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Wedge Index For US Gaming States Launches

A new rating system of gaming accessibility for each US state based on the regulated gambling options available to consumers called Wedge Index has been launched.

The Wedge Index was featured on ESPN.com/chalk and is set to become the standard ratings index for sports bettors/ gamblers in the country.

The Wedge Index will be used to keep a running score of the changes affecting every state across the US when it comes to gaming.

The Index is easily accessible for news and media outlets to use as a free resource when talking about the burgeoning progress of state-by-state sports-betting and online gaming.

The Wedge Index score is calculated according to a large number of criteria including whether a state has land-based casinos, sports-betting, online gaming and other factors such as the number and quality of brands operational in the state.

“We think this adds some further context to the ongoing debates in the US around sports-betting and online gaming,” says Wedge Index founder David Copeland.

“By according scores for each factor that makes up the Index, we can make a good approximation of the relative gaming friendliness of each state and also look at how forthcoming changes will affect that.”

As it stands, New Jersey tops the Wedge Index list with a current score of 116 followed by Pennsylvania and Colorado.

The Wedge Index top 10 gaming accessible states and points totals at launch

  • New Jersey – 116 points
  • Pennsylvania – 86 points
  • Colorado – 67 points
  • Indiana – 64 points
  • West Virginia – 60 points
  • Illinois – 55 points
  • Nevada – 41 points
  • Oregon – 39 points
  • Iowa – 35 points
  • New Hampshire – 34 points

“New Jersey is number one for a reason,” says Copeland. “As well as being the first to market with sports-betting and also with online casino, it has blazed a trail which other states are now following.”

“This is such a fast-moving space that there are pieces of news which could potentially affect the Wedge Index every day,” he said. “We’re delighted to be giving journalists access to a free resource which they can use to give some background to their stories about the progress of US sports-betting and gaming in their state.”

BIG EAST Conference Selects EGF As Its Esports Governance, Marketing And Distribution Partner

Today, the BIG EAST Conference and the Electronic Gaming Federation (EGF) announced a three-year agreement that will enable all 11 member schools to compete in a year-long multigame season for the first time as official EGF Collegiate (EGFC) league members. EGFC is the national Division I Varsity Esports League with a growing number of schools bringing their own elite teams together to vie for National Championships across a number of game titles.

The EGFC Season begins October 5 and features nationwide intercollegiate competition in two eight-week splits as well as conference championships, regional playoffs and the EGFC National Championship to be held April 24-25, 2021. Expanded titles include: Rocket League, Overwatch, SSBU and FIFA. Broadcasts of all matches will be streamed on EGF’s 5 Twitch channels, the BIG EAST YouTube channel and various institutional platforms.

The BIG EAST members, located in eight of the country’s top 36 largest media markets, include Butler University, University of Connecticut, Creighton University, DePaul University, Georgetown University, Marquette University, Providence College, St. John’s University, Seton Hall University, Villanova University and Xavier University.

“We’re very excited that the relationship BIG EAST esports has enjoyed with EGF will be continuing for the next three years with league membership across many titles,” said BIG EAST Commissioner Val Ackerman. “We’re grateful for the outstanding leadership EGF provides annually to collegiate esports and look forward to partnering to bring compelling rivalry matches and broadcasts to our fans around the country.”

“We are honored to have earned the trust and respect of all the BIG EAST schools and conference leadership,” said Eric Johnson, CEO, EGF. “EGF is attracting teams who want to play against the biggest and best programs across the country for a national championship, want to have a voice and a stake in their governance, and want a partner who has the students’ passions as the top priority.

In addition to the BIG EAST’s conference wide affiliation with EGF, a growing number of other colleges and Universities are selecting EGF not only based on their competitive governance, but their commitment to serving esports communities and teams on campus and virtually through strategic partnerships, educational development, wellness, diversity and inclusion and industry leadership programs.

The esports (competitive video games) has generated more than $1 billion globally in 2019 and is expanding exponentially throughout 2020. By 2022, the growth of esports from a competition and viewer standpoint is expected to exceed 300 million participants. Division I collegiate programs began in earnest in 2015 and now feature more than 100 teams in the U.S.

Cubs Take Down Yankees In Strat-O-Matic’s 2020 Baseball Playoff Simulation

Anthony Rizzo (credit: Arturo Pardavillo III)

It has been more than eight decades since the Cubs and Yankees met in the World Series, but according to the simulation posted today by Strat-O-Matic (www.strat-o-matic.com), the leader in sports simulation games, those two storied franchises will survive three rounds of playoffs and match up for the title next month. Chicago, behind four home runs and 10 RBI by MVP Anthony Rizzo, won it in seven games, a two-run single by unlikely hero Victor Caratini in the eighth inning of the deciding contest providing the winning margin in what would be Chicago’s second crown in five years and fourth in its history.

After edging sixth-seeded Miami in the N.L. Wild Card round, two games to one, No. 3 Chicago won its next series more efficiently, 3-1 over Atlanta and 4-1 over San Diego. The Yankees, the A.L. No 5 seed, had a similar run to the Series, sweeping Cleveland in the Wild Card round, taking Toronto, three games to one, and Minnesota, four games to one.

