Arena Sports Academy/ ArenaSiouxCity about 4 days ago Just Announced: Spring/Summer đ Club Team Tryouts! Open to all incoming 3rd - 8th boys and girls! Sports betting was legalized this past December in Washington, D.C., and the new upgrades coming to Capital One Arena will help turn the stadium into a premier betting and sports entertainment destination. Wizards fans already have the option of watching a betting-themed broadcast of select games on NBC Sports Washington.
In the wake of the PASPA repeal last May, casinos and racetracks in states with sports betting legislation have been busy constructing state-of-the-art sportsbooks of various shapes and sizes.
Indeed, thereâs been a clamor to create sports betting facilities to rival those found in Nevada and, in turn, drive patrons to properties. But could the next step in regulated sports bettingâs nascent journey in the US allow sports fans to place wagers inside sports stadiums and arenas?
That scenario is what New YorkAssemblyman Gary Pretlow is pushing for with a tweak to a sports betting bill he sponsors. If it doesnât receive opposition and ends up as part of the legislation, in-person sports betting facilities could sprout up at YankeeStadium and Madison Square Garden.
Upstate sports betting coming to New York
As things stand, sports betting has the go-ahead to take place at the Empire Stateâs four commercial casinos:
- Tioga Downs
- Resorts World Catskills
- Rivers Casino & Resort
- del Lago Casino & Resort
Lawmakers anticipate achieving $400 million a year for state coffers from taxing sports betting.
However, Pretlow recently told Legal Sports Report that an estimated $10 billion is wagered illegally in New York every year.
Furthermore, sports betting at the likes of Yankee Stadium and Madison Square Garden would help stem the flow of bettors crossing the Hudson River into neighboring New Jersey. In the Garden State, itâs legal to place bets in person and with 13 regulated mobile NJ sportsbooks.
Sports betting becoming ubiquitous
Arena Sport Tv 1 Uzivo
Yet, regardless of what happens to Pretlowâs bill, Keith McDonnell, a Florida-based gambling consultant and CEO of KMI Gaming, is â100 percentâ sure sports betting will eventually become commonplace inside sports venues.
âIf sportsbooks are allowed in casinos in regulated sportsbook states, what is the rationale for not allowing a sportsbook solution in sports stadiums? None,â McDonnell said. âProviding in-person betting at stadiums can play a part of âgame dayâ as much as beer and pretzels and appeal to the customer segment (who) only (places) a wager when they attend the game.
âThey donât want to take it further by downloading an app, registering details and depositing funds. They enjoy the very occasional cash or card bet anonymously. Itâs highly recreational.â
Sports fans put their knowledge to the test
Meanwhile, the Sacramento Kings recently unveiled a âpredictive gamingâ lounge to coincide with a home game against the Chicago Bulls. Sports betting isnât legal in California, but this game is the next best thing. Fans place free predictions on margin or victory, total team points, turnovers, blocks, steals and more to win prizes.
Itâs also being seen as a possible precursor to full-blown sports betting in the Golden State. Likewise, during the March 12 New Orleans Pelicans matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks, fans were able to play along with a real-time sports prediction game.
Available to iOS device owners, HotStreak also lets spectators compete for prizes by making player-specific predictions relating to the action on the court.
A betting facility at Capital One Arena?
One vocal proponent of legalized sports betting is Monumental Sports & Entertainment CEO Ted Leonsis, owner of the NHLâs Washington Capitals and the NBAâs Washington Wizards.
Leonsis has expressed a desire to see a sports betting facility at the Capital One Arena in downtown Washington, D.C.
Leonsis suggested fans could come to the 20,000-seat arena before games to place wagers as part of the game-day experience. The multi-sports and entertainment venue, which attracts some 3 million visitors annually, underwent a $40 million upgrade last year.
Phase II, costing $15 million, is due to be completed this fall and will include a center-hung scoreboard. It will be one of the largest 360-degree video screens in sports. There will also be new LED video boards, more dining options, and renovations to concourses and lounges.
D.C. lawmakers gave the green light for gambling at sports stadiums and arenas in December 2018, although it has yet to be rolled out anywhere.
No-frills betting windows would create more of a âbet-and-goâ experience. Sports lounges similar to Leonsisâs vision would encourage fans to congregate, have a drink and watch the action on large screens. The latter would provide a similar look and feel to the fantasy sports lounges first installed at some stadiums during the daily fantasy sports boom a few years ago.
William Hillâs lounge helps encourage mobile sign-ups
Last December, WilliamHill cut the ribbon on its 1,200-square-foot SportsbookLounge at Newarkâs PrudentialCenter, home to the New Jersey Devils. While it is devoid of any actual betting kiosks, fans are encouraged to place bets through William Hillâs sportsbook app.
They can also check out live odds and action on the 30-odd screens and grab a drink from the bar. The lounge is open for all Devilsâ home games and other events. Itâs as much about signing up new mobile customers as it is about brand recognition and being associated with the Devils for the 85-year-old UK bookmaker.
In fact, the benefits of forging ties with sports that are popular around the world could explain why casino giants like Caesars and MGM have inked deals with professional sports leagues and teams, such as the NFL, of late.
Potential pitfalls with betting at stadiums and arenas
However, where betting is made available at sports venues, it shouldnât be overtly conspicuous, particularly with children present, warns RichardSchuetz, former commissioner for the California Gaming Control Commission.
