As many as 10 states could add mobile sports betting in 2019. Of the 15 states currently debating active bills that would legalize sports betting, eight explicitly permit the introduction of mobile sports betting. And two of the states that passed retail-only sports betting legislation last year—Mississippi and Rhode Island—have introduced bills that would add mobile betting.
“That’s generally the trend where everything’s going,” said Sara Slane, senior vice president of the American Gaming Association. “So, [I’m] not surprised to see that that’s where states want to be and want to be able to compete and offer that platform.”
The rollout of gaming in New Jersey shows how rapidly online sports wagering became the preferred option. Internet sports betting in New Jersey became available last August, with online wagers accounting for 23 percent of the total sports betting handle, versus 77 percent in-person. By December, online betting had essentially reversed that proportion to 76 percent of total handle compared to 24 percent in-person.
Connecticut, Indiana, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, Tennessee, and Virginia are the eight states that have also considered the authorization of mobile and/or online sports betting. Mississippi’s follow-up bill explicitly adds a definition of “platform” to include websites and mobile devices accepting sports bets, and Rhode Island would authorize online sports wagering in which bets are accepted by a server-based gaming system.
“Legal alternatives must be able to compete with illegal operators who don’t pay taxes or offer consumer protections,” Slane said.
SportTechie Takeaway
Rhode Island is a good case study. In introducing a mobile sports betting bill, the president of the state senate, Dominick Ruggerio, described its appeal: “Expanding to mobile gaming would provide a convenient option for those wishing to enjoy this form of entertainment, and open up the economic benefits beyond the walls of Twin River.” Furthermore, he noted the importance of that tax revenue to support “critical state services,” which underscores the need to maximize the reach of sports betting—and that can only be done with permitting sports betting beyond the brick and mortar of a casino.