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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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Avanti Studios

Avanti Studios signs live casino content deal with bet365

Published

17 minutes ago

June 9, 2026

Wladimir P.

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Launch starts in Spain with Blackjack and other titles, with additional regulated markets planned.

Avanti Studios has signed an agreement with bet365 to launch its live casino content with the operator, starting in Spain.

Under the deal, bet365 will add a suite of Avanti games in Spain, including Blackjack, expanding its casino offer in the market beyond roulette. Avanti said its games are hosted by “lifelike digital clones” and designed to support localisation and scaling.

Avanti said the rollout will extend beyond Spain, with bet365 planning to introduce the supplier’s content in additional regulated markets over the coming months.

Jonas Delin, Co-Founder at Avanti Studios, said: “We’re very excited to be partnering with one of the industry’s leading operators in bet365. The deal will allow them to host new games like Blackjack in Spain.”

Clement Le Scanff, Head of Gaming – Commercial & Operations at bet365 said: “We’re pleased to partner with Avanti to bring innovative, differentiated content to Spain, enhancing our offering and introducing new entertainment experiences for our players.”

The post Avanti Studios signs live casino content deal with bet365 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

GR8 Casino

Peter & Sons adds GR8 TECH to expand casino distribution

Published

17 minutes ago

June 9, 2026

Wladimir P.

peter-&-sons-adds-gr8-tech-to-expand-casino-distribution

The studio’s slot portfolio will be integrated into the GR8 Casino platform for access by GR8_TECH operator partners in regulated markets.

Peter & Sons has signed a distribution partnership with GR8_TECH to integrate its games into the GR8 Casino platform, extending reach across the platform provider’s operator network in regulated markets.

Under the agreement, GR8_TECH will add Peter & Sons’ portfolio to its casino offering, making the studio’s titles available to operators using GR8_TECH’s technology stack. Games referenced in the announcement include Barbarossa Dragon Empire, Ghostfather Awakened, Zombie Road, and Sand of Destiny.

Yann Bautista, Founder and Commercial Director at Peter & Sons, said: “Partnering with GR8_TECH represents another important step in expanding the reach of our portfolio across regulated markets. Their platform combines strong technology with a clear understanding of what modern casino operators are looking for, making them a very exciting partner for us. We’re looking forward to seeing our games introduced to new audiences through their growing network.”

Lusine Khudaverdyan, Head of Casino Business at GR8_TECH, said: “Excited to welcome Peter & Sons to our partner pool. They are genuine storytellers, creating incredibly immersive, cinematic worlds that players truly want to inhabit. By integrating their content, we provide our clients with bold, artistic experiences that satisfy a new generation of players craving high engagement and fresh aesthetics.”

The post Peter & Sons adds GR8 TECH to expand casino distribution appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Canada

St8 cements Ontario content offering through latest partnership with RubyPlay

Published

17 minutes ago

June 9, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

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Casino games aggregator and full-service technology provider St8 has partnered with RubyPlay to further expand its Ontario offering, adding the studio’s popular slot portfolio to its growing aggregation platform across the Canadian province.

As part of the agreement, operators in Ontario will gain access to a range of titles from across RubyPlay’s studio ecosystem, including content from RubyPlay Studio, Koala Games, Mad Hat Games and Firerose, through St8, with upcoming releases from Xslots also expected to go live through the platform. Standout games include J Mania® Lucky Pyggs, Mad Hit® Mr. Coin and Diamond Explosion® 7s SE. The integration strengthens St8’s content portfolio with a range of proven, high-performing slot titles tailored to the region.

RubyPlay has continued to grow its footprint across regulated jurisdictions through its studio-based ecosystem and tailored content strategy, earning key tier one recognition for developing high-performing games that resonate with players in key markets worldwide. The supplier’s games offering has proven appeal in Ontario, resonating well with local players in the region.

The partnership strengthens St8’s proposition in Ontario, a market that has quickly become a key part of the company’s growth strategy as it continues to establish itself as a leading technology provider around the globe.

David Fall, Business Development Manager at St8, said: “Partnering with RubyPlay in Ontario is an exciting addition to our growing content offering in North America.

“The supplier has built strong momentum across regulated markets through its engaging portfolio and player-focused approach, and we are delighted to bring its high-performing content from across its studio ecosystem to operators in Ontario through the St8 platform.”

Dima Reiderman, Chief Commercial Officer at RubyPlay, said: “Ontario is a market we have been focused on for some time, so teaming up with St8 feels like a natural step in our North American expansion.

“St8’s aggregation platform provides an excellent route for our diverse portfolio of content to reach more operators in Ontario. Through our studio ecosystem, we are able to deliver a broad range of experiences tailored to different audiences and market needs, making this partnership a strong fit for both companies”

The post St8 cements Ontario content offering through latest partnership with RubyPlay appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.