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Oregon men’s basketball continues to cruise along.

The Ducks have won five of their last six games, and they clinched a first-round bye in the upcoming Pac-12 tournament by virtue of a 90-56 blasting of Cal Thursday night.

The victory over the Golden Bears means that Oregon will be no worse than a No. 2 seed in the conference tourney, which begins Wednesday in Las Vegas.

National title odds

The Ducks are currently ranked No. 13 in the AP poll. And ESPN’s Joe Lunardi currently has the Ducks as a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Oregon is clearly national championship material, and it could become a mighty popular pick to reach the Final Four when brackets are being filled out a few days from now.

At FanDuel Sportsbook, the Ducks are currently +2200 to win it all. There are 11 teams ahead of them, including Kansas, which has the lowest odds at +600. The following teams also have lower odds than the Ducks: Gonzaga, Baylor, Dayton, Michigan State, Duke, Kentucky, Louisville, Maryland, San Diego State and Florida State.

DraftKings Sportsbook is not as high on Oregon. There are 16 teams in front of them at DK, and the Ducks have +3000 odds to cut down the nets in Atlanta.

888 Sport also has 16 teams in front of Dana Altman’s squad. Oregon is +3000 there as well.

 

Final Four odds

Correctly picking a national championship winner right now is nearly impossible. Accurately predicting a Final Four berth is tough too, though obviously not as daunting.

The Ducks are +350 right now at FanDuel to reach the Final Four. They are +500 at DraftKings.

If you can’t wait for the Big Dance, you can always bet on Oregon’s final game of the regular season and/or the Pac-12 tournament.

The Ducks finish up their regular-season slate on Saturday with a home date against Stanford.

They will then have four days off before they play again, Thursday in the Pac-12 quarterfinals.

Oregon is the favorite to win the conference tourney right now at every major sportsbook.

The Ducks are +180 at FanDuel, +250 at DraftKings and +250 at 888 Sport.

Arizona and Colorado are the two teams right behind the Ducks, typically landing in the +325 range.

Adjusting revenue forecasts is a part of operating a business. The Oregon Lottery recently did that and the news isn’t great.

The forecast for this fiscal year recently swung almost $12 million dollars and not in the way the state would have liked it to have either. It points out several issues in the company’s launch of its sports betting product.

 

Details on the $11.6 million adjustment made by the Oregon Lottery

Before Scoreboard launched, Oregon Lottery officials exclaimed legal sports wagering would help the lottery make $6.3 million in revenue during the current fiscal year. That was a grossly optimistic figure.

Earlier this week, lottery officials downgraded that forecast to a loss of $5.3 million. Among the issues responsible were glitches in the app and initial costs that tremendously exceeded the initial projections.

A big part of those launch expenses could be the state’s contract with SBTech to operate Scoreboard. The details of that contract are currently unknown and part of a lawsuit seeking the release of the full documents pertaining to that deal.

The fact that the app didn’t launch until October, missing the start of the college football and NFL seasons, also played a part. On the topic of college sports, there are more hindrances on the horizon.

 

Lack of college betting options hamstrings Scoreboard’s competitiveness

So far, Scoreboard hasn’t offered bettors any action on college games. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look that will change any time soon.

As a matter of fact, that could be the case indefinitely. A bill in the Oregon House of Representatives, HB 4057, would ban legal sportsbooks in the state from taking wagers on college sports.

Given the fact that the Portland Thorns FC, Timbers and Trail Blazers are the only professional sports teams in the state, that’s a serious handicap for Scoreboard. Even if the product becomes profitable, it would always be a shadow of what it could be.

Additionally, carving college sports out of a legal framework for wagering is actually counterproductive. It does more harm than good.

 

Why leaving college sports betting on the black market is a bad idea

The thought behind keeping betting on college sports illegal is that doing so will severely limit that activity. That’s demonstrably false, as it will only keep that activity on the black market.

Whether using local bookies or illegal sportsbooks ran by offshore companies, Oregonians are currently wagering on games involving the Beavers, Ducks and other college teams.

Black market betting has no regulation and therefore is a breeding ground for attempts to fix matches. Just last week, a New York man pleaded guilty to trying to fix a college basketball game as part of an illegal gambling ring.

Sunshine is not only the best disinfectant against this behavior but affords college athletes protection from such schemes as well. When wagering happens in a regulated market with integrity monitoring, those devices lessen the likelihood that athletes will face bribery attempts.

