Gambling in the USA
Report: College Basketball’s March Madness brings Joy to Online Betting Companies
The American Gaming Association (AGA) recently reported that over $8.5 billion was wagered on college basketball’s “March Madness” by Americans in 2019 – via a mix of illegal and legal bets.
Of course, 2021 brings with it a new and very different landscape due to the ongoing global health pandemic and also due to the expansion of the legal sports-betting market in the USA.
This year’s NCAA March Madness has begun – but due to COVID-19, for the first time in the history of the competition, the entire tournament is being held in one single state (Indiana this year).
The National Championship Final itself is set to play out on April 5th 2021 at the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
March Madness – Betting facts, figures, and trends
The latest research and analysis has brought some interesting March Madness sports-betting estimates, facts, and figures to light.
Three times as many Americans planned to wager on this year’s March madness via online sportsbooks compared to 2019.
The pandemic is unquestionably a factor in the huge increase of anticipated bettors, with 17.8 million people expected to gamble on March Madness this year compared with 5.8 million people in 2019.
Even so, 8.3 million bettors are expected to place a bet at a physical sportsbook, which is up 79% from 2019.
That figure is only expected to grow in the future with 45% of American adults now living in a state with legalized sports betting and more states opening up.
“We’ve seen a 200% increase in site searches related to March-Madness betting in 2021 – with sports fans looking for the latest odds & futures for the tournament”
- Tom Nielsen, CTO at sports odds website Vegas-odds.com
The dramatic growth in the popularity of sports betting over the course of the last two years can be attributed to the expansion of the legal market, as 73.6 million more Americans in 14 new legal jurisdictions can legally place bets on March Madness this year compared to the 2019 tournament.
A March Madness tournament bracket might be great fun, but it’s worth looking at more traditional wagers at more realistic betting odds on the Money Line, Point Spread and Totals for those hoping to realistically win a few dollars.
There could be a big jump in traditional bets on this year’s tournament compared to 2019, with 30.6 million Americans expected to wager such bets, up from 17.8 million two years ago.
Other March-Madness facts & figures:
- The odds of picking all 63 March Madness games correctly is 1 in 9.2 quintillions! (That’s 9,200,000,000,000,000,000)
- The longest streak of correct NCAA tournament bracket picks to start the tournament currently stands at an astonishing 49, with an Ohio resident correctly predicting the entire 2019 NCAA tournament into the Sweet 16.
- 47.4 million American adults plan to bet on March Madness (that’s more than 20% of the population), about the same number that indicated they would bet on the tournament in 2019.
- 30.6 million Americans expect to place more traditional bets on this year’s tournament, up from 17.8 million in 2019
- 17.8 million say they will place a bet online, up 206% from 5.8 million in 2019
- 8.3 million expect to place a bet at a physical sportsbook, up 79% from 2019
- Betting with friends/colleagues remains popular – March Madness will likely generate $4.6 billion of wagers from 40 million people betting with friends and colleagues through a total of 149 million brackets, the AGA said.
- Regulated Vs International Sportsbooks: The remaining $3.9 billion of wagers will come mostly by way of international websites and bookmakers, though 4.1 million people will also place legal bets through licensed U.S based casinos and sportsbooks in las vegas and other states with legal sports betting operators.
- Gonzaga University’s “Bulldogs” team is the betting favorite to win the tournament
FanDuel Casino
Wazdan Strengthens US Footprint with FanDuel Pennsylvania Launch
Wazdan has continued to accelerate its North American expansion after going live with FanDuel Casino in Pennsylvania through Light & Wonder’s aggregation platform.
The latest launch marks another important milestone in Wazdan’s growth strategy across regulated US markets, extending the supplier’s partnership with one of North America’s leading online gaming brands. The rollout follows Wazdan’s successful launch with FanDuel in Ontario and Michigan earlier this year and further reinforces the developer’s commitment to delivering engaging gaming experiences to players across the region.
As part of the initial Pennsylvania deployment, FanDuel Casino players will gain access to two of Wazdan’s popular titles, 12 Bells and Hot Slot: 777 Crown. The first wave of content will be followed by additional game releases across several subsequent launch phases, steadily expanding Wazdan’s presence on the operator’s platform.
Powered by Light & Wonder’s industry-leading aggregation technology, the integration provides Pennsylvania players with seamless access to Wazdan’s innovative slot portfolio, renowned for its engaging gameplay and player-first mechanics.
The launch represents another key step for Wazdan, building on the company’s established presence across regulated markets.
Magdalena Wojdyla, Head of Account Management at Wazdan, said: “Launching with FanDuel in Pennsylvania marks another significant step in strengthening our North American footprint and further builds on a successful partnership with one of the industry’s most recognised operators.