âIf there are going to be lounges and betting windows, they should be kept somewhat away from the rest of the show. Many people see the attendance at sporting events to be an activity for the entire family, whereas many donât (consider) sports wagering to be an activity for the entire family.â
Arena Sport Tv
Meanwhile, VicSalerno, who worked in Nevadaâs race and sportsbook industry for almost 40 years, highlights another issue that would concern him.
âThe problem with betting windows is that it gives the perception that the home team is partners with the bookmakers and might have an effect on the outcome of the game,â Salerno said. âI donât know if I would like to be a sportsbook ticket writer at the venue after a game that had a questionable ending that went against the home team.â
Betting at sporting events in the UK
Across the pond in the UK â where sports betting has been legal for decades â players can find sports betting facilities at most major soccer stadiums and arenas hosting high-profile sporting events. These complement the 8,000-plus betting parlors dotted up and down the country.
Fans are also able to place in-person bets at Londonâs iconic WembleyStadium. However, the betting windows are kept firmly shut for NFL games at the leagueâs request.
Yet, this does seem somewhat pointless when those 18 years and older can simply place NFL bets outside the stadium. Or, on their smartphones for that matter. (Legal online gambling has existed there for two decades.)
If states permit mobile betting, then it largely removes the need for fans to traipse to the betting window or lounge, queue in line, hand over their cash and stash the ticket in a pocket.
âI completely agree,â said Salerno. âMost of the people who are betting already have mobile applications that put them at the front of the line to place their bets versus sitting in a line and watching the odds change.â
In New Jersey, for instance, online and mobile sports betting account for around 80 percent of handle. Of the $320 millionbet on sports in February in the state, around $258 million was gambled via digital channels.
Lounging and watching the action
That said, it isnât always easy to get a mobile signal in densely populated situations like sporting events. More gregarious sports bettors would probably prefer to be ensconced in a plush lounge placing bets with hard cash.
Salerno also suggests loungeswill help educate fans about regulated betting and deter those using illegal or offshore bookmakers. Moreover, though, they are bound to enhance the game-day experience for many fans, much like enjoying the concession stand.
McDonnell, a 20-year veteran of the gambling industry, said, âWe have seen in the UK how having in-person betting at stadiums, for example in the Premier League, adds to the fan experience. Itâs an inevitability this will happen in the US. Itâs a nation that prioritizes maximizing entertainment value over everything else.â
The Purdue Boilermakers (8-5 overall, 3-3 Big Ten) visit the Indiana Hoosiers (8-5, 3-3) in a Thursday evening (7 p.m. ET) contest at Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Ind. Below, we analyze the Purdue-Indiana college basketball betting odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
Purdue at Indiana: Betting odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sportsâ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:10 a.m. ET.
Arena Sport Bets 2020
Money line: Purdue +145 (bet $100 to win $145) | Indiana -175 (bet $175 to win $100)Against the spread/ATS: Purdue +3.5 (-110) | Indiana -3.5 (-110)Over/Under: 130.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)Purdue at Indiana: Three things to know
Indiana hasnât defeated Purdue since Feb. 20, 2016, a stretch of seven straight games in the intrastate series. In that win streak, the Boilermakers have gone 4-2-1 against the number. Their average winning margin (straight-up) has been nine points.Indianaâs FArena Sport Tv 3 Uzivo
Trayce Jackson-Davis has logged five double-doubles this season. That feat includes IUâs last three games. Over games against Maryland, Wisconsin, and Nebraska, the 6-foot-9 sophomore has tallied 60 points while grabbing 30 rebounds.Purdue is playing its fourth consecutive game away from home. The Boilermakers havenât played at Mackey Arena since Dec. 25 and have played only one game on home hardwood since Dec. 16. If any road fatigue is setting in, it has perhaps become most apparent in PUâs shooting touch. Purdue shot a combined 36.6% from the floor in its last two games (at Illinois, at Michigan State).Special College Basketball Betting Promotion!
Bet $1 on any college basketball team money line, WIN an additional $100 (in free bets) if ANY team hits a 3-pointer today. Promotion available in CO, IN, NJ, TN and WV. IA and PA residents, donât miss BetMGMâs risk-free, first-bet offer! MI residents, BetMGM is coming to your state soon â register early for special promotion.
Place your legal, online sports bets at BetMGM! Terms and conditions apply. Bet now!
Purdue at Indiana: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Indiana 67, Purdue 62
Money line (ML)
The ML prices here are wide-left and wide-right of the any value margins. PASS.
Against the spread (ATS)
Arena Sport Bet
The Hoosiers are the superior defensive team, and look for turnovers to be a key advantage. On offense, Indiana has a big match-up advantage inside.
Itâs unlikely Purdue can make this a one-score game. TAKE INDIANA -3.5 (-110).
Over/Under (O/U)
Both teams play slow-tempo, lower-possession-count style of basketball. But IUâs recent trend line has me lean Over, and that opens up some value on a number that also is just going to âlook lowâ to many casual bettors.
POUNCE: TAKE THE UNDER 130.5 (-105).
Want some action on this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.
Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
Additional college sports coverage from USA TODAY Sports Media Group:
Alabama / Auburn / Florida / Georgia / LSU / Michigan / Michigan State / Notre Dame / Ohio State / Oklahoma / Tennessee / Texas / USC / Wisconsin
Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.