Fanatics will refund a customer’s wager if the NFL player they bet on is injured in the first half of a game https://t.co/Ohuzqz2T4J ...

Rush Street Interactive (RSI) FY Conference Summary Company Overview - **Company**: Rush Street Interactive (RSI) - **Event**: FY Conference on August 13, 2025 - **Key Speakers**: Richard Schwartz (CEO), Kyle Sauers (CFO) Industry Insights - **iGaming Growth**: iGaming has been identified as the primary growth engine for the company, with growth rates reported at around 25% year-over-year in various states [8][10][12] - **Market Potential**: Only 5 US states currently allow legal online casinos, representing just 12% of the US population, compared to over 60% for sports betting, indicating significant growth potential for iGaming [12][13] - **Tax Revenue Generation**: States that legalize iGaming can generate hundreds of millions in tax revenues, as evidenced by Pennsylvania and Michigan [13][14] Company Strategy - **Technology Ownership**: RSI has developed its own technology platform, allowing for unique and differentiated gaming experiences, which is crucial for retaining customers [9][10][25] - **Customer Engagement**: The company focuses on creating a social and engaging environment for players, enhancing user experience through gamified promotional engines and community interactions [30][31] - **Live Dealer Strategy**: RSI offers a variety of live dealer games from multiple suppliers, enhancing player choice and experience [35][36] Market Performance - **User Growth**: Monthly active users in North America grew by 22%, with over 30% growth in iCasino markets [22][23] - **Revenue Growth**: The company reported a 15% year-over-year growth in sports betting, indicating a healthy performance despite lower marketing investments [75] Regional Focus - **Latin America**: The company is expanding its presence in Latin America, particularly in Colombia and Mexico, where it is gaining market share [84][85] - **Colombia's VAT Impact**: A temporary 19% VAT on deposits has affected net revenue, but gross gaming revenue has grown over 50% in the first half of the year [79][80] Regulatory Environment - **Legalization Challenges**: The company faces challenges in expanding iGaming due to various state regulations and interest groups, but financial pressures on states may lead to increased legalization efforts [46][50][52] - **Future Opportunities**: States with larger deficits and existing sports betting frameworks are seen as potential markets for iGaming legalization [60][61] Financial Guidance - **Conservative Outlook**: The company anticipates a deceleration in growth rates in the back half of the year due to tougher comparisons and existing VAT impacts in Colombia [90][92] Key Takeaways - **Unique Value Proposition**: RSI's focus on unique gaming experiences and customer trust is a significant differentiator in the competitive landscape [93][94] - **Cross-Selling Opportunities**: The introduction of poker is seen as a way to cross-sell to existing customers, enhancing overall engagement and retention [41][43] This summary encapsulates the key points discussed during the conference, highlighting the company's strategic focus, market performance, and future opportunities within the iGaming industry.

Market Trends - WNBA betting volume on dildos surpasses betting volume for who will win the game [1] - Polymarket reports the higher betting volume on dildos compared to game outcomes [1]

Company Applauds Signing of Genius Act into Law by President Trump MINNEAPOLIS, MN, July 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SharpLink Gaming, Inc. (Nasdaq: SBET) ("SharpLink" or the "Company"), the world's largest corporate holder of Ether ("ETH") as its primary treasury reserve asset, today issued its weekly update on the Company's ETH holdings and capital raised through its At- The-Market ("ATM") facility during the week Monday, July 14, 2025 through Sunday, July 20, 2025. Key Highlights for the Week Ending Jul ...

Core Insights - DraftKings Inc. (DKNG) is outperforming competitors in customer acquisition within the sports betting sector, showcasing strong user growth and retention strategies in Q1 2025 [1][5] Customer Acquisition and Marketing Efficiency - New customer acquisition met expectations, with a notable emphasis on the efficiency of scaling operations, optimizing marketing costs, and benefiting from brand equity and improved promotional targeting [2][4] - The company has achieved better gross margins and EBITDA performance despite facing challenging sports outcomes [2] Product Innovation and Engagement - Over 50% of the total handle in Q1 2025 originated from live betting, marking a significant milestone for DraftKings [3] - Successful integration of acquisitions like SimpleBet and Sports IQ has enhanced real-time wagering capabilities, leading to increased user engagement [3] - There is a notable rise in the adoption of parlay and same-game parlay bets, which are associated with higher structural hold rates [3] Profitability and User Maturity - Despite customer-friendly outcomes reducing actual sportsbook hold to 9.5%, structural hold increased to 10.4%, indicating strengthening profitability [4] - As newly acquired users mature, promotional intensity decreases while contribution profit rises, demonstrating effective management across jurisdictions [4] Competitive Landscape - DraftKings is gaining ground against FanDuel and BetMGM, with recent trends indicating a lead in live betting and product enhancements [6][7] - FanDuel, while still leading in market share, is experiencing pressure as DraftKings narrows the gap through efficient customer acquisition strategies [7] - BetMGM is lagging in sportsbook engagement despite strong iGaming performance, highlighting DraftKings' advantage in product innovation [8] Financial Performance and Valuation - DKNG shares have increased by 30.3% over the past three months, slightly trailing the industry's growth of 31.2% [9] - The company is currently trading at a premium with a forward 12-month price-to-sales ratio of 5.69X [12] - Zacks Consensus Estimates indicate a significant year-over-year earnings growth of 226.7% for 2025 and 61.3% for 2026 [15]

