Tag Archives: nfl

Topps, Lawrence Release NFTs Created By Brother, Sister-In-Law Today On Mintable

Following the overwhelming success of the recent sold-out issue of an exclusive box set of cards depicting this week’s likely No. 1 pro draft selection Trevor Lawrence, Topps has teamed with the winningest starting quarterback in Clemson history on the release of its first football-related NFTs (non-fungible tokens). The six-piece collection was created in collaboration with Trevor’s brother and sister-in-law, professional artist duo Chase and Brooke Lawrence. The NFTs, which include five open-edition cards, with the opportunity to receive an exclusive Chrome card, and a one 1/1 auction of a signed Superfractor card and signed Artist Proof card from Chase and Trevor. The store will launch on Tuesday, April 27, at 11 a.m. ET via Mintable and will be available for 24 hours only. The Lawrence NFTs are stored on the Mintable blockchain.

Each of the five open-edition Lawrence NFTs are priced at $200, with the goal of making these collectibles available to as wide an audience as possible. Any collector purchasing all five open-edition Lawrence NFTs will receive a special exclusive limited edition physical Chrome card. This will be Trevor’s first and only Chrome card and it is only available with the purchase of the Open Edition NFT’s.

“The amazing response to the Trevor Lawrence card set and his status as a transcendent figure in football makes the issue of these NFTs a natural for us,” said Jeff Heckman, Global Director, New Business Ventures. “As was the case with the sold-out cards, Chase and Brooke bring their unique talents and connection with Trevor to their creations, and we are pleased that the lower price point will make their work accessible to many more fans and all level of collectors.”

Any collector or fan can acquire, trade, and resell NFTs through the platform using a debit or credit card. NFTs are a type of digital asset in which ownership is recorded on a digital ledger blockchain, in this case Mintable. Each NFT is unique and can be viewed as a collectible that cannot be duplicated, making them singular and potentially valuable. NFTs can represent a variety of digital files, such as art, videos, music and other forms of creative work, several of which are incorporated into the Lawrence pieces.

“I couldn’t be happier with how the card set came out, and I am even more excited to get into the world of NFTs with this series,” said Trevor Lawrence. “Everyone saw how amazing Chase and Brooke’s designs turned out, and I think they’ll love the pieces we worked on together for the NFTs.”

Chase and Brooke Lawrence (https://bclawrence.art), whose 50-card set issued via Topps this month was a huge hit with collectors, took inspiration from psychedelic period pieces from the 1960’s-70’s as well as classic comic book and graphic novel illustrations for both the physical cards and the NFTs.

“We are honored by the response to the physical cards we created and are excited to collaborate with Trevor and Topps on our first NFT collection,” said Chase and Brooke. “This collection is meant to showcase Trevor’s natural energy and charisma paired with colorful nostalgia, and retro-psychedelic works of art.”

Lawrence, the 2018 national champion and first quarterback ever to win three ACC Championship Games, finished second in the 2020 Heisman Trophy balloting as he led Clemson to the national championship game. In his storied three-year career, he completed 758-of-1138 career passes (66.6 %) for 10,098 yards with 90 touchdowns and 17 interceptions for a pass efficiency rating for 164.26 in 2,237 snaps over 40 career games (36 starts).

NFL Announces Official Sports Betting Partners

The National Football League (NFL) today announced their first-ever U.S. sportsbook partnerships naming three exclusive partners. As part of the multi-year agreement, FanDuel becomes an Official Sports Betting Partner of the NFL and will have the ability to leverage NFL marks within the sports betting category and activate around retail and online sports betting. The company will also engage with fans through NFL-themed free-to-play games.

FanDuel, becomes the NFL’s newest partner and will have a series of content integrations including both in-game and post-game highlights directly available within its sportsbook and fantasy sports platforms this coming season. The company will have access to footage rights that bring the NFL’s excitement to FanDuel’s owned and produced content across its various platforms and will work with the League on pre-game integration opportunities on the NFL Network for the seven regular season games the network will air in 2021.

“On Superbowl Sunday we got a glimpse at how powerful the combination of the NFL’s excitement and our platform can be in delivering an enhanced fan experience. We are delighted to make that combination official by pairing America’s #1 sportsbook with America’s #1 sports league,” said Matt King, Chief Executive Officer at FanDuel. “This partnership provides our shared customers with a new level of innovation and unmatched premium content directly within our platform ultimately enhancing every gameday.”

Additionally, FanDuel will have the right to integrate relevant sports betting content directly into NFL Media properties including NFL.com and the NFL App. FanDuel will enhance fan experiences with NFL highlights, footage and Next Gen Stats content.

“As the sports betting landscape has continued to evolve in the United States, we have been thoughtful with our strategy and are excited to announce three partners who share the NFL’s vision and goals,” said Renie Anderson, Chief Revenue Officer and Executive Vice President of NFL Partnerships.

VKTRY Insoles To Be Worn By Over 100 NFL Prospects For Upcoming Pro Days

VKTRY GEAR today announced that a record number of NFL top prospects will be wearing their carbon fiber insoles as they go through their on campus Pro Days in the coming weeks. The NFL Combine has moved from Indianapolis to local workouts due to COVID 19 restrictions. Over 100 prospects from more than 60 schools will be wearing VKTRY Insoles in this critical stage of career preparation.

“Many of our relationships with NFL stars began at the Combine where athletes experience +9.3% added explosiveness from their VKs,” said VKTRY CEO Steve Wasik. “Most athletes see significant improvements in the broad jump, the vertical jump and their time in the 40. They really feel the difference and understand how VKTRY Insoles can help them get an edge both at the Combine and on the playing field. Athletes also appreciate the improved injury protection with VKs, recently proven by one of the top athletic research facilities in the world, the Korey Stringer Institute at the University of Connecticut.”

Amongst those athletes using VKTRY Insoles for their Pro days are projected first round picks: Alabama Running Back Najee Harris, Florida TE Kyle Pitts, Virginia Tech CB Caleb Farley, Miami DL Gregory Rosseau, Miami DE Jaelen Phillips, and LSU WR Terrace Marshall. Players from every Power Five Conference will be using VKTRY Gear for the first time during their Pro Days.

