Casino Player October 2022

PLAYING THE BOOKS

LEGALIZATION WATCH

Kansas Vetting Goes Live A nother state officially opened the betting windows just in time for football season.Kansas saw sports betting go live on Sept. 1 with a few books now open in the Hoosier State. California voters also get a chance to have their say on the future of sports betting in the state in November. Voters can decide on two ballot initiatives. Proposition 26 would allow tribal casinos and large horse racing tracks to offer legal sportsbooks, but no online wagering. The measure would lock out the state’s popular card clubs, however. Proposition 27 would allow live and online wagering in partnership with tribal casinos.Gaming companies would pay a $100 million fee to enter the market. Arizona,Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa,Kansas, Maryland,Michigan,Mississippi,Montana, Louisiana,New Hampshire,New Jersey,New Mexico,NewYork,Nevada,North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Dakota,Tennessee,Virginia, Washington,Washington D.C.,West Virginia, Wisconsin, andWyoming. States that have legalized, but have yet to launch (4): Maine, Massachusetts, Nebraska, and Ohio. States awaiting legal resolution (1): Florida (Seminole lawsuit has put a stop to sports betting as of Nov. 22). States with live, legal betting (32 with D.C. and Puerto Rico):

Gronk Celebrates

Retirement at Mohegan Sun

T om Brady’s favorite target Rob Gronkowski celebrated retirement in style at the Mohegan Sun’s FanDuel Sportsbook in September.The Connecticut property hosted “Gronk’s Official Retirement Party” inside the 11,000-square-foot sports betting venue. The event sold out and Gronk was joined by his girlfriend (model and actress Camille Kostek), as well as family and friends.The former Patriots and Buccaneers tight end and other celebrities walked a red carpet that was actually designed as green football turf.The four-time Super Bowl champion and five-time Pro Bowler partied with fans before heading toAvalon Nightclub for the official afterparty. Some event highlights included Gronk tossing a football to fans, a video montage of his career, a champagne toast,dancing to DJWhoo Kid, and a performance by the rapper Fabolous.Before the party,Gronkowski also enjoyed dinner atTAOAsian Bistro & Lounge, Mohegan Sun’s most popular restaurant. Gronkowski told FOX News that one of his closest friends works at the casino. He decided to host the retirement party at the Mohegan Sun because of this friend. “It’s right here in our backyard,” he said.“You know, playing here for nine years in New England so Mohegan Sun became like a home,a place to eat some dinners,hang out with the friends, gamble a little bit.What better spot to enjoy a retirement party?” With the NFL season underway, some fans may ask if the retirement may actually last.Gronkowski,who accumulated 92 career receivingTDs,has already returned from retirement once to helpTom Brady and theTampa Bay Buccaneers win the Super Bowl in 2021. The fun-loving tight end has picked the Bucs to win the title again and attended the team’s first game of the season. His agent Drew Rosenhaus believes Gronkowski would consider playing for the team again if Brady asked. Football fans and bettors will be watching. A return to the league may eventually require a second retirement party, however. It seems Gronk would likely be fine with that.

Sean Chaffin is a freelance writer and senior writer for Casino Player and Strictly Slots magazines. Follow him on Twitter @PokerTraditions or email him at seanchaffin@sbcglobal.net for story assignments.

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