In the World Series, the Cubs took a three games to one lead before the Yankees earned wins in games five and six to set up the winner-take-all finale. Despite two home runs by Giancarlo Stanton, Caratini’s pinch hit put the Cubs up for good in the 8-5 victory. Rizzo hit .483 and also scored seven runs in the series, which pitted the same franchises who were paired in 1932 and 1938.

“It’s been a season unlike any other in so many ways,” said Hal Richman, Strat-O-Matic President. “And while these may not be the favored teams in either league, anything can happen in a short series, and the Strat-O-Matic simulation, which has annually been a good predictor of the winner, reflect that.”

Each round’s series results are below; fans can see linescores for each contest at www.strat-o-matic.com.

2020 Strat-O-Matic Baseball Playoff Simulation Results:

A.L. Wild Card Round
Toronto 2, Tampa Bay 1
New York 2, Cleveland 0
Minnesota 2, Houston 0
Chicago 2, Oakland 0

N.L. Wild Card
Los Angeles 2, Milwaukee 0
San Diego 2, St. Louis 1
Chicago 2, Miami 1
Atlanta 2, Cincinnati 1

A.L. Division Series
New York 3, Toronto 1
Minnesota 3, Chicago 1

N.L. Division Series
San Diego 3, Los Angeles 2
Chicago 3, Atlanta 1

Championship Series
New York 4, Minnesota 1
Chicago 4, San Diego 1

World Series
Chicago 4, New York 3

Flutter Entertainment, Scientific Games Renew To Celebrate 20th

Scientific Games Corporation secured a five-year contract renewal with long-term customer Flutter Entertainment plc to continue providing its OpenSports™ technology to the operators’ portfolio of global brands.

Flutter Entertainment is the world’s leading sports betting, gaming and entertainment provider serving over 13 million customers worldwide through its innovative, diverse and distinctive brands including FanDuel in the U.S., Paddy Power, Betfair and Sky Bet in the U.K. and Europe and SportsBet in Australia.

The five-year renewal comes on the back of FanDuel selecting Scientific Games to power their sportsbook offering across all current and future regulated markets in the U.S.

Flutter Entertainment and Scientific Games first partnered with Paddy Power in 2000 making this the 20th anniversary of the Companies’ partnership.  

Rik Barker, CIO at Flutter Entertainment UK & Ireland Division, said, “We’re very pleased to renew our partnership with Scientific Games. Whilst we take great pride in our proprietary technology and product development capabilities, Scientific Games’ OpenSports technology has been a key part of our sports betting platforms for many years. The reliability and scalability of their technology provides us with a robust platform to deliver on our strategic goals. As we enter a new era of sports betting, we’re looking forward to working with their world-class teams and technology to capitalize on the opportunities across our sector.”

Together, Flutter and Scientific Games teams have achieved a number of industry milestones. In 2010, Paddy Power accepted its first Live Odds bets, and the following year saw the sportsbook become the first to launch the innovative Cashout feature, both powered by the OpenBetTM engine. Following the merger between Paddy Power and Betfair, the OpenSports team was heavily involved in the migration of the two brands onto a single customer platform. 

Jordan Levin, Group CEO, Digital at Scientific Games, said, “Flutter operates some of the world’s most innovative, diverse and distinctive sports betting and gaming brands. Over the last two decades, we’ve worked together through major shifts in technology, player expectations and the ramping up of U.S. sports betting where we partner with FanDuel. We share a common ambition to take podium positions in key regulated markets through responsible, engaging and safe player experiences.”

UCLA Athletics Tabs Fast-Growing Sports Nutrition Brand Ready Nutrition As Official Protein

Ready® Nutrition (@ready nutrition), one of the fastest growing sports nutrition companies in America, announced today that it has signed a multi-year partnership with UCLA to become the Official Protein of UCLA Athletics.

As the Official Protein of UCLA Athletics, Ready® will be the exclusive provider of protein products to nearly 700 student-athletes in all 25 Bruin sports. Those products will include Ready’s all-natural, complete line of performance products including their well-known Ready® Protein Water, Bars, Powder and Plant-Based Functional Snacks.

“UCLA Athletics has such a rich tradition and I know they want the very best for their student-athletes. We are committed to helping them continue that tradition by supplying best-in-class products to meet the department’s nutritional goals for its athletes,” said Ready® Founder and President Pat Cavanaugh, himself a former student-athlete and University of Pittsburgh basketball team captain.

UCLA’s Director of Football Performance, Frank Wintrich, first became aware of Ready® Nutrition in 2019, when he had his student-athletes sample the products.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Ready® to the UCLA family,” added UCLA’s Alice and Nahum Lainer Family Director of Athletics Martin Jarmond. “We want to give our student-athletes every edge and opportunity to reach their potential and be elite. Nutrition is such an important factor in athletic performance.”

The relationship between UCLA Athletics and Ready® Nutrition was secured by UCLA Rose Bowl Sports Properties, the Bruins’ multimedia rights holder and locally based sponsorship team for Learfield IMG College. In complete collaboration with Jarmond and the athletic administration, UCLA Rose Bowl Sports Properties works with local, regional and national brands looking to align with the Bruins.

This is Ready® Nutrition’s second big splash in the Southern California market. Two-time pro football Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald was so impressed with their products that he signed on in 2019 as an investor and co-owner of the company. He was joined this past May by global basketball star and reigning MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo, who also became an investor and co-owner after using Ready’s products the past two seasons.