Made from aerospace-grade carbon fiber, VKTRY Insoles store and return energy to the athlete. They also provide a “spring-like” effect to improve shock absorption and reduce the load and stress on the athlete’s body. In independent performance testing, athletes wearing VKs increased their broad jump by an average of +4.0”, their vert by +1.6” and improved their 40 times by 0.12 seconds.

The large number of prospects continue unprecedented growth in football for the company. During the 2020 NFL season, a record number of over 200 NFL players, from 29 of 32 clubs, wore their carbon fiber insoles, a 300% increase from 2019 and included a list of some of the brightest young stars and respected veterans in the NFL, including Cleveland Browns RB Nick Chubb, LV Raiders RB Josh Jacobs, Washington RB Antonio Gibson, Buffalo Bills RB Devin Singletary, SF 49ers WR “Deebo” Samuel, Seattle Seahawks WR DK Metcalf, NY Jets DE Quinnen Williams, Buffalo Bills CB Josh Norman, Chicago Bears WR Anthony Miller, LA Chargers OT Brian Bulaga, Denver Broncos TE Noah Fant, New York Giants TE Evan Engram, Minnesota Vikings WR Justin Jefferson, Pittsburgh Steelers LB Devin Bush and many more.

“I have worn VKs since I was a rookie and I love the added burst and explosiveness they give me on the field. I seriously feel 10X faster with VKs,” said Chubb, a two time All Pro selection and the Browns leading rusher each of the past two seasons, helping lead them to their first road playoff win since 1969, over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Wild Card game in January. “Most insoles are made from foam and plastic, but VKTRY is full length carbon fiber and that makes a difference – that gives me a competitive edge.”

VKTRY Insoles are available in five different levels of flexibility to optimize performance, protection and comfort. Athletes at more than 300 professional and college teams wear VKTRY Insoles for training and competition. Some of those athletes include Fernando Tatis Jr of the San Diego Padres, Vlad Guerrero Jr. the Toronto Blue Jays, WNBA All-Star Angel McCoughtry of the Las Vegas Aces, Ryder Cup Captain Padraig Harrington and US Olympic Volleyball Team Captain Jordan Larson.

VKTRY Insoles were originally invented for the US Olympic Bobsled Team to improve athletic explosiveness. In 2010, VKTRY helped Team USA win gold in the 4-man bobsled – first time in 62 years. Now, more and more people are discovering the benefits of energy return, improved stability and shock absorption that “VKs” provide.

NFL Enters Week 16 on Historic Scoring Pace, According to TheLines

The NFL will offer plenty of offense this Christmas, with two of the top offenses in the league set to square off and four games with an over/under set at 51.5 points or more in Week 16. So many high point totals shouldn’t be a surprise, according to analysts from TheLines, which tracks odds in U.S. regulated sports betting markets. In fact, the NFL is on a historic scoring pace.

Sunday night’s game between the Tennessee Titans, which leads the NFL with 31.1 points per game, and Green Bay Packers, which is third at 31 points per game, promises two of the most prolific scoring teams in the NFL. Total points for the game as of Monday morning is 56, according to a consensus of the nation’s largest legal online sportsbooks — including DraftKings, FanDuel, PointsBet, PlaySugarHouse, BetMGM, Unibet, and William Hill. No game has offered more points this season.

But games offered at 50 total points or more have not been uncommon this year. In fact, there were five such games in Week 15 alone. Points have been up significantly all year. Through the first 15 weeks, NFL teams are averaging 24.8 points per game, up dramatically from 22.8 points per game in 2019. Barring a points outage over the season’s final games, it should break the scoring average record of 23.6 points per team per game, set in 1948.

“In a season of anomalies, we may never see so many high point totals again,” said Brett Collson, lead analyst for TheLines.com. “There are so many reasons why scoring is up, and many of them are related to the pandemic, from fewer distractions with teams being in relative isolation to quiet stadiums helping road teams stay in sync. Regardless, oddsmakers continue to do well in making adjustments.”

The consensus point spreads for Week 16 and remaining Week 15 games, as of Monday, Dec. 21:

Pittsburgh Steelers (-14.5) at Cincinnati Bengals; over/under 40.5
Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints (-7); over/under 51.5
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-9) at Detroit Lions; over/under 53.5
San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals (-3.5); over/under 49.5
Miami Dolphins (-2.5) at Las Vegas Raiders; over/under 47.5
Carolina Panthers at Washington Football Team (-1.5); over/under 44.5
Chicago Bears (-7) at Jacksonville Jaguars; over/under 47
Cincinnati Bengals at Houston Texans (-8.5); over/under 45
Cleveland Browns (-10) at New York Jets; over/under 44.5
Indianapolis Colts at Pittsburgh Steelers (-3); over/under N/A
New York Giants at Baltimore Ravens (-10); over/under N/A
Denver Broncos at Los Angeles Chargers (-3); over/under 48.5
Atlanta Falcons at Kansas City Chiefs (-10.5); over/under 53
Los Angeles Rams at Seattle Seahawks (-1.5); over/under 46.5
Philadelphia Eagles (-1.5) at Dallas Cowboys; over/under 49.5
Tennessee Titans at Green Bay Packers (-4); over/under 56
Buffalo Bills (-6.5) at New England Patriots; over/under 45

To access the updated futures lines for every NFL team, and for more analysis, visit TheLines.com/odds/super-bowl. To access Week 16 odds, visit www.thelines.com/nfl-week-16-lines-2020.

Weekend Sports Appreciation Post

by Alex Perel, Special to The Daily Payoff

Nothing major to report in the sports and entertainment today, but we wanted to draw attention to the major upswing in games coming to the forefront. Going into the weekend, the first this year to feature Saturday NFL games, and the 2020-21 NBA season starting on Tuesday, we suddenly have a lot to look forward to in the sports world.

This weekend marks the final Thursday night game of the season as the NFL shifts into its weekend heavy schedule. The Los Angeles Chargers (+ 3 1/2) took down the Las Vegas Raiders in that matchup last night on Fox and NFL Network. The Thursday game will shift to a Friday matinee for Week 16. Both Week 15 and Week 16 will feature multiple Saturday games as well, with both having day and night matchups. Monday Night Football, however, remains on ESPN over the next two weeks. Finally, Week 17 hosts its full schedule on Sunday, as the league traditionally closes the season the same day for all teams.

