Ryan Butler

101 Posts
Ryan has covered sports betting legislation since May 2018. A two-time Associated Press Sports Editors award winner, he has reported on sports and politics since 2012. A University of Florida graduate, he still spends every fall Saturday watching his beloved Gators.

Newest Texas Sports Betting Legislation Still Faces Uphill Climb

The latest Texas sports betting bill has support from state sports teams, top sportsbooks and a bipartisan group of lawmakers. It probably won’t overcome opposition from the state’

Ryan Butler
Feb 24, 2021 UTC

AZ Sports Betting Bill Passes Senate Committee with Horse Racing

Arizona lawmakers advanced sports betting legislation Tuesday after attaching it to a historic horse racing bill, creating a potential political minefield that jeopardizes the entire package. The powerful Senate Appropriations

Ryan Butler
Feb 24, 2021 UTC

Barstool Sportsbook in New York? Penn National Inks Deal for Online Skin, But Hurdles Remain for All Operators

Penn National’s latest market access deal adds another major player to the New York sports betting market, even if the company – or any other sportsbook operator – is far from

Ryan Butler
Feb 22, 2021 UTC

Georgia's Legal Sports Betting Hopes Continue to Grow

Slowly but surely, Georgia — which has one of the nation’s most politically conservative legislatures — is closing in on legal sports betting. A Senate committee heard details on the latest

Ryan Butler
Feb 19, 2021 UTC

Kansas Casinos, Lottery Retailers Continue Sports Betting Tug-of-War

Kansas’ top gaming stakeholders all want legal sports betting. Two competing bills will determine which entities can accept bets — and if legal betting will come to Kansas this year.

Ryan Butler
Feb 18, 2021 UTC

Arizona Sports Betting Bill Advances After Marathon Hearing

An Arizona Senate committee advanced a sports betting legalization bill Wednesday, a major step forward that further bolsters legal sportsbooks’ hopes after the House advanced the companion bill days

Ryan Butler
Feb 18, 2021 UTC

Arizona Historic Horse Racing Bill Not Considered by Committee

An Arizona Senate committee didn’t take up a historic horse racing legalization bill originally on its Tuesday meeting schedule, leaving a major potential gaming bill in limbo the

Ryan Butler
Feb 16, 2021 UTC

Arizona Sports Betting Bill Looks to Get Back on Track

After an unexpected delay, Arizona’s sports betting legislation backers are hoping to regain momentum this week. A House committee last week advanced a sports betting bill, 9-1, but a

Ryan Butler
Feb 15, 2021 UTC

Sports Betting Legalization: 4 States With Longshot Hopes for 2021

Nearly every state has either approved sports betting or has filed a 2021 bill to do so. While much of the gaming industry turns its attention to New York’s

Ryan Butler
Feb 12, 2021 UTC

Kansas Sports Betting Hearing Underscores Competing Interests

Potential Kansas sports betting stakeholders presented neutral or opposing testimony at a hearing Thursday, not because they opposed legal wagering but because a Senate bill would prohibit them from taking

Ryan Butler
Feb 11, 2021 UTC

Arizona Sports Betting Bill Stalls in Senate After Encouraging House Vote

An Arizona Senate committee did not advance online and retail sports betting legislation for the second time in as many days Wednesday, raising questions about what appeared to be one

Ryan Butler
Feb 11, 2021 UTC

Texas Sports Betting Tantalizes Despite Political Difficulties

Texas, the second-most populated state and the largest “untapped” casino market, is once again considering gaming legislation after decades of largely fruitless efforts. Many of the entrenched political obstacles remain

Ryan Butler
Feb 9, 2021 UTC

Arizona, Kansas Sports Betting Hearings Set for This Week

Two leading sports betting legalization candidates are scheduled to discuss bills this week. Arizona, thanks to support from Gov. Doug Ducey, the legislature, professional sports leagues and the state’s

Ryan Butler
Feb 8, 2021 UTC

Super Bowl Betting Remains Illegal in both Chiefs and Buccaneers’ Home States

Americans are projected to wager more than $4 billion on this year’s Super Bowl. None of those dollars will be placed legally in the home states of its two

Ryan Butler
Feb 5, 2021 UTC

Super Bowl Showcases Opportunities for Sports Betting Legalization

A record 20 states plus Washington D.C. will take legal sports bets this upcoming Super Bowl Sunday, all but assuring it will see the highest single-day handle in regulated

Ryan Butler
Feb 4, 2021 UTC
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