FanDuel Expands Free to Play Contests for Fantasy and Sportsbook Products

credit: MIke Morbeck

FanDuel on Thursday announced the expansion of its industry-leading free to play contests for the start of the upcoming football season. For the first time, FanDuel will be launching free to play Pick’em games with three NFL teams, including the Denver Broncos, Carolina Panthers, and Washington Football Team.

FanDuel’s expanded free to play lineup will include the following, with more games coming throughout the NFL season:

In partnership with The Ringer, FanDuel is offering The Ringer Mega Contest, a free Survivor-style contest where participants pick games against the spread each week with the goal of making it to the last 100 participants standing going into the playoffs. Players pick five teams each week to beat the spread, including one “Double Down” pick worth double the points. Players will score one point for each correct pick or two points if their “Double Down” pick is correct. Whoever finishes the regular season in the top 100 on the leaderboard makes the playoffs. Then, the top 100 will pick their way through the playoffs to claim a share of $25,000 – including $10,000 to first place.
FanDuel Gridiron Pick’em is a free NFL pick’em style contest, available today on FanDuel. Players try to pick the most correct winners of all of each Sunday’s matchups and split the weekly prize pool of $5,000.
Coming later this week, in addition to the FanDuel Gridiron Pick’em, FanDuel will offer three white label Pick’em games in partnership with three of its team partners, the Denver Broncos, Carolina Panthers, and Washington Football Team. Each week participants will answer a series of questions about the specific team’s matchups. The participants who get the most correct answers will split the $1,000 weekly payout. Plus, there will be an additional $10K prize awarded at the end of the season to the participant who gets the most correct answers during the regular season. To qualify for the promotion, eligible individuals must have an active FanDuel Sportsbook or DFS member account or sign up for one at https://sportsbook.fanduel.com or https://www.fanduel.com/join.

“Over the past several months, we’ve prioritized giving sports fans innovative games to play and new forms of entertainment,” said John Griffin, GM of Fantasy Sports, FanDuel. “With the upcoming football season right about to start, we have the most expansive selection of free to play games, giving fans more ways to win than ever before.”

FanDuel also recently announced the launch of Best Ball contests, available to enter now, and Daily Snake Drafts for NFL coming ahead of the football season.

TOPPS Celebrates Silver Anniversary Of Ripken’s Streak Record Breaker

It was considered one of baseball’s most unbreakable records. But on September 6, 1995, Cal Ripken Jr. added to his Hall of Fame resumé by playing in his 2131st consecutive game, eclipsing the mark of another immortal, Lou Gehrig, in front of the home fans at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore. Now, a quarter century later, in celebration of the achievement, the all-time great shortstop has worked with TOPPS to curate two special edition collectible card series which tell the story of his journey to 2131, the magical night—which included a Ripken home run—and the day he finally ended the streak four years later.

The Ripken set will be available for a limited time beginning on Sunday, 25 years to the day he passed Gehrig, in a deluxe collector’s edition which includes a Ripken autograph card as well as a standard edition. Cards will depict numerous highlights of his career as well as other players and games Ripken selected as personally most memorable.

“Baseball cards have been a part of my family’s life for years, and I couldn’t be happier to be working with TOPPS to create this set,” said Ripken, whose father Cal Sr. coached and managed and brother Bill also played in the Majors. “I selected cards that represent special moments and people that have made my life in baseball special, and ones that I think fans will enjoy collecting.”

“Cal Ripken’s ‘Ironman’ streak is one of the sport’s classic records, set by one of its most popular players ever,” said Jeff Heckman, Topps’ Global Director of Ecommerce. “We are excited that Cal wanted to commemorate this 25th anniversary with cards that represent what the game means to him, in the context of this achievement.”

FanDuel Sportsbook Becomes PGA TOUR Official Betting Operator

East Lake Golf Club (Wikimedia Commons/Cem0030)

he PGA TOUR and FanDuel Sportsbook agreed today on a multi-year content and marketing relationship designating FanDuel an Official Betting Operator of the PGA TOUR.

By joining the TOUR’s Official Betting Operator program, FanDuel will have rights in the United States to use PGA TOUR marks, rights to advertise within TOUR media and TOUR partner platforms, plus content and video rights allowing FanDuel to create pre-game and post-game betting programming, as well as distribution of highlights to users who have placed bets. Additionally, the PGA TOUR and FanDuel will collaborate to deliver odds-based content to fans via TOUR Digital Platforms like PGATOUR.COM and the PGA TOUR app.

“We have long admired FanDuel’s brand, product and marketing strategies as well as the leadership position it has taken since the legalization of sports betting in 2018,” said Norb Gambuzza, SVP, Media and Gaming at the PGA TOUR. “We are excited to bring FanDuel into the PGA TOUR’s Official Betting Operator program as we continue to engage new fans in this rapidly growing space.”

FanDuel Sportsbook has seen substantial growth in golf gaming:
Golf has recorded the highest single event handle on FanDuel Sportsbook over nine of the last 12 Sundays.

FanDuel Sportsbook’s total golf handle in New Jersey in 2020 already has surpassed the total golf handle from 2019, even without thirteen weeks of PGA TOUR competitions during the shutdown.