Of course, Wild Card Weekend and the Divisional Round subsequently follow, both having Saturday and Sunday games. Point being, the NFL is mixing up its schedule to spread games across the next few weeks, so chances are when you flip on the TV any given weekend, you will have an NFL game to watch.

College Football sees a transition from conference championship games to bowl match ups next week, so NCAAF is there as well. The Power Five championships are as follows:

Pac-12: Oregon vs. 13-USC – 12/17 at 8PM EST

Big Ten: 14-Northwestern vs. 4-Ohio State – 12/19 at 12PM EST

Big 12: 10-Oklahoma vs. 6-Iowa State – 12/19 at 12PM EST

ACC 3-Clemson vs. 2-Notre Dame – 4:00PM EST

SEC 7-Florida vs. 1-Alabama – 8:00PM EST

All the great football leads into our biggest development: the NBA regular season’s return this coming Tuesday, December 22. Opening night features a Warriors vs. Nets early contest, followed by the Lakers and Clippers. With the league trying to cram a 72-game schedule into the coming months, we will see more back-to-back sets of games as well as “baseball series.”

In the latter format, teams will play each other multiple nights in a row. This style is uncommon in a normal NBA season, but the new schedule promises an abundance of NBA games throughout the week while you wait for football. Wednesdays and Fridays will be particularly packed with the requisite ESPN/ABC nationally televised packages.

And similar to football, the NBA is piggybacked by the college schedule, which is now entering its full swing of conference play. Check for those games to be typically packed on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays on ESPN, FS1, and regional conference networks.

TL;DR: We shoot into the new year with a very healthy dose of live sporting events. Before you look up, we will have hockey and later baseball back, returning to a full slate of the four major American team sports. Get excited for the action packed weeks to come.

Going Beyond a Comeback with Alex Smith

by Alex Perel, special to The Daily Payoff

As the second half of the NFL season progresses, many pundits will be releasing their predictions for the end-of-season awards. But one award race sticks out of particular interest this year: the Comeback Player of the Year Award.

Conventional wisdom may point to a candidate such as the Steelers’ Ben Roethlisberger or the Texans’ JJ Watt. Both are perennial stars returning to form after injuries last year. However, Alex Smith of the Washington Football Team has redefined what it is to be a “comeback player.”

A catastrophic injury in Week 10 of the 2018 season left Smith with spiral and compound fractures to both his fibula and tibia, ultimately resulting in infections and sepsis that became life threatening. Doctors sought amputation as an option to ensure the virus did not infect his whole body, before several surgeries and skin graft procedures could be used to save the leg. Smith is now not only starting at quarterback in the NFL, a ridiculous thought considering where he was a year ago, but has the Redskins in first place in the NFC East.

On Monday night, he faced Roethlisberger’s undefeated Steelers and dealt them their first loss of the season. The game was expected to be a Steelers route and appeared so with the Washington Football Team losing 14-3 at the half. Smith extended the game play by play, drive by drive, until eventually taking a three point lead as the two minute warning approached. Smith’s simple resilience is ultimate inspiration. Winning and losing do not matter any more in Smith’s story, not as much his pure fight to keep going. And yet, Smith unwilling to settle, is in fact winning. He has now won four in a row.

Smith’s journey over the last 24 months was captured in the E60 documentary Project 11 which aired on ESPN in May. The documentary opens its story February 11, 2019, less than three months after the injury. Smith had incredible persistence that we was going to pursue an immediate comeback attempt, allowing ESPN to document this effort as a show of his confidence in himself.

Project 11, like the CC Sabathia Documentary we highlighted last weekhttp://www.thedailypayoff.com/sabathia-documentary-to-debut-december-22/, is an example of the transcendent power of athlete media. Much of athlete media is filled with podcasts and short form content concerning players’ opinions on everyday news in the sports world and beyond. This content is incredibly insightful, and a component of athlete media involves getting an insight into the minds of our heroes.

But heroes also go beyond to show us how to overcome battles in our daily lives. Both Sabathia, with his fight against alcoholism, and Smith overcoming devastating injuries are inspirations to people every day. Athlete media is meant to do exactly that: inspire people to be the best versions of themselves, to do what they think they cannot.

Watch Project 11 now on the ESPN app or ESPN+.

Athletes First and EVERFI Unite to Launch Nationwide Interactive African American History Education Program

Athletes First (“A1”), the world’s largest and most powerful NFL agency, announced a strategic partnership with EVERFI Inc., the leading social impact education provider, to deliver one of the most comprehensive African American History learning opportunities to thousands of students across America. The program will launch in 30 schools across the greater Los Angeles and New York City areas in the coming weeks, with Athletes First Partners (A1’s sister agency), rolling out the New York initiative. The goal is to present the program to thousands of young students, many mentored by Athletes First athletes and coaches, in the next year.

EVERFI’s interactive 306 – African American History™ course will introduce students to important historical events and leaders and will be inspired by the leadership, strength, intellect, and creativity of the women and men that shaped African American History. The goal of the initiative is for students to use these learnings and inspirations in striving to discover their own personal motivations and work toward their own individual successes.

“Discrimination and systemic racism have for far too long sown division in our communities and created social and economic inequities that are unjust and simply unacceptable,” said Brian Murphy, Athletes First CEO. “Our Athletes First family – including our players and coaches – cannot simply stand on the sidelines, but instead must act now. To do so, we decided to start with our country’s younger generation who have little to no bias as they begin their education process. 306 – African American History will enhance and augment the student’s current curriculum, and members of the A1 family will also interact with the students to bring this education to life.”

306 – African American History offers five interactive lessons framed to teach the importance of civic engagement so that students may develop into future community leaders. This digital course is designed to address the skills and proficiencies outlined in the Common Core State Standards for writing and literacy in History and Social Studies, as well as individual states’ standards for US History.

