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Sports-Betting Boost Expected With Texas, Oklahoma In SEC

Published

2 years ago

July 12, 2024

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With the Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners now in the Southeastern Conference, legal sports betting soon could jump by double digits in the region, says one bookmaker.

Starting this season, Texas and Oklahoma are in position to challenge for the SEC football championship — and championships across all SEC sports — in a collegiate conference loaded with rich traditions and annual national title contenders.

The Longhorns and Sooners joined the SEC in July. Both moved over from the Big 12.

“This new conference (alignment) leads to better games for the book and better opportunities for the player,” Casey Lewless, manager of two Louisiana sportsbooks, told Gambling.com.

Legal sportsbooks in Louisiana are popular with bettors from neighboring Texas and nearby Oklahoma. Sports wagering is illegal in Texas and Oklahoma.

Because of this, the Margaritaville Resort Casino in Bossier City, Louisiana, expects to see a bump of about 30% in college wagering, Lewless said. That sportsbook already was anticipating more action because of its recent expansion.

The Margaritaville sportsbook is one of two in Northwest Louisiana that Lewless manages for Penn Entertainment. The other is at the nearby Boomtown Casino Hotel.

Lewless pointed to Texas’ rivalry years ago with the Arkansas Razorbacks in the former Southwest Conference as a matchup that will stir interest now that both are in the SEC. Sports betting is legal in Arkansas.

Also, every clash between the two Texas SEC schools — the Longhorns and Texas A&M Aggies — will stir emotions and boost sports betting in close-by states like Louisiana where wagering is legal, Lewless said.

Sports Betting Illegal In Half Of SEC States

The addition of Oklahoma into the SEC means six of the 12 states with schools in the conference do not have legal sports betting. Texas already had a school in the SEC — Texas A&M.

Those six SEC states make up the largest geographic region in the U.S. without legal sports betting. Combined, the six states have a population of more than 62 million, representing about 19% of the U.S. population.

Nationwide, sports betting is legal in 38 states and Washington, D.C.

The SEC states without legal sports betting are:

Texas (Texas Longhorns, Texas A&M Aggies)
Oklahoma (Oklahoma Sooners)
Missouri (Missouri Tigers)
Alabama (Alabama Crimson Tide, Auburn Tigers)
Georgia (Georgia Bulldogs)
South Carolina (South Carolina Gamecocks)
The other six SEC states have either in-person or mobile sports betting — or both. Tennessee is a mobile-only state, while Mississippi has in-person sports betting at casinos but not off-site mobile wagering.

The SEC states with legal sports betting are:

Arkansas (Arkansas Razorbacks)
Louisiana (LSU Tigers)
Kentucky (Kentucky Wildcats)
Tennessee (Tennessee Volunteers, Vanderbilt Commodores)
Mississippi (Ole Miss Rebels, Mississippi State Bulldogs)
Florida (Florida Gators)

College Football Kicks Off In August

The overall college football schedule kicks off Aug. 24, including a matchup overseas between Florida State and Georgia Tech in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic in Dublin, Ireland.

In the SEC, the Oklahoma Sooners, led by head coach Brent Venables, begin their season on Aug. 30 against Temple at OU’s Gaylord Family Memorial Stadium.

The SEC schedule gets fully underway over the Labor Day weekend, highlighted by an Aug. 31 contest between Clemson and Georgia in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

On that same day, the Steve Sarkisian-coached Texas Longhorns host Colorado State in Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin.

The next day’s schedule, on Sept. 1, features another SEC school, LSU, in a matchup against Southern California in the Vegas Kickoff Classic at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

SEC Divisions Abandoned

The addition of Texas and Oklahoma brings the number of teams in the SEC to 16. This season, the conference football championship will be decided between the top two teams. The 2024 SEC title game is set for Dec. 7 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

In previous years, the conference was split into two divisions, with the East and West winners battling it out for for the SEC title.

The 2024 arrangement with no divisions is a departure in the conference structure dating back more than three decades.

Source

Related Topics:latest-news norss Oklahoma SEC sports betting Texas

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Betnacional

Playson strengthens Brazilian presence with Betnacional partnership

Published

18 minutes ago

March 30, 2026

Wladimir P.

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Playson, the established digital entertainment supplier, has strengthened its presence in Brazil after going live with leading local operator Betnacional, marking another key milestone in its Latin American growth strategy.

