Gambling in the USA

INDIANA SPORTSBOOKS LOSE OUT ON $165 MILLION IN APRIL BETS

Published

6 years ago

May 12, 2020

Reading Time: 3 minutes

With retail sportsbooks shuttered and few events to draw bets, April could be low point, according to PlayIndiana.com

Indiana sportsbooks suffered their worst month ever in April — including a retail sector that did not produce a single bet — costing sportsbooks an estimated $165 million in bets, according to estimates from PlayIndiana.

With a minimized schedule of sports to bet on and casinos closed for the entire month, Indiana generated just $26.3 million in wagers, according to official reporting released Monday. During a month in which online and retail sportsbooks would have expected to draw at least $190 million in bets, April’s handle was down 64.8% from $74.8 million in March. That’s the lowest monthly handle ever for Indiana sportsbooks, which launched in October 2019 with $35.2 million in bets.

“April’s results are shocking, but not at all surprising,” said Dustin Gouker, chief analyst for PlayIndiana.com. “Bettors have very few places to turn in Indiana. In some states, online casinos have driven significant revenue. But that isn’t possible in Indiana. So the industry’s results will continue to be grim until the sports world figures out a way to reopen.”

April’s wagers still produced $5.5 million in adjusted gross revenue, essentially even with March. That yielded $522,085 in tax revenue for the state.

Without legal online casino games and poker, and no esports betting, bettors in Indiana have largely been limited since mid-March to fringe international sports and futures betting. In fact, $21 million of the state’s handle was generated by “other” sports, far more than football, basketball, and baseball.

The NFL Draft, and to a lesser extent the WNBA Draft, gave bettors some reason to engage with sportsbooks in April. Indiana, the first state to allow betting on professional sports drafts, generated $1.3 million in football-related wagers in April, most of which came from the NFL Draft.

“The shut down of sports has led to some creativity by Indiana’s bookmakers, and that creativity was rewarded with interest in the NFL Draft,” said Jessica Welman, analyst for PlayIndiana.com. “Even though Indiana has missed out on some opportunities, regulators have at least been nimble enough to allow some unconventional ideas.”

There are reasons for cautious optimism. NASCAR is planning on revving up in May, which could draw betting interest. The PGA Tour is planning a June tee off while baseball and the NBA continue to search for a workable solution to restart their seasons. In addition, Indiana’s casinos and retail sportsbooks could open as early as June 14.

“It could be that April is the low point in what will undoubtedly still be a struggle until sports can resume with their regular schedules,” Gouker said. “If sports do resume relatively soon, online sportsbooks should recover quickly. In the meantime, sportsbooks will continue to look for creative ways to drive revenue.”

Because retail sportsbooks were shut down entirely in April—costing an estimated $40 million in in-person bets—online sportsbooks accounted for the entire handle in the state. DraftKings/Ameristar Casino led the market with $13.6 million in bets, up from $33.1 million in March. That generated $908,322 in gross receipts, down from $2.4 million. FanDuel/Blue Chip Casino was second with a $9.7 million handle, down from $21.6 million. That resulted in a $558,155 win, down from $1.5 million.

The market leaders were followed by:

BetRivers/French Lick Resort ($2.1 million handle, down from $3.6 million; $116,726 win, down from $343,482)
Hollywood Lawrenceburg/PointsBet ($449,638 handle, up from $334,237 handle; -$4,768 handle, down from $65,390)
BetMGM/Belterra ($418,195 handle, down from $2.1 million; $48,043 handle, down from $370,669)
BetAmerica/Rising Star Casino ($3,886 handle, down from $132,568; $3,519 win, down from $8,233)

The shutdown may have slowed the development of some sportsbooks apps, too. BetIndiana is still sorting through issues. And familiar brands such as William Hill, which operates a retail sportsbook at Tropicana Evansville, as well as Caesars, Fox Bet, and Unibet have yet to enter the market.

“The legacy of this shut down for the market could be in the way it has stunted its growth,” Welman said. “From lost revenue to less competition, the effects of this unprecedented shutdown will be felt well after sports resume.”

AI in lottery

Scientific Games Appoints Rich Wasserman as Senior Vice President of Product Engineering

Published

4 hours ago

February 24, 2026

Wladimir P.

scientific-games-appoints-rich-wasserman-as-senior-vice-president-of-product-engineering

Scientific Games has appointed Rich Wasserman as Senior Vice President of Product Engineering, reinforcing its commitment to advancing lottery systems technology and digital innovation.

Based in Atlanta, the global lottery provider continues to expand its technology leadership as one of the fastest-growing suppliers of retail and digital lottery solutions worldwide.

Leadership Experience from Amazon, Facebook and Stitch Fix

Wasserman brings more than 20 years of experience leading engineering, data science and product teams across high-performance technology platforms.

He previously held senior leadership roles at:

Amazon
Facebook
Stitch Fix

At Stitch Fix, he served as Vice President of Engineering and Data Science, leading automation, AI-driven systems and platform optimization initiatives. Wasserman holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and a Computer Science degree from the University at Buffalo.