“African American influence can be found at the core of American life and communicating these stories is foundational to building shared values and inspiring today’s youth to become tomorrow’s leaders,” said EVERFI Co-Founder and President, Jon Chapman. “Together with Athletes First, we have the opportunity to advance and expand upon African American history education across the country and provide students with more accurate, balanced, and comprehensive accounts of Black experiences.”

At launch, players involved in the program will include: David Long (L.A. Rams), Anthony Barr (Minnesota Vikings), Matthias Farley (N.Y. Jets), Derwin James (L.A. Chargers), and Casey Hayward (L.A. Chargers), with the plan to expand names and engagement into 2021 and beyond. They will be able to include commentary in the digital course, and also through virtual and in-person student engagement events.

“I am excited to support this project and am hopeful that it will create positive changes in the education system of our youth,” said Derwin James, All Pro safety who was a Chargers first round pick from Florida State University in 2018. “I’m proud to be a part of Athletes First, an agency that sees the value and importance of educating our next generation in this way.”

FanDuel Expands Free to Play Contests for Fantasy and Sportsbook Products

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.

Broncos, BetMGM Agree To Multi-Year Sports Betting Partnership

The Denver Broncos and BetMGM, a market-leading sports betting and gaming platform from ROAR Digital, LLC – the joint venture between MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) and GVC Holdings (LSE: GVC), announced today that they have entered into a multi-year agreement.

As an official sports betting partner of the Broncos, BetMGM and MGM Resorts will provide premium fan experiences, including a new BetMGM Lounge at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium, VIP travel packages, and benefits through MGM Resorts’ loyalty program, M life Rewards. The strategic partnership also includes a free-to-play mobile game, digital marketing assets, and in-stadium promotions and signage.

“This partnership with the Broncos allows us to showcase not only a premier BetMGM sports betting and gaming platform, but also the world-class entertainment experiences delivered by MGM Resorts,” said BetMGM’s Chief Marketing Officer Matt Prevost. “We’re excited to bring both of these to Broncos fans at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium and across the country, while offering BetMGM users new ways to engage with their favorite football team.”

The BetMGM Lounge, located on the Level 1 concourse adjacent to Gate 4 and outside Section 111/112, will allow fans 21 years of age and older access to a full-service premium bar, a luxury lounge, live odds and assistance with BetMGM’s mobile app. Additional in-stadium promotions, highlighted by BetMGM’s season-long First Possession Payoff, will be announced at a later date.

The free-to-play game will be available to Broncos fans directly on The Bronco’s official mobile app. The game will offer eligible fans the opportunity to test their sports prediction skills and win MGM Resorts prizes, including trips to MGM Resorts properties nationwide.

Denver Broncos Chief Commercial Officer Mac Freeman said, “When we began the process of identifying potential partners in this category, our goal was to provide Broncos fans with unique ways to engage with sports betting. Together with BetMGM, we can now offer our fans and M life Rewards members in Colorado new opportunities such as in-stadium gaming lounge, VIP travel packages to MGM Resorts around the country and a free-to-play game through our mobile app.”

BetMGM recently launched in Colorado in partnership with the Midnight Rose Hotel and Casino. The BetMGM mobile app is available for download in Colorado on both iOS and Android. New customers to the BetMGM Colorado app will receive $100 in free bonus credit when placing a first bet of $10 or more on any Denver Broncos Game or Broncos future wager using bonus code BRONCOS at registration. For more information, follow @BetMGM on Twitter.

Super Bowl to Attract $400 Million in Wagers, PlayUSA.Com Analysts Predict

Legal online and retail sportsbooks across the country will take in $400 million in total bets for Super Bowl LIV, analysts for PlayUSA.com project. Even if less money comes in, the matchup between the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs, set for Sunday, Feb. 2, will almost certainly bring in more money via legal sportsbooks than ever before.

“With the proliferation of legal sports betting across the U.S., there is no doubt that this will be a record year for legal bets on the Super Bowl,” said Dustin Gouker, lead analyst for PlayUSA.com. “An interesting matchup that is nearly a pick ’em will help spur action, too. As a result, records in states such as Nevada and New Jersey, where both online and retail sports betting were legal for last year’s game, are also in jeopardy.”

The Super Bowl is easily the most bet-on sporting event in the U.S., drawing an estimated $6 billion in legal and illegal bets in 2019, according to the American Gaming Association. That number will reach almost $7 billion in 2020, the AGA estimates.

For this year’s game, consider:

Thirteen states — Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Iowa, Rhode Island, West Virginia, Oregon, Arkansas, Delaware, Mississippi, New Mexico, and New York — representing a combined population of 70 million, will offer a means to place a legal bet on this year’s Super Bowl.
Eight states — Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Iowa, Rhode Island, West Virginia, Oregon — offer both online and retail sports betting.
Seven states, representing a combined population of 30 million, accepted legal bets for last year’s game between the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Rams. In addition, some states had yet to launch online sportsbooks, leaving retail sportsbooks as the only vehicle to place a bet in states such as Pennsylvania.
The country’s two largest sports betting markets, Nevada and New Jersey, combined to generate more than $180 million in bets for the 2019 game.
New Jersey sportsbooks, which offered legal wagering on the Super Bowl for the first time in 2019, attracted $34.9 million in bets but lost $4.6 million.
Nevada’s $145.9 million handle was the state’s second-best all-time, but down from the record $158.6 million in 2018.

“Not only has the number of legal sports jurisdictions doubled from last year’s game, states such as New Jersey and Pennsylvania have boomed,” Gouker said. “That all adds up to a historic weekend ahead for sports betting.”

Kansas City is currently a consensus 1.5-point favorite over the 49ers. And with the Chiefs’ top-ranked passing attack matched up against the 49ers’ second-ranked pass defense, the over/under is now set at 54 points.

Prop bets should once again bring added attention from bettors to the game. Books will offer odds on aspects of the game that range from what player will score the first touchdown to the color of the Gatorade dumped on the winning coach.

“Online and mobile sportsbooks are a key tool in driving in-game and prop betting, giving states with a robust digital presence a significant advantage,” Gouker said. “In New Jersey, nearly 88% of all bets were made online in December. And that allows operators to attract bettors with prop bets and keep them engaged with in-game betting.”

Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino and Racetrack Inks Marketing Deal With Philadelphia Eagles

Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino and Racetrack today announced that they have signed a marketing deal with the Philadelphia Eagles. The deal, which includes in-stadium signage and branding, Eagles Legends appearances, email and direct mail marketing, will further enhance Caesars Entertainment’s already existing exclusive marketing deal with the National Football League. Specific terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“Harrah’s Philadelphia prides itself on partnering with organizations that share our same core values and the Philadelphia Eagles are the gold standard in terms of customer service, community engagement, and on-the-field product,” said Chris Albrecht, SVP & General Manager of Harrah’s Philadelphia. “We each have passionate and loyal fan bases and we look forward to connecting with them in new and innovative ways and providing them with exciting experiences through this partnership.”

Harrah’s Philadelphia will serve as the presenting sponsor of the Eagles “Drive Summary” videoboard feature as well as the team’s “Scratch and Win” game in its mobile application. The casino will also have a branding presence in select email campaigns to the Eagles fanbase, as well as in the Eagles Pro Shop located at Lincoln Financial Field. In addition to branding opportunities, Harrah’s Philadelphia will host Eagles Legends at its entertainment complex. Casino guests will also enjoy commemorative Eagles Caesars Rewards cards, co-branded apparel and gifts and Philadelphia Eagles branded table games.

“World-class entertainment and a strong commitment to the customer experience are synonymous when you think of Harrah’s Philadelphia,” said Catherine Carlson, Philadelphia Eagles Senior Vice President, Revenue and Strategy. “This new partnership will enable us to work creatively with Harrah’s through innovative ways to further engage with Eagles fans. We look forward to offering special Eagles experiences and co-branded touchpoints with Harrah’s Philadelphia year-round.”

Earlier in 2019, Caesars Entertainment, Harrah’s parent company, inked a multi-year sponsorship deal with the NFL that allowed Caesars to provide unique experiences for fans by using its casino properties, celebrity chefs, premier music artists and a wide range of entertainment options. Caesars had the exclusive right to use NFL trademarks in the United States and the United Kingdom to promote Caesars casino properties and activate at key NFL events including the Super Bowl and NFL Draft.

Packers Fans Can Win Family Turkey Bowl Game At Lambeau

This Thanksgiving, the NFL is giving one lucky fan and eleven of their family members and friends the opportunity to play the Turkey Bowl game of their dreams in one of the most iconic stadiums – Lambeau Field.

The venue was home to some of the NFL’s greatest moments of the last 100 seasons, from the Ice Bowl to the 1996 NFC Championship game. On November 26, one lucky winner and their Turkey Bowl squad will meet NFL Hall of Famer and Packers Legend Brett Favre, the host of the game.

Turkey Bowl, the seventh contest in the #NFL100 Experiences of a Lifetime series, is live now – learn more here. In addition to a visit from Favre, the experience will also include a behind-the-scenes tour and locker room access, giving the winners an opportunity to compete like the pros do – Lambeau Leap and all.

“Lambeau Field represents the best of the NFL in so many ways – from its storied traditions to the records broken by the many NFL Legends who have played there,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. “We love that so many fans have made football a part of their holiday traditions, and we want to reward one fan during our 100th season with the greatest Turkey Bowl experience of all time. As an annual Turkey Bowl participant, a prize like this would be a dream come true for me.”

“Lambeau Field is so special; there’s nowhere else like it in the NFL and I feel so honored to have played so many years in this legendary stadium,” said Favre. “Giving NFL fans the chance to experience their Turkey Bowl tradition on this turf will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for a fan, and I’m excited to be a part of it.”

To enter, post a picture or video of your Turkey Bowl squad and tag @NFL and #NFL100Contest.

The contest is live now through October 22 (11:59:59 p.m. ET). No purchase necessary. For official rules, fans should visit NFL.com/100/contests.

888casino Extends Sponsorship With the New York Jets

888casino extends New York Jets partnership

888, one of the world’s most popular online gaming companies and solutions providers, has announced it has extended its sponsorship deal with the New York Jets of the National Football League, for the 2019-2020 season, following its successful inaugural partnership last year.

The deal continues to be the first and only partnership of its kind between a pure digital gaming company and an NFL team. As part of the deal, 888casino branding will be on display across the 82,000-plus capacity MetLife Stadium, including the ‘red-zone’ feature, for all eight regular season Jets home games. 888casino promotions will also be spread online across the team’s website and social channels, and broadcast over 98.7 ESPN during radio coverage of the Jets games. The deal will enable the company to utilize New York Jets branding in its different sites and apps in New Jersey. The sponsorship which will be executed throughout the 2019 New York Jets’ football season, offers additional cooperation efforts throughout the season.

“The extension of the deal between the New York Jets and 888casino for a second year in a row only reaffirms our expansion efforts and reiterates the interest in online gaming within the US sports community,” said Yaniv Sherman, Head of Group Commercial Development. “The continuation of the partnership marks another milestone for 888casino in the US, as we continue to pioneer betting operations through this sponsorship agreement, our second consecutive with an NFL team!”

“We are proud to continue this partnership with 888casino in the gaming space allowing us to further engage and provide experiences for our fans in the mobile and digital world,” said Ian Lasher, New York Jets’ Senior Vice President of Corporate Partnerships.

The deal is one of many exciting developments for the company in the US market, following the launch of its new online casino platform in New Jersey in July. The platform represents 888casino’s most exciting product development of recent years in which it offers players a fast, intuitive and more personalized customer experience. This marks a new era for online gaming in the United States. 888casino’s customers in New Jersey are now able to enjoy a unique portfolio of casino games, poker tournaments and sports betting markets from a single login and bankroll.

Since launching its proprietary technology in Nevada, Delaware and New Jersey in 2013, 888casino has developed a growing reputation amongst customers for delivering a cutting-edge online gaming experience, and the continuation of its partnership with the New York Jets confirms 888’s guarantee of an excellent online gaming experience.

The company already has a unique position across the three regulated states for online gaming. The extension of the deal will continue to strengthen and expand the brand across the US market. This will aid their growth strategy to become a leading operator in the developing and potentially significant US online gaming market.”