“Golf interest is up on FanDuel, so we are excited to deepen our relationship with the PGA TOUR,” said Mike Raffensperger, CMO FanDuel Group. “We will now be able to offer unique gaming experiences on our platform, special TOUR related promotions for our customers and an enhanced content experience across the TOUR’s properties to really prove to bettors across the nation that there are More Ways to Win at FanDuel.”

Following the Supreme Court’s decision that overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in 2018, the TOUR instituted an integrity program in collaboration with Genius Sports to protect its competitions from betting-related corruption. Later that year, the TOUR announced a global partnership with IMG ARENA to license its official, live scoring data to betting operators all over the world.

The PGA TOUR is a Platinum Member of the National Council on Problem Gambling, committed to industry-leading responsible gaming practices.

146th Kentucky Derby Airs Live Nationwide on SiriusXM

SiriusXM will offer listeners nationwide coverage of the Kentucky Derby, the second jewel of thoroughbred racing’s 2020 Triple Crown schedule, from Churchill Downs this Saturday, September 5.

SiriusXM, through its broadcasting agreement with Horse Racing Radio Network (HRRN), airs all Triple Crown races – the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes – as well as the Breeders’ Cup World Championships. The wire-to-wire race broadcast of the Kentucky Derby is provided by NBC Sports Audio Network and produced in partnership with HRRN. 

This Saturday, September 5, SiriusXM will air programming throughout the day from Churchill Downs offering listeners pre-race analysis, and interviews with jockeys, trainers and owners. 

SiriusXM’s race-day coverage airs on Sirius channel 219, XM channel 201, and channel 964 on the SiriusXM app and begins at 8:00 am ET with a live edition of HRRN’s Equine Forum show. At 4:00 pm ET, SiriusXM will air HRRN’s call of the Kentucky Derby undercard stakes, leading into NBC Sports Audio Network coverage of the 146th “Run for the Roses,” airing from 5:30 to 7:30 pm ET (post time approximately 6:50 pm ET). Coverage is hosted by Mike Penna, Kurt Becker and Tom Leach.  NBC Sports’ Larry Collmus will call handle the live race call.

The live race call will also air on Mad Dog Sports Radio during a special Saturday edition of The Rap with Patrick Meagher beginning at 4:00 pm ET (channel 82 on SiriusXM radios and on the SiriusXM app).

A special edition of SiriusXM’s Down The Stretch, hosted by acclaimed track announcer Dave Johnson and Bill Finley, will air on Saturday at 10:00 am ET and 11:30 am ET on SiriusXM channel 211.

Additionally, on Friday, September 4, at 4:00 pm ET SiriusXM will air HRRN’s coverage of the Kentucky Oaks, the Grade 1 stakes race for three-year old fillies, run annually at Churchill Downs on the eve of the Derby (Sirius channel 219, XM channel 201, and channel 964 on the SiriusXM app).

At The Races with Steve Byk airs on SiriusXM every weekday from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm ET leading up to the Derby, featuring daily interviews with handicapping experts and trainers and an in-depth look at the field (Sirius channel 219, XM channel 201 and channel 964 on the SiriusXM app).

Boyd Gaming, FanDuel Group Launch Sports Betting In Illinois

In a continued expansion of their successful nationwide partnership, Boyd Gaming Corporation and FanDuel Group today announced the debut of the FanDuel Par-A-Dice Sportsbook in the state of Illinois.

Sports bettors across the state of Illinois now have access to FanDuel’s industry-leading online and mobile sports-betting platform, with wagering options available in professional football, basketball, baseball, hockey and more.  Additionally, FanDuel will operate a retail sportsbook located at Boyd Gaming’s Par-A-Dice Casino in East Peoria, Illinois, pending regulatory approval.

Keith Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer of Boyd Gaming, said: “Given the tremendous success of our existing FanDuel Sportsbooks, we are confident that the FanDuel Par-A-Dice Sportsbook will quickly become Illinois sports bettors’ mobile app of choice.  We are excited for the opportunity to offer both mobile and retail sports betting in one of the most populous states in the country, as we continue to expand our strategic partnership with FanDuel Group.”

“Sports are back and FanDuel, America’s No. 1 sportsbook, is coming to Illinois with our friends at Boyd Gaming and the Par-A-Dice Casino,” said Matt King, Chief Executive Officer of FanDuel Group.  “Boyd Gaming and the Par-A-Dice are perfect partners for us to bring our innovative sports-betting app and retail sportsbook experience to sports fans in Illinois.”

Since launching their partnership in mid-2018, Boyd Gaming and FanDuel have introduced mobile sports-betting apps in Indiana and Pennsylvania, as well as retail FanDuel Sportsbooks at eight Boyd Gaming properties in five states.  The FanDuel Sportsbook has an online leadership position in Pennsylvania, and is one of the top retail sportsbooks in Iowa at Diamond Jo Worth.

The partnership between Boyd Gaming and FanDuel Group includes collaborative efforts between the two companies in mobile and online sports betting and casino games, where permitted by law. The agreement includes states where Boyd Gaming holds gaming licenses, excluding Nevada, as well as additional states covered under Boyd Gaming’s current market-access agreements.  Boyd Gaming currently has access in 15 states nationwide, representing more than 36% of the U.S. population.

