If pieces of legislation had a measurable pulse, a bill to give tribal authorities within Maine exclusive control over online casino play in the state might be showing a faint signal right now. That proposal is effectively in need of some emergency intervention at this time.

On Tuesday, the Maine House of Representatives narrowly communicated a negative sentiment on the bill. While the Maine Senate has an opportunity to keep the bill alive, it might be prolonging the inevitable.

Maine online casino bill meets fate in State House

While there was optimism around the proposal to legalize online casino play in Maine under the auspices of tribal gaming authorities earlier this week, that took a turn. On April 9, LD1777¹ failed in the Maine House by three votes, 71-74.

“The hope is the Senate will pass and we will recede and concur. Now, folks are on the record and folks can try to flip their votes.”

The bill’s sponsor, Maine Rep. Laura D. Supica, told Randy Billings of the Portland Press Herald² that “much of the concern comes from the fact that it is exclusively for the tribes.” Billings also reported that other members of the state House would like to see online casino licenses available for the state’s commercial brick-and-mortar casino operators, supporting Supica’s assessment.

It’s a unique wrinkle in Maine’s legislative process that is giving LD1777 one last chance to progress.

Maine legislative staff have estimated⁴ that in its first full fiscal year, Maine would reap over $4.6 million in tax revenue off online casino play under the tenets of LD1777. There has been some concern that the bill’s 16% tax rate for such gaming is too low. That could be something that a last-minute amendment this week or a new bill in 2025 might address.

For her part, Supica proposes that the new gaming could produce $100 million for the state over the next five years. Among the state services LD1777 earmarks tax revenue for are the Gambling Addiction Prevention and Treatment Fund in addition to the Emergency Housing Relief Fund.

Iowa bettors look to have enjoyed a second straight Final Four run by Caitlin Clark and the Hawkeyes as sports betting handle in March jumped 17.1% to $272.4 million according to figures released by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission.

In terms of dollars, handle was nearly $40 million higher as Clark — a generational talent of both women’s and college basketball — captivated the nation with her scoring prowess in rewriting the NCAA college record books. Handle was also 68.7% higher than the $161.4 million worth of wagers placed in March 2021, which was Clark’s first NCAA Women’s Tournament and the first year Hawkeye State bettors could legally wager on "March Madness” since the 2020 edition was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

It was the sixth-highest handle in 56 months of wagering in Iowa and the fifth above $250 million in the last six months. Though the IRGC does not disclose handle and revenue by sport, Iowa’s three wins during the NCAA Tournament in March — the Hawkeyes beat 2023 champion LSU in the regional final April 1 — likely contributed to the 6.7% statewide hold.

Iowa bettors are not allowed to place player prop bets on college games involving in-state schools.

Revenue was down 8.4% compared to last year as the hold was nearly two full percentage points lower than March 2023. The state collected $1.2 million in taxes for the month, lifting the total for the first quarter of 2024 to $3.6 million.

You know it’s a good month for bettors when…

The win rate from wagers placed via sports betting apps was 6.6% as Iowa’s 19 mobile sportsbooks generated $252 million handle for March. DraftKings and FanDuel were 1-2 as expected, but FanDuel’s 7.6% hold marked the first time the digital juggernaut had back-to-back months with a sub-10% win rate since June and July in 2022.

FanDuel did reach a pair of milestones in the Hawkeye State, surpassing $1.5 billion handle with $67.7 million worth of bets in March, and also cleared $125 million in all-time revenue after collecting $5.1 million in winnings. DraftKings, meanwhile, narrowly missed its second month with $100 million handle, coming up $1.2 million short with its second-best month of action behind last November. It had a 6.7% hold to claim $6.7 million in revenue and pace all mobile books.

Another day, another case of life imitating art from the legendary animated series The Simpsons.

The long-running show has predicted so many things that have come true over the years — from presidential inauguration moments to Game of Thrones scenes — people have almost come to expect certain moments to come true more than be surprised by them.

This time, The Simpsons nailed the exact day NC State and Duke would be playing in the NCAA tournament. It happened in Episode 1 of Season 27, which aired in 2015. Homer Simpson was wearing a Duke shirt while holding an NC State pennant in his hand as Marge gave him credit for his good behavior during the tournament. What makes this scene especially eerie is the date that flashes at the bottom of the screen: March 31. Nine years later, that’s the exact day Duke and NC State are set to play in the Elite Eight.

