The U.S. gaming sector is heating up with major regulatory and market shifts.
South Carolina’s Gambling Push
South Carolina just filed two bills that could reshape its gaming landscape. HB 3625 targets sports betting only, while the broader HB 3353 aims to legalize sports betting, horse racing, and casino games—with tax revenue going to infrastructure. Both hit the floor January 14. Historically anti-gambling, the state faces tough odds, but the momentum is real.
Market Snapshot
NFL Week 15 Action: Hold rates stayed weak at 5% (down from 9% average), marking three straight sluggish weeks. New York’s handle growth has cooled to single digits. FanDuel app downloads lead at 22% market share, DraftKings trails at 17%. On active users, ESPN Bet tops the chart (19%), followed by DraftKings (18%) and FanDuel (17%).
Key Plays: Penn Entertainment launched its standalone Hollywood Casino app in Pennsylvania, offering 700+ games. Gaming and Leisure Properties closed a $395M deal for Bally’s Kansas City and Shreveport properties, adding $32.2M annual rent.
Analyst Love & Hate
Deutsche Bank raised price targets across the board—Wynn ($128), MGM ($49), DraftKings ($36)—mostly due to valuation model shifts. Morgan Stanley downgraded Melco Resorts on Macau margin concerns. Meanwhile, Macquarie sees double-digit growth through 2030 and flags Flutter ($600 target in 4 years) and DraftKings as top picks.
Bottom line: Online gaming is the only major gaming vertical that doesn’t need economic growth to thrive. The sector is outpacing expectations, and regulatory tailwinds are just getting started.
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Sports Betting & iGaming This Week: South Carolina Makes Big Moves
The U.S. gaming sector is heating up with major regulatory and market shifts.
South Carolina’s Gambling Push
South Carolina just filed two bills that could reshape its gaming landscape. HB 3625 targets sports betting only, while the broader HB 3353 aims to legalize sports betting, horse racing, and casino games—with tax revenue going to infrastructure. Both hit the floor January 14. Historically anti-gambling, the state faces tough odds, but the momentum is real.
Market Snapshot
NFL Week 15 Action: Hold rates stayed weak at 5% (down from 9% average), marking three straight sluggish weeks. New York’s handle growth has cooled to single digits. FanDuel app downloads lead at 22% market share, DraftKings trails at 17%. On active users, ESPN Bet tops the chart (19%), followed by DraftKings (18%) and FanDuel (17%).
Key Plays: Penn Entertainment launched its standalone Hollywood Casino app in Pennsylvania, offering 700+ games. Gaming and Leisure Properties closed a $395M deal for Bally’s Kansas City and Shreveport properties, adding $32.2M annual rent.
Analyst Love & Hate
Deutsche Bank raised price targets across the board—Wynn ($128), MGM ($49), DraftKings ($36)—mostly due to valuation model shifts. Morgan Stanley downgraded Melco Resorts on Macau margin concerns. Meanwhile, Macquarie sees double-digit growth through 2030 and flags Flutter ($600 target in 4 years) and DraftKings as top picks.
Bottom line: Online gaming is the only major gaming vertical that doesn’t need economic growth to thrive. The sector is outpacing expectations, and regulatory tailwinds are just getting started.