“FanDuel’s strong brand, extensive reach and deep understanding of its player base make it an excellent strategic fit for Wazdan. We are delighted to expand our collaboration into another key regulated jurisdiction and look forward to delivering additional content to Pennsylvania players in the months ahead.”
The post Wazdan Strengthens US Footprint with FanDuel Pennsylvania Launch appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Delaware North
Ember Ignites Delaware North’s Next Chapter in Digital Gaming with New Jersey Launch
Delaware North, a global hospitality and entertainment company with a portfolio of casinos and other gaming venues, announced the launch of Ember Casino in New Jersey, marking the first phase of a broader rebrand of the company’s gaming business under a unified brand identity.
The New Jersey debut represents the first step in this transformation as Delaware North transitions its existing digital gaming operations from the Betly brand to Ember across current and future markets. Additional brand integrations and market expansions are planned throughout the year as Ember becomes the unified identity for the company’s gaming portfolio.
“Ember represents the next chapter for our gaming business. We are building a connected platform that integrates our digital and brick-and-mortar expertise, creating a seamless experience for players while positioning us for long-term growth in highly competitive regulated markets,” said Jason Gregorec, president of gaming for Delaware North.
New Jersey, one of the nation’s most established and competitive iGaming markets, serves as the launchpad for Ember’s broader rollout strategy. In 2025, online casinos in the state generated nearly $2.9 billion in gross gaming revenue, reflecting continued growth in internet gaming. The performance underscores the scale and opportunity within the sector as Ember enters the market.
As part of the launch, Ember is introducing a Play to Earn promotion designed to reward early player engagement. Players who register and participate will have the opportunity to earn entries for a chance to win a Toyota GR86, a Ford Mustang or a Ford Bronco, with a series of vehicle giveaways planned during the platform’s initial launch period. The promotion introduces players to the new Ember experience while reinforcing the brand’s focus on engagement and value.
Ember Casino is powered by leading online gaming platform and services provider Playtech. The platform features Playtech’s responsible gaming solutions, including BetBuddy, along with a diverse portfolio of content that includes slots and live dealer games, supported by high-quality streaming and real-time gameplay designed to deliver an engaging and reliable player experience.
In recent months, Delaware North has expanded relationships with leading online gaming content providers, including IGT, White Hat Studios, and Light and Wonder, leveraging those partnerships to support the Ember launch in New Jersey and future markets. The company also works with Vegas Kings for platform design and AquireBet for user acquisition and experience optimization.
“Our mission has always been to deliver exceptional experiences. These partnerships are fueling our expansion in the digital gaming space with the same level of precision, personalization and innovation our players have come to expect,” said Lee Terfloth, chief interactive gaming officer for Delaware North.
Delaware North’s broader gaming portfolio includes properties across seven states and Australia, including the superregional Southland Casino Hotel in Arkansas. The company also serves as developer and gaming and hospitality consultant for the Catawba Nation’s $1 billion casino resort project in North Carolina.
The launch of Ember Casino in New Jersey positions Delaware North for sustained growth in digital gaming, uniting its hospitality legacy with a modern, scalable online platform built for expansion across regulated markets.
The post Ember Ignites Delaware North’s Next Chapter in Digital Gaming with New Jersey Launch appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Gambling in the USA
SkillOnNet rolls out Ready Play Gaming slots in Ontario, Canada and Mexico
SkillOnNet has launched Ready Play Gaming’s slot portfolio across Ontario, Canada and Mexico, with additional international markets planned to follow later this year.
The content is now available across SkillOnNet’s iGaming brands including PlayOJO, PlayUZU, Slingo, Mega Casino and LuckyNiki.
Titles going live include Ready Play Gaming’s Reel Jackpots series, including Reel Bingo and Reel Triple, which the studio describes as “soft slot” experiences aimed at the bingo generation.
Jani Kontturi at SkillOnNet said: “We are proud to welcome Ready Play Gaming as we continue to strengthen our global content offering with innovative and high-performing studio partners. In a crowded market, they’ve focused on building games with personality and strong entertainment value, and we believe that’s exactly the kind of content today’s players respond to.
Christoph Härtel, COO at Ready Play Gaming said: “Partnering with SkillOnNet is a major milestone for Ready Play Gaming as we continue to expand our international footprint. SkillOnNet’s strong presence in regulated markets and extensive operator network make them an ideal partner to help bring our games to even more players globally.”
The post SkillOnNet rolls out Ready Play Gaming slots in Ontario, Canada and Mexico appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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