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Indiana Sportsbooks Lose Out On $125 Million In March Wagers

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Without NCAA Tournament, NBA, baseball, and more, sportsbooks attract $75 million in bets, according to PlayIndiana

Indiana’s retail and online sportsbooks were hit hard in the first weeks of the coronavirus shutdown, costing the state an estimated $125 million in wagers in March, according to PlayIndiana. And with no immediate end in sight, the industry will continue to navigate treacherous waters in the months ahead.

“This is an unprecedented stoppage for legal sportsbooks, and there is no playbook for them to follow to help manage the crisis,” said Dustin Gouker, lead analyst for PlayIndiana.com. “Obviously, the sports betting industry is just one facet in a crisis that is affecting us all, too often tragically. But it is a business that employs hundreds in Indiana and generates millions in state taxes. And the bottom line is that there will be no significant relief until the sports world begins to open back up.”

Indiana appeared to be headed for its first month of more than $200 million in bets. Instead, the state’s retail and online sportsbooks collected just $74.8 million in March wagers, down 60% from the record $187.2 million in February, according to official reporting released Thursday. Almost all of the handle was generated before March 11, when the NBA shut down its season and sent a cascade of closures through the sports world.

March’s bets produced $5.5 million in adjusted gross revenue, down 50.5% from $11.9 million in February, and yielded $522,0825 in tax revenue for the state.

The shutdown wiped out nearly three weeks of games, including the NBA and the opening of the Major League Baseball season. The loss of the NCAA Tournament, one of the largest sports betting holidays in the U.S., proved particularly damaging. Indiana sportsbooks could have generated more than $50 million in tournament-related wagers, PlayIndiana estimates.

“There is no way to replace the revenue that would have been generated from the NCAA Tournament, which in legal jurisdictions generates more action than the Super Bowl,” said Jessica Welman, an analyst for PlayIndiana.com. “The NCAA Tournament can’t be rescheduled, but professional leagues are beginning to draw plans to begin games again. We still don’t know what that looks like or when it will happen. Whether spectators are there to watch in-person or not, though, online sportsbooks should again be able to attract bettors, which will be welcome news for the industry.

Other than some minor international events and futures betting, mainly on the NFL, sportsbooks have gone completely silent. That could change in a minor way without a single game being played. Sportsbooks are now accepting bets on Friday’s WNBA Draft and the NFL Draft later this month.

“We don’t expect a lot of betting on the WNBA and NFL drafts, but we suspect that each will draw more interest than either would under ordinary circumstances,” Welman said. “People are looking for some sense of normalcy while they practice social distancing, and the drafts and futures betting is providing at least some outlet for bettors.”

In March, online sportsbooks generated 81.3%, or $60.8 million, of the state’s handle. DraftKings/Ameristar Casino led the market with $33.1 million in bets, down from $74.1 million in February, and generated $2.4 million in gross receipts, down from $5.7 million. FanDuel/Blue Chip Casino was second with a $21.6 million handle, down from $63.8 million. That resulted in a $1.45 million win, down from $2.7 million.

The market leaders were followed by:

  • BetRivers/French Lick Resort ($3.6 million handle, down from $7.7 million; $343,482 win, down from $348,869)
  • BetAmerica/Rising Star Casino ($132,568 handle, down from $212,953; $8,233 win, up from -$6,169)
  • BetMGM/Belterra ($2.1 million handle, up from $70,061; $370,669 win, up from $13,175)
  • Hollywood Lawrenceburg/PointsBet ($334,237 handle, $65,390 win)

Horseshoe Hammond led the retail market with $3.4 million in bets, down from $12.4 million in February. That generated $211,475 in gross receipts, up from $52,445. Horseshoe Hammond was followed by:

