Business and Commerce

Colonel Liam romped to victory in the Pegasus World Cup Turf, Jan. 23. His victory in one of two Grade 1 races during January helped build strong January handle numbers. (Image: Lauren King)

Racing Economic Indicators Show Jump in January Handle

Total horseracing handle jumped for the second consecutive month, providing one key takeaway from Equibase’s first Economic Indicators in Thoroughbred Racing report of 2021. Betting in January climbed 9.57% from January 2020’s numbers to $959,602,269. That followed a 6.24% boost in December wagering, signifying that horseracing may be rebounding out […]

Dallas Marvericks owner and entrepreneur Mark Cuban said Thursday that sports cards are among the assets he's hedging his bets on now. (Image: Yahoo Finance)

Is the Sports Card Market in a Bubble? Mark Cuban Hedges His Bets

Dallas Mavericks owner and famed entrepreneur Mark Cuban entered the sports card market bubble debate on Thursday when he listed it among his assets on which he’s hedging his bets. Cuban appeared on CNBC’s Squawk Box and said he’s adjusted his investment portfolio in a number of categories for fear […]

Officials a the Red Mile Casino in Lexington turned off their HHR machines last weekend. A state senator plans filing a bill to legalize the machines when Kentucky's General Assembly opens 
 next week. (Image: The Red Mile)

Kentucky State Senator Will File HHR Legalization Bill Next Week

As one major racetrack shuttered its Historical Horse Racing (HHR) machine parlor, Kentucky State Sen. John Schickel (R-Union) said Thursday he authored a bill supporting legalization of the machines. Schickel, whose district includes Churchill Downs Inc.-owned Turfway Park, told WTVQ-TV he plans on filing the bill when the legislative session […]

"Lost Puppy" was Budweiser's 2015 Super Bowl ad. (Image: Anheuser-Busch)

No Budweiser Super Bowl Ad for the First Time in 37 Years

Anheuser-Busch announced it won’t be placing any Budweiser ads in Super Bowl 55. But don’t worry, the Clydesdale horses aren’t out of work. Instead, Sam Adams will feature the iconic breed in an East Coast ad campaign. Budweiser isn’t the first brand to drop out of this year’s Super Bowl. […]

Bally's Corporation is expanding its sports betting operations by purchasing Monkey Knife Fight for $90 million in stock. (Image: CBS Philly)

Bally’s Prepares for Wide Sports Betting Legalization with MKF Purchase

Bally’s Corporation’s purchase of daily fantasy provider Monkey Knife Fight positions the company to capitalize on sports betting as more states across the country legalize wagering. The company announced the purchase of the third-largest DFS operator in the US on Tuesday for $90 million in stock. The deal is expected […]

Authentic's dynamic victory in the Breeders' Cup Classic earned him the No. 2 spot on Longines 2020 World Racing Awards. (Image: Breeders' Cup)

Authentic Ranked Second to Ghaiyyath in 2020 World Racing Awards

Two days before his expected coronation as Horse of the Year, Authentic took home the No. 2 spot in the 2020 Longines World Racing Awards. This translates to the Into Mischief colt being named the second-ranked horse in the world. It also translates into Authentic earning top honors as the […]

DraftKings has launched the first retail sportsbook in New Hampshire at The Brook in Seabrook. (Image: DraftKings)

Online Sports Betting Update: Connecticut and Texas File New Bills

In the wake of the pandemic, more states are pushing through online sports betting bills. Connecticut, which had a number of bills fail in previous sessions, may finally have a winner. Even gambling-averse Texas recently filed an online sports betting bill. A number of states rushed to legalize sports betting […]

Historical Horse Racing (HHR) machines resemble slot machines, which are banned in Kentucky. They provided $2.2 billion to Kentucky's economy in 2019 and are a major economic engine for the state's key Thoroughbred industry. (Image: Canadian Thoroughbred Magazine)

Kentucky Supreme Court Rejects HHR Appeal, Lawmakers Up Next?

In the latest salvo fired in the ongoing debate about historical horse racing (HHR) machines in Kentucky, the state’s Supreme Court denied an appeal from the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission requesting a second opinion on the legality of those machines. The Kentucky Supreme Court refused to reconsider its Sept. 24 […]

Atlanta Dream players walk by a Black Lives Matter graphic at the Feld Entertainment Center in Florida. Dream co-owner was critical of WNBA's BLM messaging.

If Kelly Loeffler Is Out as Atlanta Dream Owner, Is LeBron James In?