Driving Innovation Across Global Lottery Platforms

In his new role, Wasserman will oversee Product Engineering across Scientific Games’ global portfolio serving more than 150 government-regulated lotteries. His responsibilities include advancing:

Retail lottery systems
Digital lottery platforms
Hardware and software innovation
Data analytics and AI capabilities
Consumer engagement technologies

CEO Pat McHugh stated that Wasserman’s experience scaling AI-powered platforms at world-class technology firms will help accelerate innovation and deliver next-generation lottery solutions focused on sustainable growth.

Strengthening Lottery Technology Leadership

Scientific Games continues to invest in technology, analytics and digital transformation to enhance consumer experiences across retail and online lottery channels. The appointment underscores the company’s strategy to integrate advanced analytics and machine learning into its global lottery ecosystem.

The post Scientific Games Appoints Rich Wasserman as Senior Vice President of Product Engineering appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Gambling in the USA

Scientific Games Appoints Rich Wasserman as Senior Vice President of Product Engineering

Published

4 hours ago

February 24, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

Former Amazon, Facebook and Stitch Fix Exec to Lead Product Engineering for Global Lottery Provider

Scientific Games has named Rich Wasserman as Senior Vice President of Product Engineering. Wasserman brings more than 20 years of experience leading global engineering, data science and product organizations across complex, high-performance technology platforms.

As the industry’s fastest-growing lottery systems technology provider, Scientific Games continues to invest in technology and talent to deliver seamless consumer experiences across lottery retail and digital channels.

Wasserman previously held senior leadership roles at Amazon and Facebook, where he led large-scale systems powered by advanced analytics and machine learning. Most recently, he served as Vice President of Engineering and Data Science at Stitch Fix, leading integrated teams focused on automation and platform optimization. Wasserman holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and a degree in Computer Science from the University at Buffalo.

In his new role, Wasserman will lead Product Engineering across Scientific Games’ global product portfolio serving government-regulated lotteries, advancing hardware and software platforms to accelerate innovation, expand analytics capabilities and consumer-engagement to deliver long-term value for lottery customers worldwide.

“We’re excited to add Rich’s deep technical expertise scaling innovative, AI-driven platforms at world-class organizations to further strengthen Scientific Games’ technology leadership,” said Pat McHugh, Chief Executive Officer of Scientific Games. “As we continue investing in innovation and analytics across retail and digital lottery solutions, his experience and leadership will help us deliver the next generation of high-performance products that drive sustainable growth for our lottery customers worldwide.”

Scientific Games serves more than 150 lotteries globally with a comprehensive portfolio of retail systems, digital platforms, instant games and analytics solutions.

The post Scientific Games Appoints Rich Wasserman as Senior Vice President of Product Engineering appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

Gambling in the USA

S Gaming ignites US expansion with Fanatics Casino partnership

Published

2 weeks ago

February 12, 2026

Wladimir P.

s-gaming-ignites-us-expansion-with-fanatics-casino-partnership

S Gaming, the fast-growing developer of highly entertaining online slots and casino games, has taken another major step in its US expansion strategy by securing a partnership with leading operator Fanatics Casino.

As part of the agreement, Fanatics Casino will exclusively roll out S Gaming’s standout title, Triple 7 Jackpot, across regulated iGaming markets including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Michigan.

What Makes Triple 7 Jackpot Stand Out?

Triple 7 Jackpot delivers a classic slot experience infused with vibrant neon energy. At the heart of the game is its signature Triple 7 feature, which remains visible on-screen throughout gameplay. Players can unlock this feature by landing three Bonus 7 symbols in a single spin.

Once activated, the feature awards one bonus spin and a chance to land the impressive 500x Jackpot prize, adding significant win potential to the experience.

In addition, players can trigger Free Spins by landing three Scatter symbols during the base game, awarding seven Free Games and further opportunities to boost winnings.

Strengthening a Growing US Presence

The partnership with Fanatics Casino marks another milestone in S Gaming’s ambitious US growth strategy. The studio’s focus on sustainable entertainment and accessible, casual gameplay is already resonating with American players.

Charles Mott, CEO and Co-Founder of S Gaming, highlighted the importance of the deal:

“Fanatics Casino needs no introduction and is one of the powerhouse brands in the regulated US market. We’re thrilled to see Triple 7 Jackpot added to its casino lobby and to bring the game to players in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Michigan for the first time.”

Mott also noted that the company now works with two major US operators—Fanatics and BetMGM—with additional partnerships expected in the coming months.

Enhancing the Fanatics Casino Portfolio

Fanatics Casino views the collaboration as part of its ongoing strategy to elevate its game offering.

Kieron Shaw, Senior Manager at Fanatics Casino, commented:

“We’re committed to expanding our portfolio to enhance the player experience, which is why we continue to partner with innovative studios like S Gaming. Their focus on fun, combined with strong win potential, brings something fresh and exciting to our platform.”

With this latest launch, S Gaming continues to cement its position in the competitive US iGaming landscape, leveraging premium partnerships to deliver engaging slot experiences to players nationwide.

The post S Gaming ignites US expansion with Fanatics Casino partnership appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.