Pro Football Doc Launches Free Injury Analysis Subscription Service

Dr. David Chao, aka the Pro Football Doc, today announced the launch of a free subscription service that provides reliable, real-time and in-depth injury insight and analysis designed to help fans make more informed fantasy, daily fantasy and wagering decisions throughout the football season.

A former 17-year head team doctor for the San Diego Chargers and board-certified orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Chao has become a sought-after and dependable resource for fans and media by quickly using game video to provide an opinion on the type and severity of a player’s injury – as well as the short- and long-term impact for that athlete and his team. With a proven accuracy over 95%, these actionable insights aren’t available from teams, media or elsewhere.

“Our goal is to provide insider knowledge that fans cannot get anywhere else, give it to them in real-time, place it within the larger context and allow them to make the most informed decisions in an easy to use online platform,” Chao said. “I’m never going to tell anyone who to pick, but I will give the relevant injury information to give them an edge.”

While Dr. Chao’s Twitter feed (@ProFootballDoc) will continue to provide followers with injury insight, this new service will provide enhanced information that takes subscribers deeper. Features include:

· Weekly Injury Index™. A proprietary, in-depth match-up-based assessment of each team’s overall health, arriving at least 24 hours prior to each game. It includes breakdowns by offense and defense, as well as rushing and passing.
· Real-time analysis. Fast, thorough analysis of breaking news, including real-time alerts during games throughout the regular season and playoffs.
· Videos. On game days, a pregame video, halftime video and postgame video cover analysis of the latest injury information, helping subscribers be first to act.
· Field View. Subscribers can see a team’s health, position-by-position, on a simulated depth chart – providing quick, clear information at a glance about players and the relative health of an offense or defense.
· Player/Team Search. Easily find specific player and team analysis with an advanced search feature.
· Watch List. Functionality allows fans to set up information about specific players or teams, such as those on a fantasy roster.
· Notification. Alerts about specific players, teams, fantasy lineups or wagering interests.

Injuries remain one of the biggest unknowns in professional sports, and access to up-to-date injury insights may be the most important piece of information for fantasy and daily fantasy players. Dr. Chao uses his orthopedic knowledge and experience with NFL teams to analyze information. His video analysis technique was developed from over 17 years of studying game film after seeing a player on the field, on the sideline, in the locker room and after MRI.

The Injury Index is a proprietary grading system that incorporates the health of each team against the norm in a given week. It’s broken down into run/pass offense/defense to provide better analysis for fantasy, DFS and gambling plays.

According to research published by the NFL, there were more than six reported injuries per game from 2015-2017 that resulted in removal from participation and inability to return to play or inability to take full part in football activities following the injury. Not only are these reported injuries analyzed but also the numerous unreported injuries that can affect a team or player’s performance.

This information will become even more valuable as wagering expands beyond the 11 U.S. states currently approved, as in-game wagering takes flight and as prop wagering expands in the U.S.

Report: Nearly 40 Million Americans to Wager on the NFL

Thirty-eight million American adults—15 percent of the U.S. adult population—are planning to bet on National Football League (NFL) games this season, according to a new survey by the American Gaming Association (AGA).

The rapid expansion of legal sports betting has provided increased opportunity for millions of Americans to bet safely with a licensed, regulated sportsbook. This year, 7 million Americans say they will bet legally at a casino sportsbook, 1.2 million more than last year, and tens of millions of others will place bets with friends, participate in pools or squares contests or place their bets online.

“During this centennial NFL season, more Americans than ever before can wager on football in safe, well-regulated environments,” said Bill Miller, AGA’s president and chief executive officer. “It is clear that as jurisdictions enact policies to provide a legal alternative to the dangerous illegal market, consumers follow suit and seek the protections they deserve.”

The survey, conducted by Morning Consult, also found that nearly one-in-four (24%) American adults say they would place a bet on the NFL if it was legal in their state. As legal sports betting continues to expand, fan engagement with NFL games will see an impact:

39 percent of avid NFL fans plan to place a bet on the NFL this season.
75 percent of NFL bettors say they are more likely to watch a game they bet on.
28 percent are more likely to attend a game they have bet on.
51 percent are more likely to watch pregame shows and commentary.
63 percent are more likely to gather with friends or family to watch a game.

“Sports betting clearly impacts fans’ enthusiasm for engaging with the NFL. As the legal market grows, it is imperative for gaming and adjacent industries to focus on implementing and promoting legal sports betting responsibly to protect consumers and ensure the viability of legal markets to the continued detriment of illegal operators,” Miller added.

Among NFL fans, the New England Patriots are the favorite to win the Super Bowl (23 percent), followed by the Kansas City Chiefs (8 percent), Dallas Cowboys (7 percent) and New Orleans Saints (6 percent).

Background

Since the U.S. Supreme Court repealed the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act—the failed federal ban on sports betting—in May 2018, more than $10 billion has been legally wagered on sports.
Thirteen states now offer legal, regulated sports betting, with five more states and the District of Columbia poised to open legal markets in the coming months.
Last September, an AGA study showed that the NFL stands to gain $2.3 billion annually from legalized sports betting, largely due to increased fan engagement.
AGA’s Sports Betting Consumer Study found sports bettors are more interested in the NFL than any other professional sports league (93 percent interested).

theScore Granted Initial Approval for Sports Wagering Activities in New Jersey

-theScore, Inc. (TSX Venture: SCR) (“theScore” or “the Company”) today announced that the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) has granted an initial approval authorizing the Company’s subsidiary, Score Digital Sports Ventures Inc. to engage in Internet and mobile sports wagering activities in the state. In accordance with the DGE’s procedures, theScore will undertake a soft-launch phase of its sportsbook app with a select group of sports bettors in the state in the coming days, ahead of its anticipated state-wide launch in advance of football season.

“This is a huge milestone and a result of the tireless hard work that has gone into getting our sportsbook ready for launch,” said John Levy, Founder and CEO of theScore. “We can’t wait to debut a best-in-class sports betting offering in New Jersey, delivering a truly unique and holistic sports media and wagering experience for fans.”

theScore became the first media company in North America to announce plans to operate a sports betting platform in December 2018 after finalizing an official licensing partnership for New Jersey market access with Darby Development LLC, the operator of Monmouth Park Racetrack, and the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association.