In addition to their retail and online sports-betting partnership, Boyd Gaming and FanDuel also operate an online casino in the state of Pennsylvania. The companies are also engaged in extensive co-branding and cross-promotional efforts, as the two companies actively market each other’s properties and products to their respective customer bases nationwide.

Covers Celebrates 25 Years Of Being A Sports Betting Leader

September 6th marks Covers’ 25th anniversary as a respected leader in the sports betting industry.

Managed by Covers Media Group, Covers.com was founded in 1995 by two sports betting entrepreneurs in Atlantic Canada. They recognized the lack of trusted online sports betting resources where a passionate community could come together. Thanks to their trailblazing efforts, Covers has since grown to become a trusted worldwide brand in providing sports wagering information and entertainment to every level of sports fans.

“There’s no doubting that sports betting has evolved over the last 25 years. What hasn’t changed is our drive and determination to provide the best sports betting information service to our users” says Mark Harper, General Manager of Covers Media Group. “We recognize that our users love the thrill of sports betting and we want to be right there with them, providing access to the best sports betting information analysis for all of their favorite sports events.”

As it celebrates 25 years of innovation and a devotion to its community, Covers commits to continuing to deliver great experiences to its more than 17 million annual global users. This includes offering the longest-running sports betting forum in North America, with over 510,000 lifetime members. Covers estimates that it has reached over 300 million users worldwide since 1995.

To celebrate this milestone, Covers held a 25th-anniversary event in Las Vegas during Super Bowl LIV. Celebrations will continue leading up to the September 6th anniversary date with giveaways and a special 25th-themed contest.

FanDuel Par-A-Dice Sportsbook Debuts in Illinois

FanDuel Group today announced the launch of the FanDuel Par-A-Dice Sportsbook app and online experience in Illinois. In partnership with Boyd Gaming, Illinois is the sixth state in the United States where the industry-leading FanDuel Sportsbook online and mobile platform is available. FanDuel is bringing its best-in-class online sports betting experience to sports fans who can now place wagers across professional football, basketball, baseball, golf, MMA, soccer, darts and tennis with a multitude of betting and payment options available.

The FanDuel Par-A-Dice Sportsbook is available for download via iOS and Android for residents and visitors to Illinois.

“We have been waiting for this day for quite some time,” said Mike Raffensperger, CMO of FanDuel Group. “Sports are back, so we are going to show sports fans in Illinois an innovative sports betting app experience with industry leading promotions and consumer protections that have made FanDuel the #1 sportsbook in the U.S.”

The FanDuel Par-A-Dice Sportsbook in Illinois is simple, secure and convenient, with a number of key features, including:

Industry-leading promotions: Any customer that doesn’t win their first bet is refunded their wager, up to $500. Plus, if you refer a friend, you’ll both get $50 more.

Hometown Heroes: The FanDuel Par-A-Dice Sportsbook will offer markets on hometown teams with extremely generous odds to give new customers More Ways to Win.

Innovative Spirit: FanDuel was the first US Sportsbook to offer live streaming of sporting events inside a betting app and the first to offer Same Game Parlays, which is the ability to build a parlay utilizing betting markets from the same game.

FanDuel Group’s Account and Wallet Technology: FanDuel Group developed its own account and wallet technology in-house that is the backbone of the new operating system on the FanDuel Par-A-Dice Sportsbook app in Illinois. The FanDuel Par-A-Dice Sportsbook now connects to FanDuel’s popular fantasy sports app, so customers can use fantasy sports and sportsbook winnings interchangeably.

Cash Out: FanDuel offers fast, secure payouts enabling customers to withdraw their winnings in as little as 24 hours. The new Cash Out feature allows you to settle a bet for a certain value before the sporting event bet on has finished.

In addition, the FanDuel Par-A-Dice Sportsbook offers a range of payment options, safe and secure banking, lightning fast payouts usually within twenty four hours, 24/7 customer service, and in-game wagering allowing users to bet on live games as they’re being played. FanDuel utilizes its proprietary risk and trading technology that leverages the IGT PlaySports platform. The FanDuel Par-A-Dice Sportsbook also has account protections in place and a global reputation for responsible wagering.

Sports fans in Illinois can download the FanDuel Par-A-Dice Sportsbook app today on iOS and Android or visit https://il.sportsbook.fanduel.com/sports. For more on the FanDuel Sportsbook and sports betting content, follow @FDSportsbook on Twitter.

Don C’s Jackie Robinson TOPPS Project 2020 Card Posts On Jackie Robinson Day

Jackie Robinson 1952 Topps Now by Don C

A commemorative TOPPS Project 2020 card celebrating Jackie Robinson Day Friday across MLB posted today at http://topps.com/project2020. Artist Don C‘s interpretation of the classic 1952 Topps Robinson card is available through 1 p.m. ET on Sunday.

The Robinson card, issued today along with Jacob Rochester’s reimagining of the iconic 1955 Roberto Clemente, is one of a series of 20 cards posted by each of 20 commissioned pop artists, two each weekday since the originally scheduled opening of the 2020 season in March. The series has been extremely popular with fans and collectors, and is now more than halfway through the full set of 400.

Don C’s Robinson work places the all-time great in front of his retired #42, which will be worn by all Major Leaguers in games today, with “In Loving Memory” in script above and his signature below the legendary pose from the original card, on a light blue background.