  • Hollywood Lawrenceburg ($2.6 million handle, down from $6.8 million; $65,390 win, down from $308,577)
  • Ameristar Casino ($2.1 million handle, down from $5.9 million; $232,186 win, down from $345,660)
  • Indiana Grand ($1.7 million handle, down from $4.7 million; $95,088 win, down from $516,760)
  • Harrah’s Hoosier Park ($1.8 million handle, down from $4.5 million; $32,459 win, down from $301,764)
  • Caesars Southern Indiana ($800,758 handle, down from $2.2 million; -$25,689 win, up from $16,774)
  • Blue Chip Casino ($693,011 handle, down from $2.1 million; $10,736 win, up from $3,008)
  • Tropicana Evansville ($594,036 handle, down from $1.6 million; -$49,753 win, down from $31,513)
  • Belterra Casino ($242,689 handle, down from $864,230; -$35,082 win, down from $46,173)
  • French Lick Resort ($81,343 handle, down from $387,656; -$16,027 win, down from $27,015)
  • Rising Star Casino ($43,686 handle, down from $123,393; -$5,903 win, down from $11,723)

“Online sportsbooks will bounce back more quickly than their retail counterparts, which face a much more uncertain future as the coronavirus pandemic continues,” Gouker said. “In states where online casino games and poker are legal, such as New Jersey and Pennsylvania, casino operators have had a bit softer landing. But Indiana has really borne the brunt of this crisis, unfortunately.”

For more revenue information on Indiana sportsbooks, visit PlayIndiana.com/revenue.

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G2 Digital launches Vegas Club Casino in New Jersey on White Hat Gaming PAM

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G2 Digital, the iGaming operator founded by industry veterans Greg Carlin and Dan Alexander, has launched Vegas Club Casino in New Jersey on White Hat Gaming’s Player Account Management (PAM) platform. The site is now live at NJ.PLAYVEGASCLUB.COM, with apps available for iOS and Android, the companies said on July 22, 2026.

Under an exclusive agreement, White Hat Gaming will provide its PAM solution to support G2 Digital as it targets regulated jurisdictions across the United States and Canada. The platform scope includes CRM marketing support, a proprietary cashier, RGS integrations, and White Hat’s Travelling Wallet™ feature, positioned by the supplier as enabling cross-state flexibility and scalability.

Phil Gelvan, CEO at White Hat Gaming, said: “Greg and Dan are incredibly well-respected in the industry, so we are proud that they have chosen White Hat Gaming’s first-class PAM solution to supplement G2 Digital as it expands its operations in the US iGaming space with Vegas Club Casino. We are dedicated to delivering a highly optimized PAM product that ensures G2 Digital provides its players with a seamless, high-performance gaming environment.”

Greg Carlin, Co-Founder and CEO at G2 Digital, said: “After conducting a thorough analysis of all available platforms approved in the US market, White Hat’s PAM solution stood out as the winner, both in terms of the technology and the leadership team behind that product.”

White Hat noted its PAM is also used by operators including Bally’s, Jackpocket, and Choctaw Nation, and framed the deal as expanding its presence in regulated US markets.

The post G2 Digital launches Vegas Club Casino in New Jersey on White Hat Gaming PAM appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

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Gambling in the USA

AGS Reflects on Their Class II Roots at OIGA 2026

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AGS today announced it will be attending the 2026 Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association (OIGA) Conference and Trade Show, taking place July 20-22 at the Oklahoma City Convention Center.

With deep seated roots in Oklahoma, where AGS was founded and where its primary warehouse and production facility is located, AGS is eager to return to OIGA with a continued commitment to serving the needs of tribal operators.

”Oklahoma is not just another dot on the map for us. It’s where we started and where we learned how to be a true gaming supplier,” said David Lopez, CEO and President of AGS. “You can’t fake it in Oklahoma. Tribal customers know the games, they know the math, they know service, and they know who shows up every time. That has been great for AGS, because it forced us to get better. It made us more disciplined while keeping us honest. We’ve grown a lot since then – Class III, tables, interactive, offices all over the place – but our history in Oklahoma and Class II is not something we moved on from. It’s part of the AGS engine.”

