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Sports-Betting Boost Expected With Texas, Oklahoma In SEC

Published

2 years ago

July 12, 2024

sports-betting-boost-expected-with-texas,-oklahoma-in-sec

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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BetConstruct

BetConstruct AI offers operators three months free sportsbook access ahead of World Cup 2026

Published

2 hours ago

April 21, 2026

Wladimir P.

betconstruct-ai-offers-operators-three-months-free-sportsbook-access-ahead-of-world-cup-2026

The deal includes a fee waiver across its core suite plus setup and third-party integration discounts for the first three months.

BetConstruct AI has launched a World Cup 2026-focused commercial offer that waives fees for operators across its sportsbook and other core products for three months.

Under the terms published in the release, the company is offering “Complete fee waiver for the first 3 months across Sportsbook, CreedRoomz, Popok, Pascal, Choice, Virtual Sports, and Poker Network,” alongside a “SETUP DISCOUNT (50%)” for “all global market entry setups.” It is also applying a “3RD PARTY INTEGRATION (51%)” discount to “all 3rd Party Game Providers for the first 3 months.”

BetConstruct AI also included two complimentary add-ons it said would be available at “€0 cost” to partners. “Powerfull (Pre-Tournament)” is scheduled to run “8–10 weeks before kickoff” and is positioned around “weekly turnover challenges,” with prizes including “Free Bets (€1–€1,000) or a World Cup Final ticket,” which the company said are “100% funded by BetConstruct AI.”

The second product, “Bet on League (In-Tournament),” is described as an iFrame-based tournament hub that “requires no UI rebuilds,” with features including “an integrated module resembling a prediction market and personalized bet suggestions driven by AI.”

The company framed the campaign around operators preparing for what it called “the highest-concentration betting opportunity of the next four years,” referring to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

More data as follows:

BetConstruct: https://www.betconstruct.com/ Official company site for product and commercial context referenced in the offer.
FIFA World Cup 2026: https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canada-mexico-usa2026 Authoritative tournament reference to support the timing and context of the World Cup 2026 campaign.
BetConstruct AI: https://www.betconstruct.com/ Use for verification of the ‘BetConstruct AI’ naming and related product descriptions if published on the company domain.

The post BetConstruct AI offers operators three months free sportsbook access ahead of World Cup 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Canada

Endorphina Now Licensed B2B Gaming Supplier in Ontario

Published

2 hours ago

April 21, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

endorphina-now-licensed-b2b-gaming-supplier-in-ontario

Endorphina Limited, a leading provider of certified online slot games, has successfully obtained a Gaming-Related Supplier registration in Ontario, Canada, one of the most regulated iGaming markets globally.

The registration, issued by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), authorizes Endorphina to supply its gaming content to licensed operators within the province. This milestone marks an important step in the company’s long-term expansion strategy focused on regulated markets, strengthening its presence in North America and enhancing its global footprint.

“Securing approval in Ontario is a significant achievement for Endorphina. It confirms the quality of our products, the strength of our compliance framework, and our readiness to operate in highly regulated environments,” said Head of Compliance at Endorphina, Džangar Jesenov.

Endorphina continues to invest in the development of proprietary online slot games, delivering innovative content tailored to the evolving requirements of international markets.

With a portfolio of 200+ premium slots, the company has built strong partnerships with 6,000+ operators worldwide. It holds an active presence in over 50 jurisdictions, ensuring compliance in regulated markets across Europe, Latin America, and beyond.

With the Ontario registration, the company is well-positioned to expand partnerships with licensed operators and further solidify its reputation as a trusted B2B supplier in the global iGaming industry.

The post Endorphina Now Licensed B2B Gaming Supplier in Ontario appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

data ethics

Ethical Gambling Forum lands in Leeds on 28–29 April, hosted by Flutter

Published

3 hours ago

April 21, 2026

Wladimir P.

ethical-gambling-forum-lands-in-leeds-on-28–29-april,-hosted-by-flutter

Organisers say the agenda will cover safer product design, regulation, data ethics and AI, with limited places still available.

The Ethical Gambling Forum will take place on 28/29 April in Leeds, UK, with Flutter hosting the event. Organisers say the annual gathering will bring together regulators, operators, technology suppliers, researchers and advocates to discuss ethical and responsible gambling.

According to the organisers, this year’s programme will focus on responsible product design, player protection, regulatory evolution, data ethics and the use of emerging technologies including AI. The agenda is set to include keynote sessions, panel debates, case studies and roundtable discussions.

“Ethical leadership isn’t optional anymore; it’s the foundation of the industry’s future,” said Adrian Sladdin, Co-Founder of the EGF. “This Forum is where meaningful progress happens.”

The organisers said limited spaces remain and directed interested attendees to the event website for registration and the full programme.

More data as follows:

Ethical Gambling Forum (EGF) event website: https://www.egf.events Official source for registration and programme details referenced in the release.
Flutter Entertainment: https://www.flutter.com Host company named in the release; readers may want corporate context.
UK Gambling Commission: https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk Primary UK regulator relevant to discussions of compliance and regulatory evolution.

The post Ethical Gambling Forum lands in Leeds on 28–29 April, hosted by Flutter appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.