Last month, theScore announced a major expansion to its U.S. mobile sports betting platform through a strategic multi-state market access framework agreement with Penn National Gaming Inc., North America’s largest regional gaming operator. The framework agreement provides theScore with the right to offer online and mobile sports betting and i-gaming applications in 11 states where Penn National operates casinos and racetracks, subject to applicable state gaming laws and regulations.

theScore’s sports media app for iOS and Android is one of the most popular sports apps in North America, with an audience of approximately four million monthly active users that span every U.S. state. theScore’s mobile sports betting applications will leverage proprietary sports betting platform technology by U.S. based i-gaming and sportsbook provider Bet.Works.

Zebra Technologies Extends NFL Analytics Contract

Zebra Technologies Corporation, an innovator at the edge of the enterprise with solutions and partners that enable businesses to gain a performance edge, today announced the renewal of its partnership with the NFL, extending Zebra’s role as the League’s Official On-Field Player-Tracking Provider through the 2021 season. This extension builds on the past five seasons during which Zebra has worked with the NFL to successfully implement a best-in-class player and ball tracking system, helping to launch a new era of football data and analytics known as Next Gen Stats.

Zebra captures data for the NFL by attaching RFID tags in player equipment and the football, transmitting real-time location data to receivers positioned around the stadium. The Zebra MotionWorks™ Sport tracking system captures metrics such as player speed, distance traveled, orientation and proximity, and acceleration/deceleration. This information is then utilized by the NFL to calculate vast amounts of information about every player for every play.

The Next Gen Stats data is used to enhance the fan experience both at home as well as in-stadium. The data helps to convey unique, engaging details about individual and team performances, as well as season-long trends, allowing fans to understand the game in a whole new way. Used by everyone from the casual viewer to the fantasy football fanatic, these insights provide fans, media, and teams with helpful and interesting information for every game, every week, throughout the entire season.

“We are pleased to extend our relationship with Zebra to further develop and share cutting-edge insights into the game of football,” said Matt Swensson, Vice President of Emerging Products & Technology, National Football League. “We’re excited to build on our partnership, and collectively advance the League’s commitment to innovation. In the coming seasons, we plan to further develop the Next Gen Stats platform, allowing coaches, players, and fans to understand the game in ways never possible before.”

NFL Club personnel use Next Gen Stats data to inform a variety of decisions, from play design to player workload, and to formulate specific practice plans.

“We are very excited to continue our work with the NFL, and we are committed to ongoing innovation to provide the League, teams and fans with real-time tracking data and insights for years to come,” said John Pollard, Vice President of Zebra Sports Business Development, Zebra Technologies. “Based on our collaborative approach, this extension validates the value of our real-time locationing technology in football to give those on the front line a performance edge.”

Earlier this year, Gartner, Inc. recognized Zebra as a Visionary in the Magic Quadrant for Indoor Location Services, Global for the second consecutive year. Part of Zebra’s market leading locationing portfolio, the MotionWorks Sport solution is powered by Zebra’s Savanna data platform which transforms information into insights to help teams make the best possible decisions.

Better Collective Ambassador Morten Andersen to Speak at Betting on Sports America

Morten Andersen (Wikimedia Commons/Samjudge. from UK)

Morten Andersen, who holds the all-time record for most games played in the NFL, will be delivering a keynote speech at this month’s Betting on Sports America conference, held from 23-25 April at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in New Jersey.

Andersen is attending #bosamerica as an ambassador for the Denmark-based igaming affiliate Better Collective – a key sponsor of the event whose US-facing brands include Betoclock.com, the us-bookies.com hub and a fast-growing bet-state network already featuring bet-nj.com, bet-wv.com and bet-pa.com.

The “Great Dane” will be talking about the NFL’s unique ability to connect with its fan base – and particularly those with an affinity for sports betting – as part of the “Sports and Betting”‘ track on Thursday 25 April, the second full day of the conference.

At the age of 17, Andersen did an exchange in the USA from his native Denmark. As there was no European football available at his school, he applied his skills to American football.

What followed was an illustrious career in the NFL, where he retired in 2008 as the all-time leader for games played and points scored in NFL history, as well as being the all-time leading scorer for both the New Orleans Saints – where he spent 13 seasons – and the Atlanta Falcons, for whom he spent a combined eight seasons.

Better Collective CEO Jesper Søgaard said: “It is exciting for us to be joined by Morten Andersen, an undisputed legend of the NFL. Andersen’s journey from starting in Denmark and obtaining such success in the USA is an obvious source of inspiration for us and our US strategy, and we are proud to have him as an ambassador for Better Collective.

“Betting on Sports America was already a key part of the 2019 agenda for Better Collective, as a prime opportunity to increase our knowledge of where affiliates sit in the new marketplace.”

Morten “The Great Dane” Andersen from his inauguration into the NFL Hall of Fame

Andersen added: “I am very honoured to be joining Better Collective at Betting on Sports America. Danish values are something that I have always adhered to throughout my career in the US, and I’m happy to see Better Collective is applying those same values to the betting industry.

“I hope to draw upon my experience from over 25 years in the NFL to deliver some useful insight to betting industry leaders, particularly those focused on making a mark in the newly liberalised US market.”

Rasmus Sojmark, SBC Founder and CEO, commented: “The so-called European betting ‘invasion’ – led by software providers, front-end operators and affiliates – has been a major talking point post-PASPA repeal, and something that will form a key part of the discussion at the inaugural Betting on Sports America conference.

“Therefore it is fitting that we can present Morten Andersen – one of the finest European exports across the top four US sports – as part of the stacked up agenda. We’d like to thank our friends at Better Collective for making this happen.”

Bet Construct Announces Relationship with Pro Football Hall of Fame

Bet Construct, in partnership with Atlantis Gaming Corporation, has entered into a relationship with the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The three entities have agreed in concept on the launch of a premium fantasy sports experience in the United Statesmarket.

