Reporter:
Steve Bittenbender covers Midwest and Gulport news for Casino.org. He also specializes in sports betting and horse racing. Steve is a veteran reporter and brings more than two decades of experience covering sports, business and politics. He joined Casino.org in 2019.
Steve has also covered major collegiate and professional sports for the Associated Press and the Louisville Courier-Journal and is frequently featured on local network TV newscasts and podcasts for his horse racing business and legislative expertise. A Reuters contributor, he has also previously served as editor for Government Security News.
Steve lives in Louisville, Kentucky -- the epicenter of the US horse racing industry -- with his wife and son. He is also an avid poker player, having learned from his uncle as a wholesome after-school pastime with cookies and milk.
Contact Steve at [email protected].
Areas of Expertise
1982 stories by Steve Bittenbender
Churchill Downs Inks Another Sportsbook Deal, Will Create Racing Site for DraftKings
Churchill Downs Incorporated on Tuesday announced a deal with US online sports betting operator DraftKings. The move comes less than three months after announcing a partnership with FanDuel, As part of the new deal, DraftKings will create DK HORSE, a standalone, advance-deposit...
Maryland Online Sports Betting Kicks Off in a Big Way, Says GeoComply
The first weekend of regulated online sports betting in Maryland turned out to be a big, big deal, according to a statement Monday from GeoComply. The online security services provider to sports betting operators reported it tracked 16.5 million geolocation transactions from...
Caleb Williams Likely to Win the Heisman, But His USC Trojans Have Long Title Odds
What was a two-man race for the Heisman Trophy entering Saturday was all but settled by the end of the night. Southern Cal quarterback Caleb Williams accounted for four touchdowns, including three on the ground, to lead the sixth-ranked Trojans past No....
College Football Update: Caleb Williams, C.J. Stroud Race for the Heisman Trophy
Ohio State vs. Michigan is the biggest game of college football’s final regular season weekend, But this year’s game also features Heisman Trophy implications. Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud has been one of the betting favorites for college football’s top individual award...
Yasiel Puig’s Guilty Plea Hearing Delayed After New Evidence Uncovered
Former MLB All-Star outfielder Yasiel Puig was expected to enter a guilty plea in federal court Wednesday. He faced a charge that he lied to investigators about placing wagers with an illegal sports betting operation. However, new information in the case may...
JACK Entertainment Unveils Retail Sportsbooks in Advance of Ohio Launch
Sports betting in Ohio won’t be ready for another 40 days. However, starting Wednesday, sports fans in the Cleveland area can check out two of the retail sportsbooks that plan to open on Jan. 1. JACK Entertainment announced Tuesday that its betJACK...
Thor Equities Brings on Three Partners for $3B Coney Island Casino Project
The rumored plan for a Coney Island casino became reality on Tuesday, and Thor Equities is bringing some experienced gaming businesses in for their bid.? That includes a couple of other companies with New York ties. On Tuesday, Saratoga Casino Holdings, The...
Gold Rush Lands Early Victory in Ongoing Lawsuit Against VGT Rival Accel
A judge in Illinois ruled last week in favor of Gold Rush Amusements in a complex, ongoing legal case the video gaming terminal (VGT) operator has with a competitor in the state. Cook County Circuit Judge Patrick J. Sherlock ruled to dismiss...
The $2B Powerball Jackpot Produces $100M for NY Schools, Lottery Retailers
A New Yorker didn’t win the $2 billion Powerball drawing earlier this month. But according to the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC), the state’s schools and lottery retailers became big winners from the buzz surrounding the record-breaking jackpot. The NYSGC reported...
PredictIt, Traders Seek Expedited Injunction to Block Commission Ruling
An injunction that would allow PredictIT, the political futures exchange, to keep operating beyond Feb. 15 awaits a hearing. Plaintiffs in PredictIt’s lawsuit against the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) say a decision must be made soon. On Friday, the plaintiffs filed...