Twice weekly, we’ll comb through as many articles, tweets and podcasts as we can find related to the world of sports betting and daily fantasy sports, and publish the good stuff here.
Stumble upon something you think we should include? Email [email protected].
* * *
Fans attending a Las Vegas Raiders home game might be able to place bets while at the stadium.
Last week, the Las Vegas Stadium Authority unanimously approved a conditional lease agreement for the Raiders. NFL owners are expected to vote on ratifying the lease at this week’s spring meetings in Chicago.
The lease includes language that prohibits “any Gaming or Gambling, the maintaining or operating of a Gaming Establishment and/or sports wagering or any wagering on racing or other non-sports events.”
However, according to the stadium authority and Nevada gaming officials, nothing in the lease blocks access to the mobile sports betting apps offered by the majority of the state’s regulated sportsbooks. Nevada books have been offering mobile sports betting for several years, allowing bettors to place wagers on their mobile devices from anywhere inside state lines.
NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told ESPN in an email that the Raiders “are required to abide by League rules on the matter.” McCarthy did not elaborate on which rule he was referring to, and the Raiders did not respond to a request for comment.
A New Jersey bill would allow casinos and racetracks to seek permits to offer daily fantasy sports betting.
The measure, sponsored by Democratic lawmakers, would enact a quarterly fee of 10.5 percent of gross revenues on companies that receive permits from the state Division of Consumer Affairs.
The nonpartisan Office of Legislative Services estimates the bill will produce at least $6.6 million in revenue for the state each year.
One of the bill’s sponsors, Assemblyman John Burzichelli (D-Gloucester), has said the measure “ensures that people can enjoy fantasy sports without being taken advantage of” by the companies.”
The Boston Celtics beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 111-108 on Sunday as 17-point underdogs, which set the record for the biggest NBA playoffs upset ever.
The Cavaliers beat the Celtics by 13 (in a game that wasn’t really that close) and 44 in Boston to take a 2-0 series lead in the Eastern Conference finals.
So, odds-makers did something drastic for Game 3 in Cleveland – make the Cavs 17-point favorites.
Yet, the Celtics pulled the 111-108 upset.
CG Technology released regular season win totals for about 50 college football teams last week.
Alabama is the consensus national-championship favorite in Las Vegas and opened Thursday with the highest season win total at sportsbook operator CG Technology.
The Crimson Tide’s season win total was set at 10.5 at CG Technology, which posted win totals on almost 50 teams.
Ohio State opened at 10 and is the only other team with double-digit wins. Six teams have win totals set at 9.5: Florida State, Penn State, USC, Washington, Wisconsin and Oklahoma. The Buckeyes host the Sooners in Week 2.