NY Sports and Concert Attendees Likely to Return To Venues, New Riptide Partners Survey Unveils

Riptide Partners, a New York based consulting business offering full-service Customer Experience (CX) solutions for sports teams and venue operators, today unveiled their recent survey of actual New York area event attendees, which revealed a much faster return to event timeline for consumers than has been widely discussed. It is the first, and most comprehensive, study of actual event attendees in the New York area since the Pandemic shutdown began.

“There are literally hundreds of theaters, arenas and venues of all sizes that have been affected by the shutdown, and it was our desire to get a better handle on the thoughts of those venue patrons who had attended events prior to the shutdown. We think this survey tells a slightly different story than what was originally thought,” Rob Comstock, Riptide Partners co-founder said. “The variable of when people can return to venues in larger groups will be decided by health and government officials, but when that date is set, we believe that people will feel safer, and come back sooner, than anticipated based on the survey responses we have received.”

Riptide Partners received over 4,000 completed surveys from consumers who regularly attended sporting and entertainment events in the New York tri-state area. Of those 4,000, an overwhelming 89% said they will return to events depending on the actions taken by venue operators to ensure safety; 75% most frequently attended concerts / live events and 25% most frequently attended sporting events.

The average time to return across all levels of concern is 3.5 months, with extremely concerned respondents saying they will wait an average 5.2 months, while those who are not at all concerned will return immediately. A majority of the concert/event goers were female, a majority of the sporting event goers were male. We also saw a direct correlation between fan avidity and likelihood to return. The most avid fans are ready to return immediately and least concerned about the health risks.

The two biggest factors the group were weighing were touch points of areas like seating and bathrooms, while most indicated the food and beverage safety would be handled at an acceptable level. Anxiety over being in a crowd is the most frequently cited concern at 44% of respondents.

As far as areas of concern that would need to be addressed in the time before a safe return to venues, screening attendees and thorough disinfection of venue were the two most common changes requested.

This pertains to indoor venues only, as the information on those willing to attend outdoor events has been made available by officials and is already occurring in some areas.

Riptide Partners, which works actively with venues across the United States, is planning on doing similar hyperlocal surveys in the coming weeks in other regions, with the feeling that the local focus and feelings of avid attendees can tell a clearer story for all involved and help businesses better gauge the coming months. This information, if leveraged by teams and venue operators, can help understand guest sentiment and their preferred safety precautions by market and region as the country begins to reopen. We know likelihood to return and preferred safety precautions will vary by market and we’re prepared to help our clients build an operational playbook specific for their fanbase.

Founded in 2018 by former Madison Square Garden Company Chief Operating Officer Rob Comstock and MSG SVP of Customer Experience Paul Klass, Riptide Partners are the only Medallia partner offering a fully supported and customized solution tailored to the Sports & Entertainment space. Riptide and Medallia will enable bottom-line improvement and a customer-centric culture driven from real-time guest feedback across all touchpoints, both physical and digital.

Rookie of the Year Alonso Pulls Topps Curated Set

In (the first) Spring Training, Topps met up with 2019 Rookie of the Year Pete Alonso to develop his own curated card set. Today, Alonso’s inspirations hit the collecting scene, as Topps introduces the 50-card series with a decidedly New York feel.

Some of the elements selected by Alonso include NYC street art (bright colors, graffiti lettering, bright textures); and “Molon Labe” derived from King Leonidas, leader of the 300 Spartans at the Battle of Thermopylae, which Alonso says captures his approach at the plate.

Included are 20 base cards featuring top stars of today, plus 30 insert cards with Alonso’s season award picks, the 50-homer club (of which Alonso became a member last year), franchise favorites and more, all with strong ties to the second-year Mets star.

NBA Alumni Launch Legends Media & Entertainment To Unify Storytelling Efforts

The National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA) today announced the expansion and launch of Legends Media & Entertainment (LME), a multifaceted storytelling platform that will produce, distribute and quantify the wide reaching stories of many of the NBA and WNBA’s biggest stars. The content will span the history of both leagues and feature more recent alums of the game ranging from Sheryl Swoopes and Grant Hill to the sport’s greatest legends and business successes on and off the court, delivered through all forms of media, from print and spoken word to long and short form video.

The NBRPA represents over 1,000 former NBA and WNBA players, making it the largest agency of its kind in basketball. This has allowed for direct access to players for opportunities domestically and internationally.

“With the creation of LME, we are building a multimedia platform for some of the most compelling men and women connected to basketball’s history and culture under one umbrella, something which has been asked for, and needed for some time,” said NBRPA President and CEO Scott Rochelle. “LME will be a vibrant stop for fans, businesses and others who want to enjoy, learn and explore the amazing stories of our Legends both on and off the court. These stories are some of the best in the global business of sport, and now we can house them under one impactful roof.”

NBA Champion and NBRPA Director Caron Butler adds, “Every NBA and WNBA player has a story to tell and Legends Media & Entertainment offers ALL Legends a platform to tell their stories and let their voices be heard,” NBA Champion and NBRPA Director Caron Butler added.

Some of the key unified elements of LME will include:

Legends Magazinewhich debuted in 2018 and is the official publication for NBA and WNBA Legends. Produced quarterly, Legends Magazine has featured cover stories about NBRPA Director Caron Butler, Jerry Stackhouse, Elton Brand, Jamal Mashburn and “The Knuckleheads” – Quentin Richardson and Darius Miles. Each issue is delivered to all former players, active players, coaches, stakeholders, influencers and league officials worldwide.