Additionally, the state gets no benefit from illegal gambling. That extends beyond the pension funds that Scoreboard supports to funds for the treatment of Oregonians with compulsive gambling issues.

Part of Scoreboard’s issues are initial hiccups. If HB 4057 or another bill like it becomes law, however, the app will always face a disadvantage in competing with illegal gambling operations. That will harm more than Scoreboard’s bottom line.

Oregon sports betting has been live for about four months now. That time has afforded the opportunity to ascertain the strengths and weaknesses of the market.

There are bad, good and ugly aspects to Oregon’s legal wagering landscape. The state can minimize the negatives while preserving the positives if it takes the right action.

Oregon sports betting’s positive aspects

The biggest strength of the Oregon sports betting market is online access. Oregon residents and visitors can access the platform via a desktop site or apps for both the Android and iOS markets.

Branching out from there, Oregon has been smart by avoiding the traps that other states fell into. That includes requiring bettors to register for their accounts in person.

Oregon does have brick-and-mortar sportsbooks at tribal casinos. The state’s lottery operates its Scoreboard app, however.

In other states where the activity is limited to retail operations or in-person registration is the law, handle has been limited. The more convenient it is for people to wager legally, the more likely they are to do so.

That applies to self-service kiosks at retail lottery locations around the state as well. That makes the platform available to those with less access to technology.

Convenience and easy access are the biggest positives for Oregon. There is one restriction that limits the success Scoreboard could otherwise have, however.

The bad of Oregon sports betting as it currently stands

Unfortunately for bettors in Oregon, one of the most popular markets is inaccessible on Scoreboard. That could change, however.

Scoreboard doesn’t offer action on college sports. Given the fact that the Portland Timbers and Trail Blazers are the only men’s major professional sports teams in the state, that’s a significant weakness.

Portland Thorns FC represents professional sports on the women’s side and that would be an opportunity for the market in Oregon to differentiate itself. Many of the other states with NWSL franchises within their borders didn’t post lines on those matches last summer.

Regardless of whether or not that happens, there’s no denying how much more action Scoreboard could see if Oregonians could wager on college sports. That will prove especially true next month during March Madness.

While that’s a definite weakness of the market given the popularity of Oregon and Oregon State athletics, it isn’t the worst aspect. There’s another more nefarious element at work.

The ugliest aspect of Oregon sports betting right now

Because the state lottery oversees Scoreboard, there is essentially a state-protected monopoly for online sports betting in Oregon right now. None of the tribal casinos in the state have online components.

The lottery didn’t build its own platform for Scoreboard. It contracted with SBTech and runs Scoreboard on that company’s software.

SBTech has worked to keep secret the details of how it landed that contract with the lottery. Those efforts currently include several lawsuits.

Two media outlets made requests for copies of the contract between the lottery and SBTech. The state’s Department of Justice approved those requests, but rather than comply with the state’s order, SBTech filed multiple lawsuits to try to keep it private.

The suits argue that revealing the contracts would make SBTech’s trade secrets public and enable competitors to replicate its models. Even if that was true, the people of the state still deserve to know how many of their tax dollars SBTech is taking and what those dollars will be used for.

Hopefully, the lawsuits levied by SBTech fail and the state amends its law to allow wagering on college sports. The state should be given credit for its wisdom in making Scoreboard easily accessible, however.

Oregon Lottery and gaming giant International Game Technology PLC (IGT) announced a five-year pact in early October.

Through this agreement, Oregon will look to replace its central lottery system, enhance retailer point-of-sale equipment, and provide the latest model of self-service vending machines.

The contract includes the option for two five-year extensions, and follows an earlier agreement to update the state’s more than 12,000 video lottery terminals (VLTs). IGT has served as central system provider, game supplier, and content developer for the Oregon Lottery since its inception in 1985.

The lottery’s three-phase sports betting rollout, detailed in a presentation to the Oregon Lottery Commission in May, is partially dependent on the upcoming system upgrade.

• The first phase, Scoreboard, the lottery’s online sportsbook operated in partnership with SBTech, launched successfully on Oct. 16.
• The second step, self-service sports betting kiosks, is projected to move forward by early 2020, according to Matt Shelby, Oregon Lottery public information manager.
• A sports betting game, similar to the lottery’s former Sports Action parlay game ticket, will be sold through the lottery’s retailer network in the final phase of the rollout.

Oregon Lottery’s sports wagering ticket game is dependent on the system upgrade, and probably won’t be available for at least another year, Shelby said.

