BetMGM
PlayIA.com: Iowa sportsbooks set per-day betting record during $144 million February
Iowa sportsbooks took in nearly $144 million in bets in February and took in more bets per day than in the state’s history, even as the state’s month-over-month handle fell from January’s surge. The bottom line is that the Hawkeye State’s sportsbooks continue to reap significant benefits of no in-person registration requirements, according to analysts for PlayIA, which tracks regulated online and retail gaming in the state.
“Iowa remains perhaps the most compelling case study yet on the effects of in-person registration requirements,” said Jessica Welman, an analyst for PlayIA.com. “February is a short month with only one NFL game to bet on, the Super Bowl, so the relatively flat month-over-month results can be misleading on the surface. But another strong showing still places Iowa in a class of states that are either larger or have far more mature gaming markets. And that would not be possible under the old requirements.”
Online and retail sportsbooks generated $143.6 million in wagers in February, according to official data released Friday. That is down 3.9% from the record $149.5 million handle in January. But betting per day in the 28 days of the month was a record $5.1 million, which was up from the $4.8 million per day bet in the 31 days of January.
February’s handle pushed Iowa’s lifetime handle to $1.1 billion, surpassing an eye-catching milestone.
The biggest reason for the two-month surge is the removal of in-person registration requirements in January. In fact, FanDuel reported new customer registrations multiplied by nearly a factor of seven from December to January, a direct result of the easing of registration requirements. And DraftKings said that by Jan. 5, it had registered more customers via mobile registration than through all of 2020.
Net receipts for sportsbooks did fall 32% month over month, to $7.7 million in February from $11.3 million in January. The month’s revenue still yielded $520,444 in state taxes.
As immediate and significant an effect as the removal of in-person registration requirements has been, it is not the sole reason the state’s sportsbooks remained busy in February. The Super Bowl brought in $16.2 million in wagers, most of which came in February. Bookmakers also benefited from robust interest in men’s college basketball, particularly No. 5 Iowa and Drake, which sits just outside the Top 25.
“When local teams enjoy strong seasons, as both Iowa and Drake are, interest in betting on their games goes up. We see that in every regulated sports betting market in the U.S.,” said Dustin Gouker, analyst for PlayIA.com. “With March Madness on the horizon, more growth almost certainly lies ahead. And sportsbooks should get an even bigger boost if Iowa or Drake can manage a prolonged run in the NCAA Tournament.”
For the month, online sports betting accounted for $143.6 million, or 87.2%, of the state’s overall handle. That brings it closer in line with markets with more mature online sports betting and no on-site registration requirements. In those states, about 90% of all bets are made online.
The surge in online sports betting continues to heat up the race for market share among operators. Iowa’s first online operator in August 2019, William Hill — which partners in Iowa with Prairie Meadows, Horseshoe Casino Council Bluffs, Isle Casino Hotel Waterloo, Isle of Capri Bettendorf, Lakeside, and Harrah’s Council Bluffs — retook the online market lead with $45.2 million in online wagers in February. That netted a market-leading $2 million in receipts.
The Wild Rose license, which is anchored by DraftKings but includes BetRivers, took in $38.9 million in online wagers and $1.5 million net receipts. FanDuel, the nation’s largest sportsbook brand, helped put Diamond Jo in third place with $28.4 million in online bets, up from $26.9 million in January. Diamond Jo’s license, which includes BetMGM, netted $1.5 million on those bets.
Still emerging from COVID-related restrictions, retail betting generated $18.4 million, down from $28.8 million. Ameristar topped the retail market with $4.5 million in wagers, just ahead of Diamond Jo Worth’s $4.2 million.
William Hill and its partners lead across all betting platforms, with a combined retail and online handle of $50 million, or 34.8% of the state’s handle. In a U.S. market dominated by FanDuel and DraftKings, Iowa and Nevada are the only two states in which William Hill is the market leader.
“William Hill is still proving that early entry into a market is critically important,” Welman said. “But DraftKings and FanDuel are investing heavily in Iowa, and with their brand recognition, they are seeing a rapid return on that investment. We’ll see how long William Hill is able to hold them off.”
For more information and analysis on regulated sports betting in Iowa, visit PlayIA.com/news.
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BetMGM
BetMGM lands first-to-market exclusivity for new AGS Rakin’ Bacon! slots
Three-game rollout starts April 20 on BetMGM and Borgata Online Casino, with launches set for May 12 and July 2.
BetMGM has secured exclusive first-to-market rights to upcoming online slot titles from AGS’ Rakin’ Bacon!® franchise, with releases set to roll out across BetMGM and Borgata Online Casino, the company said April 20.
The first title, Rakin’ Bacon! Triple Oink Soda Fountain Fortunes, is available now. Two additional games are scheduled: Rakin’ Bacon! Triple Oink San Shen Zhu on May 12 and Rakin’ Bacon! Fu Zhu Bao Bao on July 2.
“The Rakin’ Bacon! franchise is a proven mainstay on casino floors and online,” said Oliver Bartlett, Senior Vice President of Gaming at BetMGM. “Securing first-to-market rights is a natural extension of the strong relationship we’ve built with top-tier game suppliers like AGS. As a premier online casino destination, it is our commitment to offer players first access to the most anticipated titles.”
BetMGM said Rakin’ Bacon! games have been among its top-performing content, noting that two slot titles from the franchise placed among the platform’s top 15 iGaming offerings in 2025.