Legends Studios also debuted in 2018 with the launch of original live-action and animated short videos and two podcasts, the All-Access Legends Podcast and On Deck with Scott Rochelle. In April 2020, Legends Live, a weekly web series broadcasted to multiple social media platforms featuring live conversations with NBA and WNBA Legends, was added to the Legends Studios portfolio. In addition to 32 standard episodes, Legends Live also covered the 2020 WNBA Draft and ESPN’s The Last Dance with live commentary from Legends. Last week, media personality Tyler Johnson, aka Trill Withers joined the LME team as host of Legends Live, where he will spend time with many of the game’s most successful and dynamic personalities and business people. Johnson will also be a key contributor to Legends Magazine, the All-Access Legends Podcast and the NBRPA’s social media strategy and content.

To follow along with LME content from the NBRPA, find them on social media at @NBAalumni on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch or on Facebook at NBA Alumni.

Covers Predicts That Sports Betting Won’t Go Bust If College Football Is Canceled

As COVID-19 continues to reshape upcoming seasons for professional and collegiate sports, Covers asks the burning question, what will the impact be on sports betting if the 2020 college football season is canceled?

Covers’ Senior Writer Patrick Everson spoke with Executive Vice President of Race and Sports at the Superbook at Westgate, Jay Kornegay, the American Gaming Association’s Casey Clark, and gambling industry strategist Chris Grove, about the potential effects of a canceled or delayed college football season on sportsbooks across the country.

“I’m not sure any of us really knows how that will impact us,” Kornegay said, speaking to the sportsbook industry as a whole. “If it’s completely canceled, it’s certainly going to be a punch to the gut. However, it’s not as bad as some might think, as long as we still have the NFL. Last year, 65 percent of our total football handle was NFL.”

Some NCAA football betting statistics include:

  • Although sportsbooks don’t separate NFL versus NCAA football in terms of total handle (bets placed) on football, estimates are approximately 35% of total handle in Nevada came from NCAAF football in 2019.
  • Based on total handle on football in Nevada sportsbooks in 2019, approximately $650 million was bet on NCAAF football.
  • New Jersey took in $939 million in football handle in 2019 and given that same 35% estimate for college football action, over $328 million was bet on NCAA football in 2019 in New Jersey.
  • The best NCAAF football bets in 2019 were Kentucky and Navy, both went 10-3 Against the Spread.

Could the college football season be postponed to the spring? Many in the media and the sports betting space are speculating that a spring college football season would provide a huge boost on the wagering front. Among the main reasons for such speculation is that NCAA football wouldn’t be competing with the NFL every week.

Return Of Live Sports, Season Simulations Gives Strat-O-Matic Board, Digital Baseball Games A Record Setting Run

Strat-O-Matic Baseball

With baseball, basketball, hockey and others back on the fields, courts and ice, and football training camps underway, fans have been able to enjoy live sports that the COVID-19 pandemic has denied them. With hopes high that the delayed seasons can continue through to their conclusions, fans’ enthusiasm for Strat-O-Matic (www.strat-o-matic.com) baseball board and digital games set records for sales and engagement, according to numbers released today by the market leader in sports simulations.

For the period of March through July 2020, Strat-O-Matic sales far surpassed the same time frame in 2019:

  • Baseball Board and Windows platform sales are more than 70% higher
  • Baseball Board game product sales are more than 85% higher
  • Baseball Windows platform sales are more than 50% higher
  • Strat-O-Matic Baseball 365 sales are more than double
  • New Members on Strat-O-Matic Baseball 365 are more than 200% higher

And this past month, as the pro squads were returning, interest in Strat-O-Matic baseball was even more pronounced, as compared to July 2019:

  • Baseball Board game product sales were more than 80% higher
  • Baseball Windows platform sales were more than double
  • Strat-O-Matic Baseball 365 sales were more than double

The Strat-O-Matic daily baseball season simulation also brought the company unprecedented attention from popular sports and entertainment personalities and media outlets:

““I am proud our incredible team was able to pivot in this complex market,” said Adam Richman, Strat-O-Matic President. “We are thrilled live sports have come back, and through the pandemic, simulation’s crucial place in sports has become clear. 

“We look forward to providing more entertainment and connection for sports fans,” he added. “Strat-O-Matic has been and will continue to be the bridge to fill holes as professional sports leagues awaken and occasionally pause as our country moves through this difficult time.”

American Cornhole League World Championship Cards Launch TOPPS NOW ACL Series

Samantha Finley, Derrick King

Cards depicting eight singles and doubles American Cornhole League (ACL) World Championship winners issued today on the TOPPS NOW® platform captured an exciting weekend of action and helped launch the partnership between the cardmaker’s partnership with ACL. The cards are available for purchase until Tuesday, August 18, at 1 p.m. ET at https://www.topps.com/cards-collectibles/topps-nowr.html?property=23309. Future TOPPS NOW cards will be produced for other major events sponsored by ACL, which promotes and develops cornhole as a sport for any age and any skill level.