Scoreboard operator SBTech and IGT, as well as others, provide self-service sports betting kiosks to sportsbook operators in the United States.

IGT knows lottery

IGT supports 40 of the 45 state lotteries operating throughout the United States.

Headquartered in the UK, the company has principal operating facilities in Rome, Las Vegas, and Providence, Rhode Island.

Oregon Lottery’s central system currently runs on the 2008 version of IGT’s Enterprise Series (ES) platform. This supports traditional lottery games such as instant win tickets, Keno, as well as monitor games such as Powerball, Mega Millions, and Oregon’s Game Megabucks.

Consumers’ needs have changed dramatically over the last decade, and Oregon Lottery hopes to keep pace by upgrading to IGT’s comprehensive software platform, Aurora.

Aurora is a work in progress. The platform is being designed to adapt to – and maximize the potential of – today’s marketing challenges.

IGT said it plans to implement Aurora “via a multi-year roadmap that will continue to evolve based on business priorities and customer feedback.”

When fully developed, Aurora endeavors to provide:

• Omnichannel capability for consumers; whether on-site, online, or via mobile device.
• Open source code to enable easy integration with third-party developers and service providers.
• Quick-to-market delivery of games and new technology.
• Easy, one-site management over all lottery applications and back-office functions.
• Actionable analytical tools throughout the entire system.

The contract also includes a wide variety of enhanced retailer technology, including IGT’s newest self-service vending machine, GameTouch 20.

The 54-inch-tall, compact unit is coupled with a 32-inch-wide monitor. It can stock up to 20 instant win games, as well as tickets for draw games.

“IGT is a longtime partner of the Oregon Lottery,” Oregon Lottery director Barry Pack said in a recent press release. “We look forward to IGT delivering its latest technology to modernize our central system – allowing us to attract new players and implement new strategies for revenue growth.”

Oregon lottery revenue at a glance

Oregon voters in November 1984 approved an amendment to the state constitution to establish a lottery, overseen by a governor-appointed director and five-member commission.

State legislation gives the lottery a monopoly over all types of gambling, with the exception of tribal compacts.

Oregon Lottery has provided more than $12 billion in funding for state programs since its 1985 inception. The lottery contributed more than $726 million toward state programs in 2018 alone.

Voters have allocated lottery proceeds over the years to support myriad public goods. This includes public education, state park development, veteran services, treatment for problem gamblers, and more.

Lottery officials say the state has a small sports wagering market, and they expect sports betting revenue to be smaller. The handle is projected to be $330 million, with a revenue of $35.5 million in the first 12 months.

Sports wagering revenue has been earmarked for the state pension fund to help offset its debt.

Shortly after Scoreboard’s debut, more than 18,000 players had registered for accounts and wagered more than $1 million.

Oregon’s second retail sportsbook opened quietly at the Mill Casino in North Bend on Oct. 29.

The casino opted to postpone its grand opening festivities until the Civil War football game between the Oregon Ducks and Oregon State Beavers on Nov. 30.

The casino will hold specials throughout the big day and have T-shirts and swag on hand, according to Katherine Hoppe, manager of tourism and content for the Mill Casino.

“This is a new offering for our property and we wanted to make sure we were able to execute this well,” Hoppe said. “And because we are the only location in Southern Oregon where sports fans can bet on college games, we wanted to mark the occasion on one of our area’s most popular games.”

Chinook Winds opened the first retail sportsbook in the state on theA A, in Lincoln City, on Aug. 27.

Oregon Lottery debuted its online sportsbook, Scoreboard, on Oct. 16, but the lottery does not accept wagers on collegiate events.

BetGenius and IGT

Operated by the Coquille Indian Tribe, the Mill Casino is partnered with sports betting platform and equipment providers BetGenius and IGT for six sports wagering kiosks.

The casino’s plan is to start off slowly, see how customers respond to the kiosks and then consider the addition of sports betting windows.

“The first few days have been very smooth and our guests have been excited to place wagers,” Hoppe said. “Our team members are answering a lot of questions.

“Our focus right now is to make sure we are able to provide our guests with all the information they need, and help them get comfortable with using the kiosk system.”

International sportsbook data and management provider BetGenius sets the betting lines for a variety of wagers, including in-play bets on a number of sports.

The kiosks, provided by IGT through a multi-year contract, are located on the casino floor adjacent to the cashier’s cage and Warehouse 101, a sports bar outfitted with 15 television screens.

