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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

1979 stories by Steve Bittenbender

Arlington sale

Historic Arlington Park’s Racing Days Numbered as Churchill Downs Plans to Sell Illinois Track

Churchill Downs Inc. announced late Tuesday afternoon that it has begun the process to sell Arlington International Racecourse, the iconic Chicago-area track. It is a move few found surprising. The move means the 2021 racing season, scheduled to run from April 30...

Steve Bittenbender February 23, 2021

Investors File Suit Against FuboTV, Say Execs Misled About Sports Betting Plans

A class-action lawsuit has been filed in federal court against fuboTV. Investors in the sports-centric streaming service claim executives misled them about the company’s profitability and its ability to compete in the sports betting realm. The suit, filed last Wednesday in the...

Steve Bittenbender February 22, 2021
New York Seneca

Appeals Court Rules in Favor of New York, Cuomo Says Seneca Owes State $435M

After a federal appeals court panel ruled Monday against the Seneca Nation of Indians in its ongoing legal battle with New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo had a simple statement for the tribe -- it’s time to pay up. With the state’s latest...

Steve Bittenbender February 22, 2021

Shinnecock Nation Announces New Casino Plan, May Seek More Than One

Officials from the Shinnecock Indian Nation announced Wednesday plans to build a casino on its sovereign land in the Hamptons region of Long Island. However, Shinnecock leaders said they may not stop with just one gaming venue. The press conference detailing the...

Steve Bittenbender February 21, 2021

Las Vegas Raiders Official Team Restaurant to Open Soon at M Resort

Las Vegas got the Raiders last year. Later this year, it’ll get the first official themed restaurant for the Silver and Black. The aptly named Raiders Tavern & Grill will feature more than 3,400 square feet of space at the M Resort...

Steve Bittenbender February 20, 2021

BetMGM Seeks to Build Sports Betting Brand Through Partnership with Topgolf

BetMGM has found another partner to help promote the mobile sports betting and iGaming product to a new customer base. On Friday, the company announced it reached an agreement with Topgolf Entertainment Group to forge what was described as an “integrated sports...

Steve Bittenbender February 19, 2021

Illinois Rivers Casino Des Plaines Plans Casino Expansion Project

The owners of Rivers Casino Des Plaines announced Wednesday plans to dramatically increase the size of the suburban Chicago casino. In a press release, Churchill Downs Inc. revealed plans to invest $87 million for a 78,000-square-foot expansion project. The two-story addition would...

Steve Bittenbender February 18, 2021
Cashless Gaming

Cashless Gaming Update: Boyd Seeks Rollout, IGT Extends Global Payments Deal

The week is just a couple of days old, and already there has been a couple of big announcements regarding cashless gaming. On Monday, Boyd Gaming announced the creation of “BoydPay,” a digital wallet developed with Aristocrat Technologies. Then, on Tuesday, Global...

Steve Bittenbender February 17, 2021
Addabbo New York sports betting

Addabbo Confident New York Mobile Sports Betting Can Launch This Year

New York state Sen. Joseph Addabbo, Jr. (D-Queens), the lawmaker spearheading the push for the Empire State to embrace mobile sports betting, doesn’t just believe the state legislature will pass a bill soon to expand sports betting in the state. He also...

Steve Bittenbender February 15, 2021

Pokagon Starts Online Gaming in Michigan, Makes Progress on Tribal Compact in Indiana

Michigan added yet another online gaming option Monday, as the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians announced the rollout of its platform. The Pokagon operates three Four Winds casinos in the southwestern part of Michigan’s lower peninsula. Pala Interactive LLC will serve as...

Steve Bittenbender February 15, 2021