The eight World Championship cards celebrate the following accomplishments:

  • Jamie Graham, Pro Singles World Champion
  • Derrick King / Trey Burchfield, Pro Doubles World Champions
  • Sarah Cassidy, Women’s Singles World Champions
  • Jamie Graham, ACL Man of the Year
  • Maya Cupp, ACL Woman of the Year
  • Cheyenne Renner / Sarah Cassidy, Women’s Doubles World Champions
  • Samantha Finley / Derrick King, Co-Ed Doubles World Champions
  • Ryan Windsor / Isidro Herrera / Brandon Corwin / Devon Harbaugh, Crew Cup World Champions

The World Championship cards follow a set of eight in the TOPPS ACL Pro Invitational Pack featuring the league’s top stars, and special TOPPS NOW cards commemorating last week’s “Grudge Match” between longtime UFC, Bellator and Strikeforce fighter Jorge Masvidal and ACL pro Cody Henderson, as the first available to collectors and fans of the sport.

“The TOPPS NOW platform is a great way to introduce collectors to the personalities that have driven the growth and success of cornhole and the ACL,” said Jeff Heckman, Topps’ Global Director of Ecommerce. “The World Championships gained a lot of attention, and we are pleased that fans have been excited about our first foray into the sport.”

In cornhole, teams alternate tossing 16-ounce bags of corn kernels towards a raised platform with a hole in the far end. The lawn game has grown into an international phenomenon, with ACL having established the rules and regulations to govern the sport, create and manage special events and foster its growth generally.

National Lacrosse League to Hold Virtual 2020 Draft September 17th

The National Lacrosse League (@NLL), the longest-running and most successful professional lacrosse league in the world, today announced that the 2020 Entry Draft will be held on September 17th at 7:00 ET.  For the first time in league history, the Entry Draft will be done virtually.

Following the recent NFL, MLB, and WNBA Drafts, the NLL is just the fourth professional sports league to produce a fully live virtual draft.  The NLL will transmit live feeds to B/R Live, NLL’s YouTube channel, and Facebook (@NLL).  With real-time coverage expected from over 30 virtual contributors, the production will leverage a combination of technologies from vendors AviWest, VMix, TVU Anywhere, Zoom, and LTN. The production will also use the new Clearcom IP based intercom app called Agent IC to handle the complex communications required to execute a virtual live draft.

“As a league that always thinks digital-first, we are excited to be able to use state-of-the-art technology to hold the 2020 Draft online for all fans to watch and participate in,” said Commissioner Nick Sakiewicz. “As we continue to wade through the challenges, we are all facing today we would have liked to offer the newest rising stars a live experience.  But we know that the entire event and team, player, and fan experience will be first-class.”

The NLL will be using Telescope Inc.’s interactive platform, CONNECT Live, to enable real-time on-air integration of Twitter fan comments and high capacity hashtag poll results powered by at-home users across the nation.

Commissioner Sakiewicz is scheduled to announce the first pick, which belongs to the New York Riptide. Returning from last year’s coverage that garnered hundreds of thousands of viewers, the broadcast team for the draft will include Devan Kaney (@DevanKaneyTV) as host, joined by Teddy Jenner (voice of Colorado Mammoth @OffTheCrosseBar), Stephen Stamp (NLL Draft Expert @StampLax), and Tabitha Turner, floor reporter for the Georgia Swarm (@TabTurnerTV1). Additional participants and contributors to the 2020 NLL Draft Selection Show will be announced at a later date.   The 2020 Draft Selection Show will be produced by the NLL in association with Joel Kitay Productions, showrunners for the 2019 NLL Draft.

“We are all looking to the future and the start of the 35th season of the NLL and the Draft will be a great next step towards that point. The level of young talent coming into the league is unprecedented and The Draft will be the first time many of these athletes get a chance to be recognized on such a platform. It will be a great night for the players, the NLL, and our sport.”  said Peter Schmitz, President, Professional Lacrosse Players’ Association (PLPA).

Draft Logistics

In terms of eligibility, all players 21 and older who have never participated in NCAA lacrosse are eligible to be selected in the Entry Draft. Additionally, all players who have either exhausted or forfeited their NCAA eligibility are draft-eligible. For the 2020 NLL Entry Draft, all NCAA players who have exhausted four seasons of eligibility and may return to play a fifth NCAA season are eligible to be selected. 

Draft Order (as of August 5th, 2020)

  1. New York
  2. Rochester
  3. Vancouver
  4. San Diego
  5. Calgary
  6. Colorado
  7. Philadelphia
  8. Georgia
  9. Buffalo
  10. Toronto
  11. Halifax
  12. Saskatchewan
  13. New England

First Round (as of August 5th, 2020)

  1. New York
  2. Rochester
  3. Vancouver
  4. San Diego
  5. Calgary 
  6. Georgia (from Colorado)
  7. Saskatchewan (from Philadelphia)
  8. Georgia
  9. Buffalo
  10.  Georgia or Buffalo (from Toronto)*
  11. Halifax
  12. Saskatchewan
  13. Georgia (from New England)
  14. Halifax
  15.  San Diego
  16.  Philadelphia

*Conditional pick – Georgia has until September 1, 2020, to opt to choose this pick (10th in 2020) or receive Toronto’s first round selection in the 2022 Entry Draft. After Georgia chooses, Buffalo will receive the remaining Toronto first round pick.

Dates for the start of the 35th NLL season will be announced in the Fall.