It’s all in the details for Mill Casino

The casino is cautiously optimistic about the extra revenue sports wagering will generate.

“This is a new product for us,” Hoppe said. “Our goals are more focused around training, bringing in new customers and providing the experience that sports fans are looking for.”

On popular game days, printed parlay sheets and odds sheets will be available for bettors to view before placing wagers. The minimum amount bettors can wager is $2, with a maximum of $500.

Bettors must be at least 21 years of age. Check the casino’s website for extended hours during special events such as March Madness.

The deadline for redeeming winning tickets is 180 days from the event’s conclusion.

What can you bet on at Mill Casino Sportsbook?

The following wagers, among others, can be placed at kiosks:

• Spread
• Moneyline
• Parlays
• Round Robins
• Teasers
• Futures

Sports that can be wagered on include:

• Football: NFL and NCAA Division I
• Basketball: NBA, WNBA, NCAA Division I
• Baseball: MLB
• Soccer: MLS, English Premier League, Spanish La Liga, Italian Serie A, German Bundesliga, UEFA Champions League, & UEFA Europa League
• Ice Hockey: NHL
• Motorsports: NASCAR and F1
• Tennis: ATP, WTA
• Golf: PGA Tour
• Fighting: Boxing & MMA
• Olympics

The Oregon Lottery’s much-anticipated online sports betting platform, Scoreboard, debuted October 17.

Since its launch, more than 18,000 players have registered for accounts and wagered more than $1 million.

Although bettors can withdraw the proceeds of winning wagers from their Oregon Lottery Scoreboard accounts at any time, some players may see a significant gap between the time a wager is won and when the money actually appears in their accounts.

A number of conditions apply to the release of all winnings from the Oregon Lottery. These include state and federal taxes, offsets or overpayments of state resources, and back child support.

State and federal taxes for Oregon sports betting

According to Scoreboard’s terms and conditions, the lottery is not only legally required to report winnings to state and federal tax authorities, but the lottery may also be required to deduct taxes from winnings before depositing the balance into a player’s account.

Scoreboard’s state tax terms are as follows:

• Net winnings greater than $600 – a WG2 form is provided for state tax reporting purposes at the time of payment.
• Net winnings equal to or greater than $1,500 – a state tax of eight percent will be withheld.

Scoreboard’s federal tax terms are as follows:

A WG2 form will be provided to Scoreboard players at the time of payment for federal tax reporting purposes if:

• Net winnings are equal to or greater than $600, and
• At least 300 times the amount of the bet, or
• Net winnings are greater than $5,000

Oregon Lottery will withhold a 24 percent federal tax if net winnings exceed $5,000.

Offsets for Oregon winnings

According to Scoreboard’s Terms and Conditions, the lottery may be required by state law to make deductions to repay certain state debts and back child support.

If a player’s gross winnings are above $600, the lottery will check databases to see whether the winner owes any back child support.

In addition, House Bill 2393, which took effect Jan. 1, 2019, authorizes the Department of Human Services and Oregon Health Authority to garnish taxable winnings to recover overpayments of Medicaid, welfare, and food stamps.

Under the new law, garnishment will be applied to delinquent child support before other debts. The lottery is authorized to act as direct collector for back child support.

However, if databases show that overpayments of state resources are due, the lottery is required to withhold winnings up to 30 days to allow human services or Medicaid representatives to request a garnishment on winnings to recover overpayments.

If debts owed are less than the amount won, the difference will be deposited into the player’s account, where it can be withdrawn.

Other account information in Oregon

Scoreboard’s terms and conditions state that any deposits in excess of $250,000 are not insured by the FDIC, or any other entity.

In addition, the following conditions apply to Scoreboard accounts:

• Money deposited into funding accounts does not accrue interest.
• Bonuses appear as funds in a player’s balance. They may be used to play games, but have no cash value and cannot be withdrawn.
• The lottery must verify the accuracy of bettors’ personal information before paying out bets.
• Scoreboard may close accounts that remain inactive for an extended period of time. Any money remaining in the account may revert back to the state, after the lottery makes a reasonable effort to contact the player.

Out-of-state bettors

Players can register for a Scoreboard account from any state, but must be physically located within the state of Oregon and off tribal-owned land to make a wager.

If, however, an out-of-state resident visiting Oregon places a wager on Scoreboard and wins any amount of money, the lottery is required to withhold 30 percent of the winnings in federal withholding taxes.

The State of Oregon will withhold eight percent of any non-resident winnings of more than $1,500.