The Simpsons knew in 2015 and the Governor is prepared for their Elite Eight matchup today pic.twitter.com/QxTQ4Igmyn

— Joe Giglio (@giglio_OG) March 31, 2024

The scene is now taking on a life of its own. North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper even recreated it.

Of course, nothing from the scene suggests Duke and NC State would be playing each other. So, the prediction wasn’t 100% precise. Homer might have just been a big ACC fan.

The Simpsons knew in 2015 and the Governor is prepared for their Elite Eight matchup today pic.twitter.com/QxTQ4Igmyn

— Joe Giglio (@giglio_OG) March 31, 2024

But it’s still a fun one considering how late in March the teams were predicted to be playing. Duke is usually a good pick to make a deep run, but before 2024, NC State hadn’t played in the Elite Eight since 1986 — nearly 30 years before that episode aired.

Even the Wolfpack’s latest (real) tournament run has come as a surprise 11-seed, in just their third tourney appearance since that Simpsons episode aired.

The Responsible Online Gaming Association (ROGA), comprised of seven of the largest sports betting and online gaming operators in the United States, joins together to develop and promote responsible gaming practices. The Responsible Online Gaming Association (ROGA), an independent trade association launched by seven of the largest legal mobile gaming companies in the United States, will actively promote a new industry-wide best practices charter, overseen by one of the most outstanding in the field of responsible gaming (RG).

This unprecedented effort will be led by Dr. Jennifer Shatley, a deeply respected responsible gaming executive with over 25 years of industry experience. She will serve as the full-time Executive Director of ROGA, and her role will be to facilitate extensive education for all relevant parties on the topic of responsible gaming.

ROGA will undertake a series of initiatives under the leadership of Dr. Shatley. These include responsible gaming research, education and awareness for consumers and industry, promotion of responsible gaming best practices, an independent data center and an independent certification program.

Demonstrating their commitment to this effort, initial member companies, which together represent more than 85 percent of the legalized online sports betting and online gaming industry, have pledged more than $20 million in support of ROGA's mission in the first anus.

ROGA member companies include BetMGM, bet365, DraftKings, Fanatics Betting and Gaming, FanDuel, Hard Rock Digital and PENN Entertainment.

"Many of the largest legal mobile gaming operators in the United States will establish a framework that helps promote education and awareness about responsible gaming. Together, our members will work alongside researchers, experts, regulators and stakeholders to promote gaming in responsible line and maximize our efforts to support greater education and awareness about responsible gaming. By coming together with a clear set of goals, ROGA and our members will work to improve consumer protections and help provide easier and more efficient access to responsible gaming tools for consumers to enjoy online gaming entertainment." Dr. Shatley said.

About ROGA's mission:

ROGA will operate with a specific purpose, centered on key pillars of focus, with the aim of driving the most significant impact towards responsible gaming education.

 - Research: ROGA will advocate for and fund independent research on gaming-related topics, such as the effectiveness of RG measures and the impact of RG measures aimed at promoting sustainable gaming.

 - Promoting Responsible Gaming Best Practices: ROGA will encourage and advocate for the implementation of responsible gaming best practices that can be used across the industry.

 - Responsible Gaming Education and Awareness for Consumers and Industry: ROGA will serve as a vehicle to drive both responsible gaming education and awareness for consumers and industry and will encourage responsible advertising and marketing practices within the industry.

 - Independent data center: in close coordination with member companies, ROGA aims to create, through an independent data center, a database that facilitates the exchange of information, allowing a mechanism for the protection of consumers in the entire industry.

 - Independent Certification Program: ROGA will establish an independent certification program to evaluate members' responsible gaming efforts, providing operators with an independent and objective evaluation of their responsible gaming policies and procedures.

In a statement, Nativa Cannabis said the Falls dispensary will remain closed on Tuesday with plans to reopen for the remainder of the week starting on Wednesday. Nativa Cannabis, located on casino property next to the Seneca One Stop gasoline station and convenience store opened last April. The 2,500-square-foot facility provides cannabis products.

Nativa Cannabis, the first Seneca Nation-owned cannabis dispensary in New York state, right next to the Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino and the Seneca One Stop gas station. 

The Seneca Nation has proven that, when presented with an opportunity, we can create industry-leading businesses on our territories that deliver substantial economic benefits to our people and to the surrounding region. Nativa Cannabis is the next chapter in our growth.”