Sportbooks react to Durant’s move to Warriors; betting legalization path becomes clearer

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 info@bettingtalk.com.

* * *

Yesterday, Kevin Durant announced he would be signing with the Golden State Warriors. Oddsmakers at the Westgate Las Vegas Superbook were quick to update their 2016-2017 title odds as well as setting a regular season win total prop bet.


The Orange County Register published an article about legalized sports betting no longer deterring leagues from having a team in Las Vegas.

“I just think the obvious, that Las Vegas is a very attractive place,” Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “It’s one of our nation’s real jewels, it’s an asset, it’s unique, it’s American. And all of that, in my eyes, is what the NFL aspires to be associated with. It’s a great entertainment environment, and I think that far overshadows any issue to do with gambling.

“We had discussions about Vegas. We had no push-back in any kinds of discussions. With the Raiders certainly having the interest that they have and being the iconic team they are, for them to be thinking about going to Las Vegas really fits.”

Or, as New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft told USA Today recently: “I’m thinking like a fan. Traveling to Vegas for visiting fans to see their team play would be fun. That part would be good. And thinking about Vegas and the rotation of Super Bowls. They have the infrastructure for big events.”


A Legal Sports Report article published last Friday says a sports betting legalization lobbying group is planning to form as early as next year.

Earlier this month, AGA President and CEO Geoff Freeman said it was still premature to be lobbying on Capitol Hill for legalized sports betting. It is unlikely any formal efforts would get underway before the presidential election on Nov. 8, and potentially not until next year.

The formation of a formal lobbying effort, though, could signal that there’s action lying in wait beyond the recent rhetoric calling for a change to America’s sports gambling policy.


Matt Youmans of the Las Vegas Review-Journal wrote a column about sports betting’s path to legalization becoming more immediate.

“If they don’t repeal PASPA, the idea of sports betting nationally is not going to happen for quite a while,” Vaccaro said. “It gets nowhere unless they repeal it in New Jersey.”

The most optimistic speakers at last week’s conference set the timetable for the expansion of legal sports wagering at three to five years. When politicians are involved, nothing gets done quickly. But the agenda is advancing on a faster track on several levels, and there are positive signs all over the map.


CNBC blog The Big Crunch published an article about the rise of eSports and entity betting.

On the growth side, casinos want to use eSports gambling as a way to reach out to the next generation of gamblers. There have been many stories in the past couple years suggesting that the 30-and-under crowd haven’t been gambling as much as older generations. This could clearly be a positive for gaming revenues.


querrey

American tennis player Sam Querrey upset the top-ranked Novak Djokovic in the third round of Wimbledon last week. Querrey was a 32-to-1 underdog in the match. Querrey followed up his career-changing win with a victory in straight sets over Nicolas Mahut.