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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

PokerStars Kentucky

Kentucky Gets $300M from Flutter as PokerStars Lawsuit Finally Settled

After more than a decade of litigation, Kentucky’s lawsuit against PokerStars ended Wednesday with a joint agreement providing the state with $300 million. That’s far less than the state stood to gain in the courts, but it’s still more than the losses...

Steve Bittenbender September 22, 2021
Vegas sign

Nevada Tourism Officials Allocate $13.6M in COVID-19 Relief to Promote State

The Nevada Commission on Tourism has approved the allocation of nearly $13.6 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds to visitors bureaus and other related agencies. The move is in an effort to draw more travelers to the state. The funding comes from...

Steve Bittenbender September 22, 2021
Caesars sports betting

Caesars Takes More Aggressive Actions in Effort to Be Louisiana Sports Betting King

Caesars Entertainment made a couple of eye-opening moves in Louisiana over the weekend. It was part of an effort to give the Las Vegas-based gaming giant a leg up on its competition when sports betting officially launches in the state. The first...

Steve Bittenbender September 21, 2021
Florida sports betting

Florida Sports Betting Federal Court Cases Picking Up Steam as Key Dates Approach

With less than a month before the first legal sports bets could be placed in Florida, the action in federal courtrooms is beginning to heat up. More filings are expected to take place in the coming days that could determine whether the...

Steve Bittenbender September 20, 2021
Indy Colts partnerships

Caesars, WynnBET Seek Growth in Indiana Sports Betting Via Colts Deals

The Indianapolis Colts doubled down on its sports betting presence this week. On Thursday, Indiana's NFL team announced a partnership with Caesars Entertainment. A day later, it inked another one with WynnBET. The deals themselves are not identical. In the pact with...

Steve Bittenbender September 19, 2021
Inspiration4 Sports Bet

Shift4 Payments Founder Issacman Places Bets in Space During Inspiration4 Flight

US sports betting has reached the final frontier. On Thursday, BetMGM announced that Jared Isaacman placed two wagers while commanding the Inspiration4, the first human orbital spaceflight helmed only by civilians. Besides being the mission’s commander, Isaacman is also the founder and...

Steve Bittenbender September 17, 2021

PointsBet Stakes First Claim in Texas Through Austin FC Partnership

Sports betting is not yet legal in Texas. However, one operator already has a foot in the door for when the opportunity arises in the country’s second biggest state. On Wednesday, Austin FC announced that PointsBet has become a founding partner of...

Steve Bittenbender September 16, 2021
Tipico Colorado

Tipico Picks Colorado for Gaming Tech Hub; $96K Average Salary for 441 Jobs

Less than a month after launching its online sportsbook in Colorado, Malta-based Tipico has announced it would locate a tech hub there. It's a move that’s expected to create up to 441 jobs over the next eight years. Tipico also considered locations...

Steve Bittenbender September 13, 2021
G2E Keynotes

Hard Rock, MGM Resorts, and Wynn Top Executives on Keynote Panel for 2021 G2E

Note 9/13 - This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Apoorva Gandhi's name. Three of the top US gaming executives will share the stage at this year’s Global Gaming Expo (G2E). They will provide their insights on the industry’s...

Steve Bittenbender September 12, 2021
UncleMickSports sentencing

Widowed Father in Illegal Chicago Sports Betting Ring Gets Community Confinement

Another defendant in the federal case regarding a Chicago-area illegal sports betting ring avoided a prison sentence when a judge sentenced him Thursday. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Matthew Knight received six months of community confinement along with a $10,000 fine. US...

Steve Bittenbender September 12, 2021