Virginia, Michigan become latest to offer sports betting on apps

Virginia and Michigan this month became the 19th and 20th states to offer legal sports wagering on apps.

Both states started up ahead of last weekend’s NFL conference title games, providing plenty of lead time before Super Bowl LV in Tampa, Florida, on Feb. 7.

Michigan, which took its first bets Jan. 22, is believed to have the potential of being the nation’s sixth-largest market when it reaches full capacity. And it has two Las Vegas-based companies taking bets in the state.

BetMGM, the sports betting affiliate of MGM Resorts International, has prime real estate for sports betting in downtown Detroit.

BetMGM partnered with MGM Grand Detroit this year after sports betting became legal at the end of 2019. The MGM Sports Lounge is in the heart of Detroit, a half-mile from Comerica Park, home of Major League Baseball’s Detroit Tigers, and Ford Field, home of the Detroit Lions of the NFL.

Another player in Michigan with local ties to Las Vegas is WynnBET, the sports wagering division of Wynn Resorts Ltd.

Wynn is affiliated in a multiyear mobile sports wagering deal with the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians.

It is in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula on the Canadian border, but players will be able to sign up for the WynnBET app at any Michigan location.

Other major competitors in Michigan are Daily Fantasy Sports provider DraftKings and FanDuel.

DraftKings’ land-based partner for Michigan is Bay Mills Resort and Casino. The Northern Michigan casino does not have an actual physical DraftKings Sportsbook, but it was enabled to register.

DraftKings also entered into a multiyear deal with the Detroit Pistons in November that will allow the company access to advertising on the NBA team’s games as well as access to trademarked material provided by the Pistons.

FanDuel and DraftKings are also key players in Virginia, where the FanDuel Group and the Washington Football Team announced a first-ever market access partnership between the NFL team and an online sports gaming platform in the U.S.

FanDuel was the first sportsbook to go online in Virginia on Jan. 21.

No major Nevada impact seen

Two gaming industry analysts aren’t expecting the Virginia and Michigan rollouts to have much impact on Nevada’s sports wagering market.

“Virginia represents an attractive market with 8.5 million people, a well-educated population, and fan interest in sports teams in surrounding D.C. and Maryland,” said Nehme Abouzeid, president and founder of LaunchVegas LLC, a professional services firm. “You can expect it to be competitive with 12 potential operators, full mobile betting, and a strong media market,” said Abouzeid, who attended George Washington University and is familiar with the Virginia market.

“It is yet another shoe to drop in the legalization of sports betting across the USA and another small blow to Nevada’s former stranglehold on the business.”

Abouzeid said while many Nevada companies are well-positioned to benefit from the nationwide expansion of legalized sports betting, it does put more pressure on Nevada’s sports betting revenues, especially with COVID-19 dampening visitation.

“We need live sporting events back to drive visitation so people can bet while they are here. Conversely, though, it also creates more bettors overall. In the future, those consumers will likely seek out Las Vegas’ expanded casino and sports betting offerings the savvier they get. And it will force Nevada’s industry to keep pace in important areas like mobile sign-ups and digital payments.”

Brendan Bussmann, director of government affairs for Las Vegas-based Global Market Advisors, said Nevada should pay attention to Michigan and Virginia’s mobile sports betting industry.

“With Michigan and Virginia, two more jurisdictions are operational that understand that importance of mobile sports wagering. In states that offer a solid mobile product, about 80 percent of the revenue comes from mobile. I would expect to see similar results in these two new jurisdictions. With the (Nevada) Legislature in session this year, the mobile registration component is one that Nevada should consider and actively implement.”

Bussmann said Michigan has had land-based sports betting for almost a year but now has gone all-in with full iGaming and mobile sports betting. Operators in Nevada have been hesitant to allow full online gaming but if done correctly, it can complement a brick-and-mortar facility well and supplement their land-based revenue,” he said.

“Neither market will have an impact on Nevada directly other than through those Nevada operators that have a presence but enhancing their bottom line with the expansion of sports betting in both states and online gaming in Michigan,” he said.

“While not completely perfect, Michigan offers other states a mobile that have both commercial and tribal interests to expand sports betting and online gaming. The drafters of the legislation should be commended for bringing all parties to the table to get the best bill possible,” Bussmann said.

“Virginia will have a lot of movements in the future as the initial regs for casino gaming come out in about a week. They have gone from zero to sixty in a quick fashion.”

Contact Richard N. Velotta at rvelotta@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3893. Follow @RickVelotta on Twitter.