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
Betr Signs Indiana Market Access Deal with Caesars Southern Indiana
Betr, the online sports betting app that focuses on microbetting, announced Thursday morning that it has reached a market-access deal with Caesars Southern Indiana to operate in Indiana. Terms of the agreement weren't disclosed, though a joint release indicated the agreement is...
Nashville to Host FanDuel Bracket City Live During Start of NCAA Tournament
The college basketball regular season doesn’t tip off until next week, but it’s never too early to talk about March Madness. Or even make plans for it. Global event design firm Populous has partnered with the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. to...
Pete Rose Scheduled to Place First Wager at Hard Rock Cincinnati Sportsbook
Pete Rose, MLB’s all-time hits leader, has been banished from the game for more than 30 years because of gambling. Yet he will help usher in Ohio’s legalized sports betting era on January 1. Rose, a Cincinnati native and all-star player for...
Flightline Big Morning Line Favorite in Saturday’s Breeders Cup Classic
Flightline, the undefeated 4-year-old superstar colt, drew the fourth gate for Saturday’s $6 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland. He also became the heavy 3-5 morning-line favorite after Monday’s post position draw. Trained by John Sadler, Flightline has dominated the field...
Powerball and Mega Millions Considering RNG Draws, Says Kentucky Lottery CEO
Millions of Americans on Monday night will be watching the Powerball drawing to see which balls come out of the machines. The winning numbers could be worth $1 billion. However, according to one lottery official, that may change down the road. During...
EBCI Holdings Partners with Revolutionary Racing on $55M Kentucky Track
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) continues to diversify its gaming portfolio. This time, the North Carolina-based tribe is heading to Kentucky, where it will be a significant partner in Revolutionary Racing’s $55 million quarter horse racing complex. EBCI Principal Chief...
CFTC Reportedly to Deny Kalshi’s Political Markets, Seeks to Dismiss PredictIt Suit
Staff from the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) reportedly has recommended against recommending a request by online exchange operator Kalshi to offer markets tied to congressional election outcomes. Bloomberg first reported the news Friday evening, noting that the federal agency’s appointed...
US Rep. Dina Titus in a Dead Heat for Reelection, Survey Says
US Rep. Dina Titus, Nevada’s most senior Democrat on Capitol Hill, may be in jeopardy of losing her seat. A recent poll by the Siena College Research Institute (SCRI) and The New York Times indicates trouble. On Friday, the Siena/NYT poll showed...
‘Mattress Mack’ Doubts Texas Will Expand Gaming in His Lifetime
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott may be willing to consider allowing casinos in the Lone Star State. But the state’s most famous gambler isn’t convinced it will happen any time soon. Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale discussed the state’s prospects for expanded gaming during...
Kindred Group’s Unibet to Leave Iowa, Will Focus on ‘Multiproduct States’
Kindred Group revealed on Thursday that its Unibet online sports betting division will be pulling out of Iowa later this year. CEO Henrik Tj?rnstr?m made the announcement during the Malta-based gaming company’s third-quarter financials presentation. That decision is not an indication Kindred...