Zoe Ebling, Vice President of Interactive at AGS, said, “AGS is focused on bringing the energy of land-based favorites into the digital world in ways that drive real engagement. Our continued partnership with BetMGM and bringing even more Rakin’ Bacon! titles online cements AGS’ commitment to offering standout gaming experiences to players across both platforms.”
More data as follows:
- BetMGM newsroom (original release): https://casino.betmgm.com/en/blog/press/ Primary source for the announcement and any follow-up details.
- AGS newsroom: https://newsroom.playags.com/ Company source for product and partnership updates on AGS’ interactive content.
- New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement: https://www.nj.gov/oag/ge/ Regulatory context for online casino operations referenced in Jersey City, NJ.
The post BetMGM lands first-to-market exclusivity for new AGS Rakin’ Bacon! slots appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
BetMGM
Inspired Entertainment Announces Expansion of Virtual Sports with BetMGM
Inspired Entertainment Inc. announced that BetMGM, a leading iGaming and sports betting operator, has launched Inspired’s Virtual Sports content at BetMGM and Borgata Online sports betting platforms in New Jersey. The offering includes V-Play Soccer, V-Play Basketball, and V-Play NFL-themed Football.
Inspired’s V-Play Soccer and V-Play U.S. sports events consistently deliver incremental revenue for operators, combining broadcast-quality graphics with frequent betting opportunities that keep players engaged.
Inspired’s V-Play NFL-themed Football stands out as the first-ever NFL-themed Virtual Sports offering, giving football enthusiasts an exciting and unique way to interact with their favorite NFL teams through a fully engaging Virtual Sports experience.
“We are pleased to expand our partnership with BetMGM and Borgata to bring our proven Virtual Sports products to their New Jersey sportsbook. Our V-Play Soccer, Basketball, and V-Play NFL-themed Football products have demonstrated strong performance across regulated markets, driving meaningful incremental revenue and engagement for our operator partners. This launch underscores the growing role Virtual Sports play in modern sportsbooks, where companies that position Virtual Sports within their sportsbook, rather than their online casino, consistently generate higher revenues,” said Brooks Pierce, President and Chief Executive Officer of Inspired Entertainment.
“Inspired Entertainment is a leader in Virtual Sports and expanding our partnership represents an important milestone in elevating BetMGM and Borgata Online’s offerings in New Jersey. Inspired’s V-Play portfolio delivers the premium, engaging sports content and results from Ontario have shown a positive player response,” said Matt Prevost, Chief Revenue Officer at BetMGM.
Inspired’s V-Play Soccer, V-Play Basketball, and V-Play NFL-themed Football are currently live at BetMGM in Ontario, and has established a strong, loyal player base generating high, sustained performance across all three products.
Inspired continues to grow its Virtual Sports presence across regulated jurisdictions worldwide, providing operators with innovative, high-quality content designed to enhance engagement, generate incremental revenue, and ensure the season never ends.
The post Inspired Entertainment Announces Expansion of Virtual Sports with BetMGM appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
BetMGM
BetMGM Extends its Partnership with EPIC Global Solutions
BetMGM has extended its relationship with EPIC Global Solutions into a sixth year, drawing on the consultancy’s lived experience model to support player protection excellence across key consumer-facing teams.
BetMGM originally partnered with EPIC to provide meaningful exposure to the human impact of problem gambling for its employees and stakeholders. The “lived experience” approach from EPIC continues to positively impact the organisation’s responsible gambling framework, training strategy, and stakeholder engagement.
Through the extension of the work in 2026, EPIC has initially delivered two sessions of their “Gambling Harm Awareness” program to BetMGM teams during March, coinciding with Problem Gambling Awareness Month, and will undertake two further scheduled sessions with BetMGM’s customer-facing teams later in the year. Additional Gambling Harm Awareness sessions have been agreed for September, alongside digital Responsible Gambling training and an advisory day with EPIC consultants.
Client feedback from the two March engagements has evidenced strong increases in both knowledge and confidence around gambling issues among BetMGM teams. Quantitative feedback from employee surveys confirmed:
• 100% agreed or strongly agreed they had a better understanding of the potential personal, social, and financial effects of gambling harm, as well as a better understanding of how RG supports healthy play and how PG manifests as harm, and how proactive engagement can protect customers and the company;
• 98% agreed or strongly agreed they had a better understanding of how to identify key indicators in customer behavior, communication, or play patterns;
• 95% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed they had better knowledge of the difference between responsible gambling (RG) and problem gambling (PG);
• 100% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed they felt confident recognising the signs of gambling harm and in identifying common risk factors and vulnerable groups.
Richard Taylor, Director of Responsible Gambling, BetMGM, said: “Our long-standing partnership with EPIC Global Solutions continues to play an important role in how we support responsible play at BetMGM. Their lived experience approach brings valuable insight to our teams and enhances how we recognise and respond to gambling-related risk. As we enter our sixth year working together, EPIC’s expertise remains essential to strengthening our culture of responsibility across the business.”
“BetMGM continues to demonstrate a clear commitment to player protection, evidenced by the longevity of their working relationship with EPIC,” said Cory Brown, Gaming Policy & Consumer Protection Manager North America, EPIC Global Solutions.
“We’re pleased to have supported their mission for six years and look forward to further strengthening their team’s knowledge with the additional training we’re scheduled to deliver later this year.”
The post BetMGM Extends its Partnership with EPIC Global Solutions appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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