Gambling in the USA
Mattress Mack Doesn’t Expect Legal Sport Betting In Texas Soon, But Eyes March Madness, Astros Bets

Multimillion-dollar sports bettor Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale doesn’t expect sports wagering to be legalized in Texas in the next few years — but he’s happy placing his bets next door in Louisiana.
The Houston furniture store owner spoke to Gambling.com’s Larry Henry this week, and he “seriously” doubts Texas lawmakers will approve a measure to legalize sports betting when they next meet in Austin in 2025.
“They can’t pass anything,” McIngvale, 73, said in a telephone interview. “It’s a fractured group.”
McIngvale, whose major bets in Louisiana and elsewhere usually attract media attention, said he has no problem making the drive over to Louisiana. The state line is about 100 miles from Houston.
“I’m perfectly happy going to Louisiana,” McIngvale said. “All I do is sell furniture and go to Louisiana and bet.”
McIngvale, owner of Gallery Furniture, said he probably will bet this year on the NCAA March Madness basketball tournament and on Major League Baseball’s Houston Astros.
He said it’s too early to decide which team to bet on to win the March Madness tournament. He noted that the Houston Cougars (21-3), ranked No. 3 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll, have a talented team this season.
McIngvale also said the Astros are expected to be contenders this season. The team recently signed star second baseman José Altuve to a new contract. The Astros open the regular season March 28 at home against the New York Yankees.
Louisiana Thanks Texas For Sending Bettors Their Way
Ronnie Johns, chairman of the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, previously told Gambling.com he doesn’t think Texas lawmakers will approve sports betting soon. At one Control Board meeting in 2022, he thanked Texas for sending its gamblers to Louisiana.
The casinos in Lake Charles, Louisiana, only about 2 1/2 hours from Houston, typically generate more gaming revenue than the state’s other metro casino markets, including New Orleans and Baton Rouge. Houston is the fourth most-populated city in the U.S.
Johns is a former state senator from Lake Charles.
Missouri Voters Could Decide On Sports Betting
As in Texas, sports betting is illegal in Missouri. Its Legislature also has shot down previous efforts to approve sports betting. These efforts have run into a legislative battle over the video lottery games operating in places such as convenience stores and bars.
In Missouri, Gary Jenkins, an attorney former Kansas City Police Department intelligence detective, recently told Gambling.com on “The Edge” that he doubts the Legislature, now meeting in Jefferson City, will approve any measures this year that would lead to legal sports betting.
Jenkins noted Missouri is losing millions in tax dollars to bordering states where sports betting is legal. Every state that borders Missouri, except Oklahoma, has legal sports betting. Missouri’s two largest cities are border cities — — St. Louis (Illinois) and Kansas City (Kansas).
The initiative’s organizers need more than 170,000 signatures from registered voters by May 8 for the issue to appear on the November ballot this year.
Source: gambling.com
Gambling in the USA
Inspired and bet365 Launch Next-Gen Virtual Sports: V-Play NHL, NBA Re-Play, and Re-Play eSports

Inspired Entertainment, Inc. (“Inspired” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: INSE), a leading B2B provider of gaming content, technology, hardware, and services, is proud to announce the launch of three groundbreaking Virtual Sports titles – V-Play NHL, NBA Re-Play, and Re-Play eSports – available through bet365, one of the world’s premier online gambling brands.
These new products represent the next generation of Inspired’s award-winning Virtual Sports portfolio, featuring cutting-edge motion capture, ultra-realistic animation, and non-stop action to deliver an engaging player experience.
V-Play NHL is an officially licensed product that brings the speed and intensity of professional hockey into the virtual arena. Featuring real NHL teams and logos, the game delivers an authentic sports betting experience with broadcast-quality graphics and dynamic gameplay.
NBA Re-Play, officially licensed by the NBA and the NBPA, uses iconic archive footage and advanced rendering technology to recreate unforgettable basketball moments. Fans can engage with the action in innovative ways, thanks to new betting formats and cinematic presentation.
Re-Play eSports offers fast, always-on Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) virtual gameplay and betting opportunities for one of the most popular competitive video games globally and its captive audience of digitally native fans. The product utilizes official tournament archive footage from the Champion of Champions Tour, a top CS:GO event, with official in-game data and video feeds provided by data and technology company GRID.
These new titles are part of Inspired’s growing suite of officially licensed North American Virtual Sports products available through bet365, further reinforcing the companies’ shared leadership in the space.
“We’re excited to expand our partnership with bet365 through the launch of these groundbreaking products,” said Brooks Pierce, President & CEO of Inspired. “With V-Play NHL, NBA Re-Play, and Re-Play eSports, we continue to redefine what’s possible in Virtual Sports, delivering high-quality, immersive content that resonates with both fans and bettors.”
“Inspired continues to lead the way in Virtual Sports innovation,” said a bet365 spokesperson. “With compelling visuals, official league integrations, and thrilling gameplay, these titles are set to be a major hit with our global audience.”
The launch highlights the ongoing collaboration between Inspired and bet365 and their joint commitment to innovation and player-first entertainment.
All three products are now live on bet365’s global platform, fully optimized for desktop and mobile.
18+, GambleAware.org, Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly.
The post Inspired and bet365 Launch Next-Gen Virtual Sports: V-Play NHL, NBA Re-Play, and Re-Play eSports appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Caesars Virginia
Virginia Casino Revenue Increases 42.8% to $84.7M in July