Trade & Tariffs - US imposes 35% tariffs on imports from Canada, effective August 1st [1] - Tariffs attributed to fentanyl concerns [1] Geopolitics & Diplomacy - US and China's foreign ministers meet in Malaysia to discuss trade tensions [2] - A summit between Presidents Trump and she is likely [2] Technology - Google reportedly reaches a deal to provide cloud computing services for the US government at a heavily discounted price [2] - Apple plans new product releases for the first half of 2026, including a new low-end iPhone, multiple iPads, and upgraded Mac computers [3] Mergers & Acquisitions - Flutter Entertainment acquires Boyd Gaming's 5% stake in FanDuel for $1.76 billion [3] - The deal values FanDuel at $31 billion [3] Market Share - FanDuel holds 43% of the sports betting market [3]

Sports Betting Industry - Trump's "One, Big, Beautiful Bill" signals a bold pivot in the politics of sports gambling, impacting the sports betting industry [1] Revenue & Financial Deals - Texas Tech's football recruit deal involves $5.1 million in revenue sharing [1] - The financial plays shaping the sports business, including the money behind the Tour de France, are ones to watch [1] Media & Partnerships - Matchroom Sport's partnership with DAZN focuses on the global growth of professional fighting [1] - Yahoo Finance and Yahoo Sports produce the "Yahoo Finance Sports Report" vodcast [1] MLB & Collective Bargaining - MLB collective bargaining agreement negotiations are a key topic [1]

Industry Overview - Sports betting is one of the fastest growing industries in America, dominated by DraftKings and Flutter Entertainment (parent of FanDuel) [1] Legislative Change - A provision in the budget bill changes the way gambling income is taxed [2] - The change is located on page 237 of the 870-page bill [2] Tax Implications - Current law allows deduction of gambling losses from winnings, taxing only net winnings [3] - Starting next year, only 90% of gambling losses can be deducted [4] - Example: With $1,000 winnings and $1,000 losses, only $900 in losses can be deducted, resulting in taxes on the remaining $100 [4]

Regulatory Changes & Impact - Illinois legislature imposed a $050 per wager tax increase, described as "illconceived" [1][2] - The tax increase is set to take effect on September 1st [1] - The company was not warned about the tax increase, which was decided unexpectedly [2][3] Business Strategy & Consumer Behavior - The company intends to pass the $050 tax on to consumers [2] - The company anticipates the tax will drive consumers to illegal markets or encourage them to bet more [2] - The company hopes for public reaction that will lead to reconsideration of the tax [3] Financial Implications - The $050 per wager tax makes it unprofitable for the company to accept small bets (e g, $1, $050, $5, or $10) [2] - The company is implementing the tax pass-through to continue offering its product in Illinois [3]

Core Insights - International Game Technology PLC (IGT) has signed a new three-year sports betting technology agreement with Boyd Gaming Corporation, extending their partnership through August 2028 [1][2] - The agreement allows IGT's PlaySports platform to continue powering Boyd Gaming's retail and mobile sports betting offerings in Nevada, building on a partnership that began in 2018 [1][2] Company Overview - IGT is a global leader in gaming, providing a wide range of gaming experiences across various channels, including lotteries, gaming machines, sports betting, and digital platforms [4] - The company emphasizes innovation, player insights, and operational expertise to deliver engaging gaming experiences and drive growth [4] - IGT has a significant presence in over 100 jurisdictions worldwide and employs approximately 11,000 people [4] Technology and Performance - IGT PlaySports technology is also utilized in Boyd Gaming-owned casinos across multiple states, including Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Ohio, and Pennsylvania [3] - IGT PlaySports was recognized as the "Sportsbook Platform Provider of the Year" at the 2024 EGR North America Awards, highlighting its industry leadership [3]