The Company’s product showcase will include the large-format, specialty cabinet Spectra SL75+™. Designed to support the entire Spectra game library, including premium titles when leased, Spectra SL75+ gives operators added flexibility to mix and match content to fit their unique casino floor.

The cabinet acts as the perfect canvas to highlight five new titles including Rakin’ Bacon! Fu Zhu Bao Bao™ and Rakin’ Bacon! 5 Prosperity Pots™, Cash Carriage Looter™, Da Da Luo Boom™, and Frightful Fortunes Popping Pumpkins™.

AGS’ high-performing mechanical stepper cabinet Revel® – available in both Class II and Class III – is redefining the category by blending traditional mechanical gameplay with video-inspired features, creating an engaging experience for all player types. The latest Revel portfolio includes Crystal Reels® and Royal Reels®, available in both Class II and Class III. Expanding the lineup, Jackpot Legends™ – a new cash-on-reels title featuring an exciting Jackpot Bonus Wheel – and So Hot Cash®, which delivers classic stepper gameplay and can be linked to the So Hot Grand progressive, are set to debut in Class III later this year, with Class II launches following in 2027.

On the table side, AGS’ award-winning progressive platform Bonus Spin Xtreme® (BSX) has been hugely successful in turning small side bets into massive jackpots throughout the tribal casino market. Linking all table games – from the pit to the poker room – BSX has been elemental in allowing operators to offer the flexibility at the tables to make these life-changing wins become more common.

AGS’ participation in OIGA reflects the Company’s history in Oklahoma and its longstanding commitment to the tribal gaming community. More than a trade show presence, OIGA is an opportunity for AGS to reconnect with valued partners, strengthen relationships, and reaffirm its respect for the Oklahoma Tribes that have played such an important role in the Company’s growth.

Attendees are invited to visit AGS at booth 732 throughout the show.

For more information, visit newsroom.playags.com.

©2026 AGS LLC. All® notices signify marks registered in the United States. All ™ notices signify trademarks which are currently not registered on any country-wide basis. Products referenced herein are sold by AGS LLC or its affiliates.

The post AGS Reflects on Their Class II Roots at OIGA 2026 appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

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UpUp Casino Opens to U.S. Players with Premium Games Free, Faster Redemptions, and a Player-first Rewards Program

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UpUp Casino, a free-to-play social sweepstakes platform built on player-first principles, officially launched in the US at upupcasino.com. The platform debuts with a premium game library, independently audited systems, and a legally compliant sweepstakes model that never requires a purchase or deposit to play or redeem real cash prizes.

UpUp Casino features a diverse collection of social and live games from globally recognised studios that power leading international iGaming brands — premium titles that are traditionally paid-to-play, now available free within the UpUp Casino sweepstakes experience. The platform operates using two virtual currencies: Gold Coins (GC) for entertainment gameplay and Sweep Coins (SC), which can be redeemed for real cash prizes.

Built around a player-first rewards experience, UpUp Casino offers every new player a welcome gift upon signup, alongside a wide range of ongoing promotions and benefits. Players can enjoy daily rewards, weekly bonuses, coin package bonuses, limited-time coin boosts, refer-a-friend incentives, and more. The platform’s VIP program further enhances the experience with boosted promotions, priority support, and exclusive tier-based rewards.

All eligible SC balances can be redeemed for real cash prizes through a redemption process designed for speed, security, and low minimum thresholds — ensuring rewards remain accessible to players.

UpUp Casino has been independently audited for security and fair-play integrity prior to launch and operates in compliance with U.S. sweepstakes promotional regulations. Player accounts are protected through industry-standard encryption, identity verification systems, and dedicated 24/7 customer support staffed by real people.

“Players deserve more — premium games without paywalls, faster redemptions, better rewards, and support from real people who genuinely care. We built UpUp Casino around those principles. This is what a modern player-first sweepstakes casino should look like,” said Angelina Upton, Founder of UpUp Casino.

The post UpUp Casino Opens to U.S. Players with Premium Games Free, Faster Redemptions, and a Player-first Rewards Program appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

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