Churchill Downs

Churchill Downs Makes Veteran Executive Ben Murr Permanent President of TwinSpires

Churchill Downs Inc. on Friday announced that Ben Murr would take over as the new president of TwinSpires and online gaming. Murr, a longtime executive with the Louisville-based gaming company, became TwinSpires' interim leader after Ian Williams left to join Wynn Interactive...

Steve Bittenbender January 16, 2022