Virginia’s casinos have generated $84.7 million in adjusted gaming revenue in July, a 42.8% increase compared to $59.3 million in July 2024, boosted by Caesar Virginia opening its full casino in December.
According to the report from the Virginia Lottery, Caesars Virginia led the market with $35.1 million in AGR, up 86.5% year-over-year from the $18.8 million generated in 2024. Revenue from slots totaled $24.6 million, up from last year’s figure of $14.4 million. Table games saw an increase of 137% to $10.5 million in July.
Rivers Casino Portsmouth was the second-highest earner in the state but saw the smallest year-over-year increase. Revenues for table games and slots increased last month, with table games generating $7.9 million, up from $7.4 million, and slots rose by 3.4% from $18.3 million to $18.8 million.
Hard Rock Bristol posted the lowest AGR at $22.9 million, but it was a double-digit percent increase from the $14.8 million generated from the year prior, with slots accounting for 81.6%.
Virginia is close to welcoming its next casino in the form of an interim gaming hall. Boyd Gaming and the Pamunkey Indian Tribe will open the temporary casino in Norfolk in November, with the permanent resort slated for 2027.
The post Virginia Casino Revenue Increases 42.8% to $84.7M in July appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Gambling in the USA
Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – August 11-17

Welcome to our weekly roundup of American gambling news again! Here, we are going through the weekly highlights of the American gambling industry which include the latest news and new partnerships. Read on and get updated.
Latest News
AU10TIX announced the launch of a free Child Safety Age Assurance Risk and Readiness Assessment and Age Assurance Readiness Guide designed to help businesses better understand their risk and tailor their strategy to meet regulatory obligations. They support AU10TIX’s Selfie-based Age Estimation service, which delivers the industry’s most precise and unbiased age assessment in just two seconds. In the US, federal legislation such as the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) requires parental consent for users under 13, while the California Consumer Privacy Act mandates age verification for websites accessed by users under 16. Additionally, 19 U.S. states now enforce mandatory age checks for adult content and gambling platforms. Similar regulations are impacting social media and online services in the UK, EU and Australia.
Caesars Entertainment has launched its third fully in-house developed proprietary online casino title: Signature American Roulette. Now live in New Jersey, the game is available across Caesars Palace Online Casino, Caesars Sportsbook & Casino and Horseshoe Online Casino, bringing another standout addition to the Company’s Signature table game series. Developed by Empire Creative, Signature American Roulette reflects Caesars’ growing investment in building its own proprietary content, a cornerstone of its online casino strategy aimed at delivering a best-in-class player experience. Signature American Roulette follows the recent launches of fan-favourite Signature titles, Caesars Palace Signature Multihand Blackjack Surrender in May and Signature Blackjack Surrender in June, both also developed by Empire Creative.
Novig announced the successful close of an $18 million Series A funding round. The round was led by Forerunner, with participation from existing investors Y Combinator, NFX, Perceptive Ventures and Gaingels. Founded by Jacob Fortinsky and Kelechi Ukah, Novig is reimagining sports predictions as a transparent and fair marketplace. Unlike traditional sportsbooks, Novig allows users to trade directly with one another, rather than against the house, eliminating hidden fees, biased odds and the risk of being penalised for winning.
Partnerships
IGT announced that it has secured a multi-year sports betting technology and services agreement with Hipodromo de Agua Caliente SA de CV and Distribuidora Internacional de Equipos de Juego, S. De R.L. De C.V. that will significantly extend IGT PlaySports’ footprint to Mexico and Latin America via Corporación Caliente. Per the agreement, 42 Caliente sportsbooks in Mexico will leverage the IGT PlaySports platform and services from the Company’s Trading Advisory Services Team. Through a phased rollout, Caliente will also be able to provide select sportsbooks operators throughout Latin America access to IGT PlaySports’ technology, extending the technology’s reach to more than 100 additional venues across eight countries.
CT Interactive has announced a strategic partnership with Ondiss. Through this collaboration, CT Interactive’s top-performing titles are now integrated into the Ondiss platform, significantly expanding the company’s reach within the region’s regulated iGaming market. This integration adds value to the broad Argentine audience of Casino & Hotel Casino Magic S.A., which successfully uses the Ondiss platform. With CT Interactive’s certified and player-favourite content now available, operators on the platform are empowered to diversify their offerings and meet the increasing demand for engaging, high-quality games.
The post Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – August 11-17 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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