The WNBA confirmed on Tuesday that the Atlanta Dream will soon have a new owner. The pending sale, first reported by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, will likely displace Kelly Loeffler, providing leadership more in step with the league and its players. Loeffler wedged herself between a rock and a hard place. […]

Mean Joe Greene drank more than 18 Cokes while making this iconic 1979 Super Bowl ad. (Image: Coca-Cola)

Coca-Cola Among Big Brands Bowing Out of Super Bowl 55 Ads

Last year, advertisers spent a record-breaking $435 million on Super Bowl ads, according to Kantar Media. This year probably won’t break any records, however, now that Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and Hyundai have decided to pass. A number of factors contributed to last year’s record Super Bowl ad spend. The NFL’s regular-season […]

Saudi Prince Khalid bin Abdullah created a breeding powerhouse on both sides of the Atlantic. One of the most respected owners and breeders in the world, Prince Khalid died Tuesday at 83. (Image: Trevor Meeks)

Powerhouse Owner, Breeder Prince Khalid bin Abdullah Dies at 83

Tributes from all over the racing world poured in Tuesday, remembering Prince Khalid bin Abdullah, who died Tuesday of undisclosed causes. The Saudi prince and nine-time Eclipse Award winner as owner and breeder was 83. A member of the Saudi Royal Family, Prince Khalid owned Juddmonte Farms, which announced the […]

in 2015, Sheldon Adelson bought the Las Vegas Review Journal, the largest daily paper in Nevada. (Image: Ethan Miller/Getty)

Renowned Casino Mogul Sheldon Adelson Died Within Days of Leave

Las Vegas Sands founder Sheldon Adelson died on Jan. 11 at age 87. He died within days of taking a leave of absence as the company’s CEO to restart cancer treatments. Adelson successfully built a casino empire and amassed billions, but his political and online gaming legacy may prove as […]

Entain CEO Segev Bounces for DAZN in Wake of Attempted MGM Takeover

Entain CEO Segev Bounces for DAZN in Wake of Attempted MGM Takeover

Entain CEO Shay Segev announced he is leaving his post less than a week after the company turned down an $11 billion takeover offer from online betting partner MGM. Segev said he’s headed to digital sports broadcaster DAZN and will join James Rushton there as a co-CEO. Speculation has run […]

Kansas City Chiefs' Byron Pringle ran a kickoff back for a touchdown on Oct. 25. The (Image: Jack Dempsey /AP)

Sportsbooks Could Get New NFL Futures Contracts to Hedge Risk

A new set of NFL futures contracts could help sportsbooks and stadium owners offload unwanted risk. If approved, Eris Exchange, LLC (ErisX), will offer moneyline, point spread, and over/under futures contracts for every NFL game. While sports bettors won’t be able to trade these contracts, they could benefit from better […]

Can Brick-and-Mortar-Heavy Las Vegas Sands Pivot Online Fast Enough?

Can Brick-and-Mortar-Heavy Las Vegas Sands Pivot Online Fast Enough?

In an industry-defining about-face, the Las Vegas Sands Corporation is likely to open online gambling operations this year, despite previous resistance from the company’s chairman Sheldon Adelson. But does the Sands have enough in reserve to reverse its decades-long, anti-online stance and spin up a viable online product? Adelson Created […]

Golden Gate Fields received the go-ahead to re-open after a COVID-19 epidemic ravaged the track's employees. The Northern California track closed for two months. (Image: Golden Gate Fields)

Golden Gate Fields Gets Go-Ahead to Restart After COVID-19 Outbreak

Golden Gate Fields, shut down in November after a COVID-19 breakout ravaged its workforce, will resume racing Jan. 15, according to track owners, The Stronach Group. That ends a two-month shutdown of the Northern California track imposed when 24 workers initially tested positive for COVID-19. In the wake of that, […]

How MGM’s New CFO Jonathan Halkyard Had a Hand in Tanking Caesars

How MGM’s New CFO Jonathan Halkyard Had a Hand in Tanking Caesars

After two failed attempts to acquire online gambling partner Entain, MGM Resorts International named Jonathan Halkyard as its new chief financial officer Thursday. He comes with experience handling complex mergers, instituting extreme cost-cutting measures, and dealing with private equity acquisitions, including several that preceded the biggest bankruptcy in gaming history. […]

After winning her second Breeders' Cup Distaff in three years last November, Monomoy Girl returns for her 6-year-old season Feb. 15 at the Bayakoa Stakes at Oaklawn Park. (Image: Coady Photography)

Monomoy Girl Starts Her ‘Monster’ Season at Oaklawn’s Bayakoa Stakes

Trainer Brad Cox called her “a monster,” but you probably know her as the best mare of her generation. Either way, Cox says you’ll see Monomoy Girl return Feb. 15 at Oaklawn Park for the Grade 3 Bayakoa Stakes. The $250,000, 1-1/16-mile Bayakoa marks Monomoy Girl’s 2021 opener and a […]