Owned by Flutter, Betnacional is a prominent sportsbook and casino brand focused on the Brazilian market, known for its strong local reach and expanding player base. Through the partnership, Betnacional’s customers now gain access to a selection of Playson’s top-performing titles, including 4 Pots Riches and Diamonds Power—both featuring the popular Hold and Win mechanic—as well as Sugar Teddy x1000, all recognised for their engaging gameplay and proven success in regulated markets.

The agreement highlights Playson’s ongoing strategy of collaborating with trusted, high-impact operators in key growth regions. Brazil continues to be a major focus for the supplier, driven by rising demand for high-quality, mobile-optimised content tailored to local player preferences.

This latest deal further strengthens Playson’s foothold in the country, where it is rapidly expanding its network of operator partners and solidifying its role as a key content provider in the region.

“Partnering with Betnacional is an important milestone for us in Brazil,” said Cristhian Zito, Head of LatAm at Playson.
“As a highly respected local brand with a deep understanding of its audience, we are confident our content will resonate strongly with its players. This launch reinforces our position in the market and our commitment to delivering engaging, high-performing games across Latin America.”

Frederico Cunha, Head of Comercial at Betnacional, added: “We are delighted to welcome Playson’s portfolio to our platform. Their games are known for their quality, strong mechanics, and consistent performance, making them a valuable addition to our offering. We look forward to working closely together to enhance the entertainment experience for our players.”

The post Playson strengthens Brazilian presence with Betnacional partnership appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Jelli Express

ALL ABOARD! PRAGMATIC PLAY GOES FULL STEAM AHEAD WITH JELLY EXPRESS

Published

18 minutes ago

March 30, 2026

Wladimir P.

all-aboard!-pragmatic-play-goes-full-steam-ahead-with-jelly-express

Pragmatic Play, a leading iGaming content provider, has rolled out Jelly Express, a vibrant new slot where a gummy bear conductor leads a locomotive through a colourful candy-coated world.

Set across 6×5 reels, the game delivers a lively experience filled with rewarding mechanics. Players can win by landing 8 to 12+ matching symbols anywhere on the grid, with base game payouts reaching up to 50x. Adding extra sweetness, candy train wilds boost wins with multipliers of up to 100x.

The excitement ramps up when three coin scatter symbols trigger the bonus round, offering players a choice between six different feature options. Each option provides a unique mix of free spins (up to 25) and wild multipliers (up to 100x), while a mystery pick adds an extra layer of unpredictability.

During the feature, landing an additional scatter can activate Super Free Spins, where wild multipliers are collected by the candy train above the reels. This cumulative multiplier is then applied to future wins involving wilds, unlocking a maximum win potential of up to 5,000x.

In selected markets, players can also take advantage of special bet options, including increased chances of triggering free spins, guaranteed wilds on every spin, or enhanced win potential with minimum 10x wild multipliers that stack during tumbles.

Jelly Express is the latest addition to Pragmatic Play’s growing portfolio.

The post ALL ABOARD! PRAGMATIC PLAY GOES FULL STEAM AHEAD WITH JELLY EXPRESS appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Gambling in the USA

RubyPlay expands US footprint with West Virginia launch

Published

18 minutes ago

March 30, 2026

Wladimir P.

rubyplay-expands-us-footprint-with-west-virginia-launch

RubyPlay, a studio-driven content ecosystem, has further strengthened its position in the regulated US iGaming market with its official launch in West Virginia, marking its third state entry.

The expansion brings RubyPlay’s distinctive portfolio of premium titles to the Mountain State, giving leading US operators access to high-performing games such as Vegas No Limit Wins SE, Mad Hit® Diamonds, and Mad Hit® Devil.

Operators in West Virginia will benefit from RubyPlay’s flexible content platform, built on shared technology, infrastructure, and distribution capabilities designed to meet individual partner requirements.

At the core of the offering is RubyPlay’s studio-based ecosystem, which includes market-specific studios like xSlots. These studios deliver localised content, bespoke game development, and faster time to market, helping operators create more tailored player experiences.

The move continues RubyPlay’s steady expansion across the US, following successful entries into New Jersey and Delaware. As the company builds momentum in regulated markets, the US remains a central pillar of its growth strategy, with plans to enter Pennsylvania in the near future.

“Our launch in West Virginia reflects RubyPlay’s ongoing commitment to expanding across regulated US markets,” said Dima Reiderman, Chief Commercial Officer at RubyPlay.
“Each new state allows us to strengthen our commercial presence while building valuable partnerships with leading operators.

“Through our studio-driven model, we enable operators to deliver content that aligns closely with their strategy and audience, creating more relevant and differentiated player experiences.”

The post RubyPlay expands US footprint with West Virginia launch appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.