DraftKings and FanDuel Among Nine Selected to Receive Gambling Licenses in New York
The New York State Gaming Commission approved nine betting operators to receive 10-year mobile gambling licenses. The nine New York sportsbook licensees are Bally Bet, BetMGM, BetRivers/SugarHouse, Caesars, DraftKings, FanDuel, PointsBet, Resorts World, and WynnBET. There were a number of notable names missing from the final list, including Barstool owner Penn National Gaming and Fanatics, who put forth a joint bid with an assist from Jay-Z.
Alexander Ovechkin Stays Hot, Ties Brett Hull for Fourth All-time in Goals
The Capitals outlasted the Sabres on Monday night 5-3 at home. And in his 979th game, Alexander Ovechkin notched his 741st career goal tying him with Brett Hull for fourth on the NHL’s all-time goal-scoring list and making him the fastest to reach the milestone. Ovi also had two assists on the night, putting him at 600 on his career. In his 17th season, the 36-year-old Ovechkin leads the league with 11 goals.
Will Ventures, OneTeam Partners Ink Groundbreaking VC Partnership
Will Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm, and OneTeam Partners, a marketing organization that helps thousands of athletes maximize the value of their NIL rights, announced a first-of-its-kind collaboration Tuesday aimed at generating a whole new model for value creation in the venture capital industry. Both organizations will work together to find companies that can especially benefit from dual access to athletes and infrastructure and expertise in the world of group licensing as part of this game-changing pact.
Caesars Sportsbook Links with the Manning Family
In the last year, Caesars has gone all-in on sports betting and they’ve linked with “the first family of football” to help them spread the word. Caesars announced their most recent move on Tuesday, tapping the Mannings — Peyton, Eli, Cooper, and Archie — as their newest ambassadors. The deal includes ads and promos for Caesars’ sports gambling offerings.
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Russell Wilson Confirmed to Return for Week 10 Against Green Bay
Russell Wilson started 165 consecutive games prior to injuring a finger on his throwing hand on Oct 7th. However, on Monday No. 3 was “confidently cleared” by team doctors to return to the field for Seattle’s matchup against Green Bay in Week 10. Wilson confirmed the news on his social media channels. The announcement also shifted the line on the game, moving the Seahawks from +5.5 to +4.5 underdogs.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bucks Mark First NBA Visit to White House Since 2016
The reigning NBA champs visited the White House on Monday, becoming the first team to do so since the Cleveland Cavaliers accepted the invitation from Barack Obama in 2016. Giannis Antetokounmpo took to the stage and was seemingly awestruck by the experience. The 26-year-old reflected on his personal journey to that point, saying, “Believing in your dreams, you can accomplish great things in life… I’m in the White House – this is awesome!!”
Hyperice Completes Athlete-backed Funding Round
In September, the brand expanded its positioning from a recovery brand to one dedicated to all aspects of holistic wellness. And to help with their expansion, Hyperice attracted a broad range of athlete investors, from Celtics star Jayson Tatum to Faze Clan co-owner Nicholas “Nickmercs” Kolcheff. With the most recent round of investment, the company is expected to receive a valuation of over $1 billion.
Bitcoin Hits Historic High
Cryptocurrency is on the rise. Bitcoin and Ethereum each hit record highs on Monday evening, with Bitcoin surging to $67,700 and ether – the native token of the Ethereum blockchain – surpassing $4,800. The market cap for cryptocurrencies skyrocketed to over $3 trillion. The news came on the same day as Opensea, the NFT and crypto-collectibles marketplace eclipsed $10 billion in total sales.
NCAA Releases Draft Constitution, Embraces NIL
After years of extensive criticism, the NCAA released an updated constitution that will enable it to make critical changes to adapt to the modern era. The 19-page document outlines a number of cornerstone commitments, including acknowledging name, image, and likeness practices while continuing to explicitly ban pay-for-play. The constitution is expected to be lightly updated and approved at the January 2022 NCAA Convention.
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