Bet Construct, through a deep understanding of the players’ needs, developed a fully customizable fantasy sports software with reliable fantasy data and marketing guidance to 40-plus partners around the world.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame, as one of the most recognized organizations in sports, is examining how the use of its brand can bring an instant fan base to jumpstart the new Fantasy Sports Platform.

“The Pro Football Hall of Fame is pleased to be exploring how a partnership in the gaming industry can support its important mission to Honor the Heroes of the Game, Preserve its History, Promote its Values and Celebrate Excellence EVERYWHERE,” commented Hall of Fame President & CEO David Baker.

“We are thrilled to provide our fantasy sports technology for this exciting venture with the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Tribal Gaming Network. Through Bet Construct’s world-class fantasy sports platform, the leverage of the Tribal Gaming Network, and the trusted brand of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, this partnership will deliver a truly exceptional fantasy sports experience to players,” saidBet Construct Head of US Operations, Jonathan Aiwazian.

“Atlantis Gaming is proud to introduce this exciting Daily Fantasy Sports product nationwide in states that offer legal Daily Fantasy Sports via our Tribal Gaming Network,” states Atlantis Gaming Corporation, President & CEO, Donald L. Bailey

A formal announcement is expected soon by the Hall of Fame with Bet Construct and Atlantis Gaming.

American Pharoah and Other Summer’s Top Stories

By Terry Lyons @terrylyons, Contributing Columnist for @TheDailyPayoff

In the eastern USA, it’s getting dark at 7pm, the networks have concluded their endless broadcasting of meaningless NFL preseason games and, for you Steely Dan fans out there, the Wolverine is on its way towards Annandale.

Which means, summer is almost over.

There’s been plenty of news posted on The Daily Payoff during the past two months but maybe, like me, you’ve been preoccupied, reading those trashy paperback novels, listening to the sounds of summer at the beach or watching the Red Sox stumble to another last place finish.

To be sure you’re up-to-speed, I’m shaking the sand out of the beach chair and my reporter’s notebook to review a few important occurrences which took place during the past two months while we were all Gone Fishin’.

1. Triple Crown winner American Pharoah took the track at Monmouth Park for The Haskell and did not disappoint a New Jersey record 60, 983 horse racing fans who turned out to see the champ continue his winning ways after a 58-day lay-off from the historic win at the Belmont Stakes. Pharoah then was saddled up for The Travers at Saratoga and the track’s reputation as the “Graveyard of Champions” remained intact as longshot “Keen Ice” upset the triple crown winner. On October 31, all eyes will be on American Pharoah at the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland which is expected to be the colt’s last race before heading out to stud and a cool $150,000 per pop. What a horse! What a life!

2. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) declined jurisdiction over the plight of Northwestern University football players seeking to register as a union. The unanimous decision by the NLRB avoided involvement in the hot potato of “student athlete” rights as they pertain to the NCAA, but it noted the ruling pertained to State-run universities and did not address private schools. The issue of paying collegiate players to play remains a possibility and the case it likely to be appealed to Federal Court.

3. Speaking of Federal cases, DeflateGate was resolved, at least temporarily, when Judge Richard Berman of the US Federal Court, Southern District of New York vacated Tom Brady’s four-game suspension. The judge also took the NFL to task on various procedures of its flimsy Wells Report and subsequent hearing before “Cop-Judge-Jury” Commissioner Roger Goodell. Remember, it all began on January 18, 2015 and could have been resolved by January 20 with some foresight by the NFL and the Patriots. Overall, the entire process has been a colossal waste of time and, ultimately tax-payers money. While it’s now subject to the NFL’s appeal, the entire ridiculous fairytale was possibly a giant smoke-screen left to cover the NFL’s more problematic player image headlines, like Ray Rice and several other domestic violence cases.

4. Although dozens of popular and admirable athletes, executives and administrators have passed away in 2015, some taken far too early, it’s important to recognize the passing of former NY Giants star Frank Gifford. Known to so many as the chiseled and competent anchor of Monday Night Football from 1971 to 1998, Gifford passed away from natural causes on August 9th, a week before his 85th birthday. He was lauded for his pioneering role in transitioning from athlete to broadcaster. Rest in Peace to Giff.

5. Before the 2015 NFL season kicks-off, the two industry leaders of Daily Fantasy Sports, Draft Kings and Fan Duel, will have spent a combined $110 million dollars – just on TV ads, with a reported $86.2 million attributed to Draft Kings, according to combined reports by ispot.tv and Kantar Media. Those figures do not – repeat NOT – include the millions spent on radio, digital and traditional billboard and print advertising deals. As the popular and DFS friendly NFL season kicks-off on September 10 and continues with its full schedule on September 13, the barrage of advertising done by Draft Kings and Fan Duel, already ubiquitous, will reach spending levels only approached in prior years by the beer companies. Jason Robbins, CEO of Draft Kings, and Nigel Eccles, the head of Fan Duel, can both be crowned as the most powerful men in sports in 2015.

6. On August 25, the Third US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against the State of New Jersey to uphold prior verdicts that NJ’s plans to authorize sports betting were a violation of the federal law, the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act. The court’s ruling points any future movement in the legalization of sports betting to Congress. Vocal NJ State Senator Ray Lesniak will need to ramp up efforts at the Congressional level, not via his own’s state government, to make any further progress. In the past, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, who opposed the efforts in NJ, has written that he and the league support a federally legislated and regulated law to allow sports gambling. The late August ruling will shelve the issue for years to come, unless you believe Congress can actually get something done?

7. Boston 2024 is no longer. Since I dedicated an entire column to the issue on July 8, I will spare readers from past details of Boston’s inept bid and the politics surrounding every decision. Instead, I must note the lost opportunity of hosting an Olympic Games has most Boston and Massachusetts residents singing “Hallelujah,” while some of us wonder if our generation will accomplish anything of significance or just continue to complain about everything and do nothing? The US Olympic Committee and the City of Los Angeles quickly moved forward and have plans to nominate LA as a potential host of the 2024 Games, but the City of Angels will face very stiff competition from the likes of Rome and Paris for the IOC’s blessing to host the youth of the world in 2024. My money is on Paris.